Priorities of SMART+ Sub-Projects Synergy of IDEAS Expert Ioana Dragoş ş Head of Consultancy, Innovation and Technology Transfer Department Regional Institute of Research, Education and Technology Transfer ROMANIA 1
Objectives of SMART+ Project - to be reached also by sub-projects - Stimulate the integration of SMEs in networks and clusters and improving access to RTD and business partners Develop and implement strategies and tools on converting the research potential into economic return (spin-offs, start-ups) Initiate and foster capacity-building and development of new skills for SME staff and training of innovation/rtd management Transfer experience and empowerment of the public officials (via study trips, seminars and workshops) at policy level with respect to the improvement of the managerial and technical capacities of SMEs to absorb innovation 2
SMART+ Topics for Sub-projects 1. Consulting Services for SMEs 2. Cooperation between SME & Research Institutes 3. Financial Services for SMEs 4. Company-based Innovation Management 5. SME Network & Cooperation 6. Start-up and Spin-off Support 3
Topic 1: Consulting Services for SMEs Key services: design and development of high quality services for SMEs which provide added value in the context of information and consulting on intellectual property SMART+ Recommendation: improvement of a consulting portfolio that includes for example licenses, patents, brands and trademarks support for SMEs, by established service providers (e.g. technology transfer centres etc.). Collateral Services : design and development of information services for funding opportunities. 4
Topic 1 Synergy of Ideas Aim: Design and development of services for SMEs; institutionalization of these kind of services within the applicant institution Improving competences of human resources from SMEs through Seminars, Trainings and Personalized Assistance given to SMEs in the fields of: Intellectual Property Rights - Quality and environment standards, internal audit - Project management and project design - Access to finance including access to European Funds Improving organizational flows within SMEs by: - Performing technical audits, business reviews, cope with SMEs in formulation of recommendations and action plans to address the problems identified - Helping SMEs to apply a Knowledge innovation management Sustainable development of SMEs by assisting them in the elaboration of development strategies, impact, environment and marketing studies, business plans Exchange of best practices in design and development of consultancy services for SMEs, selection of best methodologies in shape of a trans-national Manual 5
Topic 1 - Project Proposals by this date Consultancy services for SMEs in the water, waste and energy sectors ICIA National RD Institute Cluj RO 1 Expert Hint: Could link to AGIL Proposal Topic 4, Wt Water and waste sector Or to CERTH Macedonia cluster proposal p 6
Topic 2: Cooperation SME & Research Institutes Objectives : Elaboration of strategies to convert research potential into economic benefits Implementation of operative measures that increase the cooperation between SMEs and research institutes to allow an optimized cooperation and provide better access to research and development institutions for SMEs SMART + Recommendation : The sub-project should enclose feasible components to support: The reduction of time-to-market of products and services The increase of the economic benefit of research The assistance of SMEs to overcome bottlenecks in developing innovative solutions for new products and services 7
Topic 2 Synergy of Ideas Match-making: Getting together research and companies from particular sectors: Scanning the research results and identify the patented ones Scanning the needs of the companies Identify common interests researched and competence based Create a virtual trans-national platform where offer and demand can meet, a data base of innovation competences Development Strategy on the particular sectors analyzed development of research market-oriented, based on needs of the SMEs Raising opportunity for SMEs to update technologies, processes, to benefit from innovation results Spring of common researched- based project ideas further identification of grants 8
Topic 2 - Project Proposals by this date Centre for Technologic Transfer: a virtual platform for RD and SMEs OTIMMC Territorial SME Office Cluj ROMANIA Energy self-sufficiency in a small village through municipal solar power plant 2 Expert Hint: Could mix the 2 proposals by Setting a Centre for TT in Energy Sector Municipality of Pleitas de Jalón Aragon, SPAIN 9
Topic 3: Financial Services for SMEs Objective: improving the financial environment for SMEs SMART+ Recommendations establishment and management of seed funds for SMEs by public equivalent bodies Development of institutional capacities and expertise in management of seed funds professionalization of acquisition, distribution and management improving knowledge on management of such seed funds, competences exchanged and increased on a transnational level. el Collateral Activities : activities increasing the awareness of innovation as a condition for competitiveness. 10
Topic 3 Synergy of Ideas Seed fund -Goes for Regional Management Authorities Regional Analysis justifying the necessity of the seed fund: financial offer of banks, opportunities for grants, SMEs needs, cost-benefit indicators, exante evaluation Trainings to seed fund designers and managers Elaboration of documentation for further call of proposals addressed to SMEs financing criteria, addressed target, etc Setting of an evaluation system for the seed fund seen as a regional programme scoreboard instrument Exchange of best practices in management of seed funds Cooperation and collaboration with European Business Angel Network (EBAN) 11
Topic 3 Synergy of Ideas Aim: Setting up institutional capacities for providing / developing strategies and guidelines for investor communications to gain new capital Providing contact for small companies to (large-scale) investors in a structured and reliable method Information activities on the cost/ benefits of risk capital and investment opportunities in innovative segments for increasing the awareness of innovation as a condition for competitiveness and increasing the readiness to invest development of elevators pitch in search for business angels, venture capitals, investment funds Increasing SMEs capacity building to gain loans, correlation between liquidity indicators and business strategy 12
Topic 3 - Project Proposals by this date Design of a Training package to set seed fund MARR Malopolska RDA POLAND 1 Partners In search of additional 2 partners from different SMART+ Regions 13
Topic 4: Company-based Innovation Management Objective: increasing i capacities i and know-how for a structured and sustainable innovation management within the company SMART+ Recommendations: development of skills for SMEs staff to design and implement RDI management within companies Developing innovation based training policies within SMEs promotion of the innovation culture among SMEs Collateral Objective: establishment of sustainable structures which increase the output of innovative sub-products (reduce the time-to-market, profound management of the innovation cycle) 14
Topic 4 Synergy of Ideas Developing flexible procedures for SME innovation management; instruments and techniques Trainings to SMEs on innovation management Awareness activities on the importance of innovation management Exchange of Best Practices schemes on innovation management to SMEs Set up permanent structures to ease the innovation management process 15
Topic 4 - Project Proposals by this date Transfer of know-how on consulting services for SMEs on innovation management and TT, water/waste sectors Interested partners CJ-RO (ADRNV, ICIA) AGIL Leipzig Innovation Agency Saxony, GERMANY Creation of a local company coordination of farmers recovery of traditional Technique of cleaning mountains and forests Municipality of Lobera de Onsella Aragon, SPAIN 2 Expert Hint: Check if eligible 16
Topic 5: SME Network & Cooperation Objective: professionalization and improvement of network and cooperation activities for SMEs SMART+ Recommendations: - Facilitate access of SMEs to clusters and networks, communicate mutual gains and increase the added-value of cooperation Elaboration and testing measures and strategies to increase the incentives of SMEs to participate in networks and cooperation Professionalization of functioning of networks and clusters with the aim of increasing the output of innovative products and services by SMEs and their networks. Collateral l Objective : design and implementation ti of customized information tools on funding opportunities to further develop the networks/clusters 17
Topic 5 Synergy of Ideas Includes also the establishment t of new clusters, methods for setting up clusters, design and elaboration of cluster strategies, illustrating its competitive advantages Development of clusters and network by: Attracting new members awareness activities Exchange of best practices between partners elaboration/revision of development strategy Training to cluster managers external expertise Development of a concrete Action Plan Development of further project ideas for the clusters/networks Setting up the trans-national dimension of cluster networks, sectorbased or theme-based 18
Topic 5 - Project Proposals by this date Transfer of experience in network management, trainings or best practices AGIL Leipzig Innovation Agency Saxony, GERMANY Setting a Network Platform for start-ups for B2B; cluster best practices transfer OTIMMC Territorial SME Office Cluj ROMANIA Transfer of experience in cluster management; setting new cluster NW RDA Cluj, ROMANIA 7 Biomass and derived fuels New Cluster CERTH W. Macedonia, GRECE SME Go Global Network Life Science Kluster Krakov, Malopolska POLAND Creation of Energy SME Network Fuentespalda Council City Aragon, SPAIN Creation of Endogenous Resources SME Network in Tourism Comarca de Campo de Borja Aragon, SPAIN 19
Topic 6: Start-up and Spin-off Support Objective: promoting entrepreneurship spirit, easing the functioning and performance reaching of spin-off and start-up companies SMART+ Recommentations: Encouraging entrepreneurship initiatives within research institutes Enhancing the activities of structures which act for a successful and sustainable business development Collateral l Objective: presence of cooperation aspects at European level l and close ties to existing support network (Enterprise Europe Network and Chambers of Commerce, Business Angels, etc) 20
Topic 6 Synergy of Ideas Legal Assistance Centre to newly set-up companies - start-up or spin-off- also awareness activities on business opportunities Business Innovation Factory support and guide the academics to set up companies (spin-off) Trainings to start-up companies on management and performance issues Creation of virtual platform to promote business opportunities to start-up business; collaboration with existing B2B platforms 21
Topic 6 - Project Proposals by this date 0 No project proposals circulating to this date 22
MUSTs within the SMART+ Sub-Project Developing a common approach in implementing the sub-project, even if the specialization of partners in different tasks is to be also highlighted Organization of at least two inter-regional events by each partner Organization/Participation i to one study visit it within the sub-project, for exchange of good practices Organization of at least four regional events (one each 6 months) Participation to capitalization workshops organized by SMART+ partners Participation to events organized by third parties such as Open Days and SMEs Week in Bruxelles, EUREGIA in Leipzig, etc Identificaton and dissemination of a minimum of 3 good practices on promotion of innovation and RDI within SMEs Communication and dissemination activities related to the sub-project, including massive campaign at the end of the project, for dissemination of results and good practices Periodical Reporting (3 mid-term, 1 final) 23
QUESTIONS PROJECT PROPOSALS 24
Thank you for your attention! Mrs. Ioana Dragos ioana.dragos@nord-vest.ro ro Head of Consultancy, Innovation and Technology Transfer Department Regional Institute of Research, Education and Technology Transfer ROMANIA 25