This proposal offers a peer learning excercise between 3 innovation agencies from small regions in the South, the North and the Centre of Europe. By means of the proven Twinning + methodology they'll focus on the common challenge of the design of innovation support for SME’s operating in crossborder business value chains. In small regions, business value chains cross easily the regional borders, so SMEs have to be agile to fit these in order to grow. Stimulating business value chains is one of the policy actions of the EU Strategic Work Program. This proposal aims to 1. learn about this sub-type of SMEs 2. investigate the current mix of instruments to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship 3. understand the criteria of ‘value chain-fitness’ 4. discuss novel approaches in the public innovation support system and make recommandations for other innovation agencies. The mutual policy learning and exchange of ‘good practices’ will enhance the transfer of good practices in SME support which is one of the specific challenge of the work programme. Futhermore, since innovation agencies are important intermediaries to SMEs, the peer learning will contribute to make public support for innovation in the EU more effectively. An information “exchange” workshop with testimonials from SMEs and economic/innovation experts will give some insights in the real needs of those SMEs. Subsequently, the participants will do a small field research in their region. The information gathered will be displayed on a digital platform working as a community of practice. Finally, the participants perform the peer learning in a 2days session collaborating together in an equal relationship and discuss novel approaches in relation to the topic. In the end, a Design Options Paper documents the implementation options and guidelines that the partners in the challenge have experienced and would recommend to other innovation agencies.

The use of online collaboration platforms facilitates the access of SMEs to Open Innovation environments where they can collaborate, co-create and co-participate in innovation projects. Despite these benefits, European SMEs have so far failed to embrace the use of online platforms to facilitate open innovation. The Europe Enterprise Network, the most widespread innovation support service in Europe, is successfully addressing this challenge mainly by organising brokerage events or clusters around interested stakeholders. However, EEN support services are very labour intensive, and the resources available are small, meaning many agents are unable to offer the level of support they believe is necessary. This often results in collaborations being set up, but then failing to realise their potential due to the lack of ongoing monitoring, support and management. The NIR-VANA project will tackle these drawbacks through the design of a new service that will be provided by innovation agents. This service will promote the online collaboration for SME during the entire innovation process using an innovative approach based on ICT solutions, training and novel methods to support SMEs. Three members of the EEN a two other innovation organisations will collaborate in the design of the services that will be later tested by other 10 EENs and innovation agencies. The project will develop an ICT-based layer that will facilitate the work of the innovation agents and will also promote a change of mentality of the SME. Some services will be provided online using a novel Networking and Innovation Room (NIR) where the innovation agents and the SMEs interact to develop innovation partnerships. These services will allow direct and ongoing support provided by the innovation agents to the SMEs, links to other platforms/social networks, increased efficiency for the management and monitoring, and services aimed at encouraging SMEs involvement.

Successful growth companies tend to be significantly better at innovation management than average. However, most SMEs and SME support organisations consider the inability to manage innovation processes efficiently and effectively as one of the most important barriers to create European economic impact (competitiveness, growth and jobs) from innovation activities in SMEs. The objective of this project proposal is to address these problems by providing services enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs wishing to develop innovation projects with a strong European or international potential. There are two SME target groups that will receive 74 7-day work packages. 1. 37 SME beneficiaries of the funding schemes SME Instrument, Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) and Future and Emerging Technologies Open ( FET-Open) under H2020 will be supported by Key Account Managers (KAM); and 2. 37 SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for internationalisation will be supported by EIMC experts to ensure that the innovation management capacity of the SME is increased The specific objectives related to the first target group are to ensure that SME beneficiaries of H2020 can exploit their full innovation potential. A KAM will identify weaknesses in the innovation capacities of the SME, identify suitable coaches who will address the identified weaknesses and facilitate the SME- coach interaction. The specific objectives related to the second target group are to ensure that the innovation management capacities of the SMEs increase. An EIMC export will carry out innovation management capacity assessments, set up an action plans to address identified bottlenecks and implement the action plans. Five partners: IVF, Acreo, RISE, LTU Business AB and Invest in Skane will carry out these services and all of Sweden will be covered (i.e. all three Nuts 1 regions). The coordinator, Tillväxtverket, will have the overall responsibility.

Lack of innovation management is one of the most important barriers to create economic impact (competitiveness, growth and jobs) from innovation activities in SMEs. The objective of this project proposal is to address these problems by providing services enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs. Four partners in the Swedish Enterprise Europe Network (SweNet) took part in the 2014 pilot action IS/KAM where 25 Swedish SMEs were coached. The target for this project is to deliver 105 7-day service packages to two SME target groups: 1) SME beneficiaries of the SME Instrument in Horizon 2020 – to be supported by Key Account Managers (KAM), and 2) SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for internationalisation – to be supported by innovation specialists (IS). The specific objectives related to the first target group of 42 SMEs are to identify weaknesses in their innovation capacities, to identify suitable business coaches for them, and to accompany them through Phase 2 of the SME instrument project. The specific objectives related for the second target group of 63 SMEs are to carry out diagnostic audits of selected SMEs, to set up action plans to address bottlenecks, and to implement the action plans. The partner IVF, Acreo, Centek and SP will cover all of Sweden (all three Nuts 1 regions). The coordinator, The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth will not be involved in any service activities. The tools to be used to assess the innovation management capacity will be IMP3rove and Innovation Health Check.

Great advances were made by SISCERA partners in the development of the world’s first ceramics showing transformation induced plasticity and perfect predictability. These specifically designed materials were the main research results of the LongLife FP7 project and will be brought to market via SISCERA. The LONGLIFE material is based on a novel, highly biocompatible ceramic coupled with a specific surface modification, procuring enhanced osseointegration to implants. Its reliability and mechanical performances have been validated in accordance to the relevant standards. The core objective of SISCERA (Smart Innovations from Safe CERAmics) is to prepare market penetration by the end of 2019 of the first commercial application of this revolutionary ceramic. This new type of material can serve industries such as biomedical (implants, bone saws, prostheses), automotive & fuel cell. DMC will commercialise the material for several applications: (i) ceramic bars (for Anthogyr and biomedical customers), (ii) centering pins for car body welding (for existing automotive industry customers), and (iii) positioning devices for handling robots (for existing industrial customers). SWEREA will apply its surface modification process to facilitate production of solid-oxide fuel cells. The partners have carefully analysed the different markets and have determined that the most strategic initial biomedical application is the dental implant. This market is expected to grow annually by 6-8% during the next years, to 5.4 Billion € by 2020. Ceramics are entering the market as implant materials, but their use is still limited by inadequate toughness and osseointegration. The SISCERA consortium has the ideal material and expertise to provide the first dental implant fully meeting patient needs. The current FTI project will allow partners to obtain clinical and biocompatibility validation of the implant while also penetrating the market with promising applications in other industries.