Fostering SME tech transfer across key sectors Effective collaboration between clusters can be the driving force behind innovation and competitiveness in European industrial regions. An EU initiative has supported innovation in SMEs to promote the development of new emerging industries that could provide growth and employment in Europe. Digital Economy Industrial Technologies © ACTTiVAte The EU-funded ACTTiVAte project supported 50 SMEs in developing cross-sectoral and regional innovation projects between 4 sectors with strong synergies: aerospace, ICT, health and agri-food. It also set up strategies to achieve the stable growth of cross-sectoral and cross-border innovation beyond the projects. “We have assisted SMEs in commercialising their technological solutions in new regions and sectors,” says coordinator Eugenio Fontán. “They have received the needed business skills to assess opportunities in potential sectors and to prepare for the commercialisation of their solutions in new markets.” Championing SME innovation To optimise the benefits for SMEs, ACTTiVAte undertook two kinds of activities. The first involved direct funding of innovative SME projects through competitive calls launched in the four proposed technology areas. Promoting 50 cross-sectoral technology transfer projects, it laid the foundation for the development of new value chains involving key sectors in Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal. In total, EUR 1.5 million of direct financing was allocated to these SMEs. The second activity concerned the provision of a wide range of business support services for the selected SMEs to create a favourable innovation environment. These included technology transfer and commercialisation training workshops, investment readiness training workshops, a one-to-one mentoring and coaching programme, a mobility and exchange programme, brokerage and business-to-business matchmaking events, as well as investment forums. In all, EUR 4.3 million was earmarked mainly for information, training and facilitating access to relevant stakeholders. In 2018, the beneficiary SMEs were able to raise close to EUR 1.7 million in additional funds on their own. This amount was more than double the direct financial support provided by ACTTiVAte in the same year. In addition, the SMEs have invested about EUR 4.5 million in their innovative projects, excluding the ACTTiVAte funds. Resources to stimulate and promote regional innovation ecosystems The dedicated project website will continue to operate as a useful tool for communication and dissemination until 2023. For example, it contains a booklet with brief descriptions on all 50 projects. SMEBOOK, the technological platform used during ACTTIVAte to cultivate cross-sectoral and regional innovations, helps SMES find tech partners to generate new value chains. As of October 2019, more than 200 SMEs have registered, with over 500 cross-sectoral and regional connections established. Fifteen SMEs reached the product commercialisation phase. Most of the SMEs plan to open new markets in other European regions by 2020. “By encouraging trans-cluster innovation at the SME level, ACTTiVAte will foster industrial entrepreneurship, establish new competitive value chains, create high-quality jobs and attract private investment for the development of technological solutions,” concludes Fontán. “All projects have achieved important progress in several fields associated with SME development, primarily in relation to training, strategic skills development, networking and innovation process development.” Keywords ACTTiVAte, SME, innovation, projects, cross-sectoral, value chains, regional innovation, funds, commercialisation, technology transfer
