Project
AF-EU-17032 ACTTiVate
The overall concept of the ACTTiVAte project is to support innovation in SMEs and foster the smart reindustrialization of Europe. Foster cross-sectoral innovation among SMEs allocating around 85% of the project budget to SMEs. Generation of new value chains and development of emerging industries by implementing strategies that allow clusters to lead the engagement of SMEs in activities intended to create new services and products. Set up strategies to achieve stable growth of cross-sectoral and cross-border innovation beyond the project. For more information see: www.acttivate.eu
ACTTiVAte aims to foster cross-sectoral innovation among SMEs from four different sectors, aerospace, agro-food, health and ICT allocating 85% of the project budget to SMEs. The project will focus its effort in setting up strategies that allow clusters to lead the engagement of SMEs in activities intended to create new services and products and therefore the generation of new value chains and emerging industries across Europe. Furthermore, ACTTiVAte intends to set up strategies to achieve stable growth of cross-sectoral and cross-border innovation beyond the project. The development of the new value chains is facilitated by setting up geographical poles of activity in 5 countries in the EU including 2 strategic regions the Netherlands (Eastern Netherlands- Gelderland and Overijssel and Southern Netherlands -Noord-Brabant).
Focus
The focus area of ACTTiVAte in The Netherlands, the provinces Overijssel, Gelderland and Noord-Brabant, are targeting on innovations in agro-food and high tech systems and materials based on their RIS3 strategy (Research and Innovation strategies for Smart Specialization). The important goal of this project for the Netherlands is to stimulate cross-overs, new cooperation and innovations in this thriving entrepreneurial eco-system between SMEs, start-ups and multinationals and research centres.
Activities
ACTTiVAte will undertake 2 kind of activities to optimize the benefits to SMEs:
a) Direct funding of SMEs innovative projects by launching competitive calls at the proposed technology areas;
b) Activities aimed at creating a favourable environment for the innovation in SMEs, such as brokerage events, mentoring, coaching, mobility and exchange programs among other initiatives. The main impact foreseen by ACTTiVAte is to encourage trans-cluster innovation at the SMEs scale. This innovation stems out of the active exchange of innovations being developed in a given industry context, which are adapted to other industries, thus reinforcing their utility and functionality.
ACTTiVAte will be dircetly linked to SMEs, since 85% of the project budget is allocated to fund innovations at SMEs. Besides in the Netherlands two project partners are involved that have a broad regional network with SMEs. These are:
1) AGRIFOOD CAPITAL BV (South NL)
2) Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost Nederland NV (Eastern NL)
