Periodic Reporting for period 2 - INFIMO (INTERCONNECTED AND INCLUSIVE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS FOCUSED ON ICT AND MOBILITY)
Reporting period: 2024-06-01 to 2025-05-31
“Interconnected and inclusive innovation ecosystems focused on ICT and mobility” (INFIMO) was a Horizon Europe project focused on strategic collaboration between clusters and diverse innovation actors from Estonia, Portugal and Georgia. Partnering up the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications, MOBINOV automotive cluster from Portugal, the Georgian ICT Cluster and the Baltic Innovation Agency, INFIMO aimed to increase inclusiveness among the INFIMO ecosystems and reduce the innovation divide in the INFIMO countries.
The main objectives of the project were:
1. Building a strategic partnership that engages more diverse innovation actors from Estonia, Portugal and Georgia to jointly develop their innovation capacities and facilitate the deployment and scale-up of innovative solutions.
2. Developing 2 collaboration models supporting the digital and green twin transition in various economic sectors with the help of ICT:
• A generic collaboration model for supporting digitalisation and sustainability in a variety of economic sectors via the use of ICT.
• An advanced collaboration model facilitating the twin transition and higher competitiveness in the mobility sector.
3. Supporting science-based product and service development and setting up RD&I pilots between innovation stakeholders in the INFIMO ecosystems focused on the field of mobility.
4. Facilitating stronger involvement of women innovators and increasing gender-responsiveness of services offered by the partners.
5. Supporting the exchange of best practices, skills and knowledge development and mutual learning by the involved networks and various innovation actors.
6. Building contacts and paving the way for collaboration with relevant networks and innovation ecosystems in the EU and associated countries.
The main objectives of the project were:
1. Building a strategic partnership that engages more diverse innovation actors from Estonia, Portugal and Georgia to jointly develop their innovation capacities and facilitate the deployment and scale-up of innovative solutions.
2. Developing 2 collaboration models supporting the digital and green twin transition in various economic sectors with the help of ICT:
• A generic collaboration model for supporting digitalisation and sustainability in a variety of economic sectors via the use of ICT.
• An advanced collaboration model facilitating the twin transition and higher competitiveness in the mobility sector.
3. Supporting science-based product and service development and setting up RD&I pilots between innovation stakeholders in the INFIMO ecosystems focused on the field of mobility.
4. Facilitating stronger involvement of women innovators and increasing gender-responsiveness of services offered by the partners.
5. Supporting the exchange of best practices, skills and knowledge development and mutual learning by the involved networks and various innovation actors.
6. Building contacts and paving the way for collaboration with relevant networks and innovation ecosystems in the EU and associated countries.
Throughout the INFIMO project, the consortium implemented a range of activities aimed at fostering digital and green transformation through cross-sectoral collaboration. Central to this effort was the development of two collaboration models: a Generic Collaboration Model, designed to support ICT uptake in the pilot sectors of agriculture, construction and finance in Georgia, and an Advanced Collaboration Model, tailored to promote innovation at the intersection of ICT and mobility in Portugal and Estonia. Both models were grounded in sector-specific needs analyses, EU regulatory frameworks and extensive stakeholder engagement, including joint ideation and pilot validation.
To operationalize the advanced collaboration model, INFIMO launched an Open Innovation Challenge, matched ICT and mobility actors, and co-developed 7 RD&I pilot projects involving partners from Estonia and Portugal, supported through targeted mentoring and consulting.
The project also delivered strong ecosystem-building activities, including 3 international study visits and 7 joint training events, which enhanced the capacity of partner clusters and SMEs in areas such as artificial intelligence, green digital practices, cybersecurity and intellectual property. In parallel, INFIMO supported inclusive innovation by launching a Women in Tech coordination group and integrating diversity-sensitive practices into its capacity-building approach.
By the end of the project, INFIMO had successfully tested its collaboration frameworks, exceeded several KPIs and laid the groundwork for sustained exploitation of its results through cross-border partnerships, pilot continuation and integration into future funding frameworks.
To operationalize the advanced collaboration model, INFIMO launched an Open Innovation Challenge, matched ICT and mobility actors, and co-developed 7 RD&I pilot projects involving partners from Estonia and Portugal, supported through targeted mentoring and consulting.
The project also delivered strong ecosystem-building activities, including 3 international study visits and 7 joint training events, which enhanced the capacity of partner clusters and SMEs in areas such as artificial intelligence, green digital practices, cybersecurity and intellectual property. In parallel, INFIMO supported inclusive innovation by launching a Women in Tech coordination group and integrating diversity-sensitive practices into its capacity-building approach.
By the end of the project, INFIMO had successfully tested its collaboration frameworks, exceeded several KPIs and laid the groundwork for sustained exploitation of its results through cross-border partnerships, pilot continuation and integration into future funding frameworks.
At the heart of the INFIMO project are 3 Key Exploitable Results: the Advanced Collaboration Model, which offers a replicable, challenge-based framework for cross-sector RD&I; the Generic Collaboration Model, designed to support digitalisation and EU regulatory compliance in modest and emerging innovation ecosystems; and the Women in Tech Coordination Group, which has laid the foundation for a scalable, cross-border platform for gender-responsive innovation services and leadership development. Taken together, these assets constitute a good foundation for post-project collaboration. They offer practical solutions for pressing challenges such as digital transition, sectoral innovation, inclusion and sustainability, and they demonstrate how clusters can act as enablers of systemic change when supported by effective models and shared strategic intent.
Scientifically, the project contributed novel, practice-based collaboration models that operationalize theoretical principles from innovation systems theory, cybersecurity governance and cross-sector knowledge transfer into actionable frameworks, applicable across a wide range of contexts. Economically, INFIMO improved the innovation capacity and competitiveness of SMEs through digital maturity building, international matchmaking and the launch of RD&I pilot projects with strong scale-up potential. On a societal level, INFIMO promoted inclusive innovation practices through the establishment of the Women in Tech coordination group and the delivery of accessible, cross-border capacity-building events. Industrially, the collaboration models and pilots introduced new approaches to product development, AI use and sustainable operations in the mobility sector and beyond. Overall, INFIMO created transferable tools, validated pilots and cross-cluster partnerships that will continue to generate impact beyond the project lifecycle.
Looking ahead, the INFIMO partners are committed to translating the project’s outcomes into lasting impact. This includes the institutional uptake of the tested collaboration models, further development of the joint RD&I projects and active participation in EU and national funding programmes aligned with the digital and green transition.
Scientifically, the project contributed novel, practice-based collaboration models that operationalize theoretical principles from innovation systems theory, cybersecurity governance and cross-sector knowledge transfer into actionable frameworks, applicable across a wide range of contexts. Economically, INFIMO improved the innovation capacity and competitiveness of SMEs through digital maturity building, international matchmaking and the launch of RD&I pilot projects with strong scale-up potential. On a societal level, INFIMO promoted inclusive innovation practices through the establishment of the Women in Tech coordination group and the delivery of accessible, cross-border capacity-building events. Industrially, the collaboration models and pilots introduced new approaches to product development, AI use and sustainable operations in the mobility sector and beyond. Overall, INFIMO created transferable tools, validated pilots and cross-cluster partnerships that will continue to generate impact beyond the project lifecycle.
Looking ahead, the INFIMO partners are committed to translating the project’s outcomes into lasting impact. This includes the institutional uptake of the tested collaboration models, further development of the joint RD&I projects and active participation in EU and national funding programmes aligned with the digital and green transition.