Alps4eu final conference presentations

1. BSR Innovation Express
Transnational call for proposals for the internationalisation
of SMEs through cluster initiatives and business networks
Presentation for Alps4EU conference
16 January 2014

2. At the outset...
• Desire to promote international cooperation
• Desire to engage more SMEs
• Lack of financing instruments that provided
”quick support” to good ideas – mobilizing
initial international collaboration
• ...and one country (DK) with positive
experience from an existing pilot instrument

3. What is Innovation Express?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Common European approach for supporting
internationalisation needs/opps of SMEs –
through cluster initiatives
Joint call, coordinated by BSR Stars (in
cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers)
Cluster/network organisation applies to ’home’
funding agency (explaining target geography(ies)
and activity(ies))…driven by needs of SMEs
Amount of financing from regional/national
programmes dependent on schemes applied
(expected to be between 10-60.000 EUR per
project grant/country)
Duration of project activities 12-18 months
Top-up financing (10.000 EUR) from NCM
possible for projects with consortia from two BSR
Innovation Express funding partner countries (of
which one Nordic); additional possible if more
partners (up to max 20.000 EUR)

4. Who is part of
BSR Innovation Express?
Funding partners
Associated partners

5. Targeted applicants
• The applicant is a legal entity representing an SME network, cluster
initiative or other specialised research and innovation environment.
• The applicant is located in a geographical area where a BSR
Innovation Express funding partner is present (i.e. DK, FI, IS, LT, NO, SE).
• Proposals must aim to benefit SME members – developed in
accordance with them and driven by their internationalisation
needs.
• Proposed activities must include the participation of at least 3
SMEs. (The participation of even more SMEs is strongly recommended. Participation of
large companies, company associations, universities, research organisations, and other public
organisations is encouraged; however these cannot be the sole beneficiaries.)
• Applications must target another cluster initiative or SME consortia
in at least one other country (within the BSR or elsewhere
internationally).

6. What can Innovation Express fund?
Possible Activities
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
Dissemination and promotion
Technological/Innovation advice
Networking and speed-dating
activities
Technology transfer
Financial engineering linked to RDI
activities
Recruitment/training/education
Workshops and study trips
Cross-sectorial inter-cluster activities
Market research activities
Feasibility studies prior to RDI projects
Inter-cluster strategy development
activities

7. Matchmaking event in Copenhagen
9-10 April 2013
In connection with the BSR Innovation Express call, NetMatch (supported by the Danish
Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation) led the organisation of a Cluster2Cluster
conference and matchmaking event (www.cluster-to-cluster.dk) which targeted cluster
organisations and SME networks wishing to explore opportunities for international
collaboration on behalf of their members.
165 participants from 15 countries and more than 70 cluster organizations attended the
event. An evaluation of the event revealed:
• 86% answered that the event met their expectations excellent or good.
• 98 % believe that the general organization of the event was excellent or good.
• 90% said that there is excellent or good chance that they would participate in the event
again (if to be repeated).
• 30 clusters responded that there is an excellent or good chance that they will apply for
the BSR Innovation Express Call.

8. Applications – submissions and approvals
Funding Partner
Country
Applications Approved
Received
Projects
Eligible for
NCM top-up
Denmark
17
16
4
Finland
3
3
3
Iceland
3
3
3
Lithuania
4
4
2
Norway
8
6
6
Sweden
12
8
5
TOTAL
47
40
23

9. Summary of Results
• 40 approved applications, resulting in 28 new
international collaboration projects
– 23 applicants teaming up in 11 joint projects (receiving
funding from both their home countries and top-up
funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers)
– 17 additional approved projects
• Projects directly engaging more than 900 SMEs in
international collaboration
• Projects in a range of sectors – some combining
partners with expertise in different business, service or
research sectors
• Nearly all targeted partners located within other Baltic
Sea Region countries

10. Approved Projects by Business Sector
0
ICT
Mechatronics
Metal Processing/Manufacturing
Wood processing
Biotechnology
Maritime
Plastics
Agro-Food
Construction (incl. equipment)
Materials and new Materials
Energy
Environment/Green Technologies
Health Care/Medical Devices
Other
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

11. Countries of Target Partners
12
11
9
9
7
4
3
3
3
3
1
DE
DK
EE
FI
IS
LT
LV
NO
PL
SE
UK

12. Some challenges
• Securing budget for calls with little advanced
notice (and general timing...)
• Communicating separate applications and
”divided budgets” for joint projects
• Having different rules (% costs covered,
amount covered for intermediary organization
or companies)
• Working with top-up financing