Open Innovation in Alpine SMEs
OPEN-ALPS strengthens the competitiveness of the Alpine Space by introducing and realising innovations in SMEs based on the Open Innovation (OI) paradigm. Main objective is to support Alpine SMEs in technology branches on their way from internal “closed innovation” to "open innovation". This shall encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and strengthen research and innovation capacities for SMEs in the participating Alpine regions. New transnational OI support services of OI Hubs, a web-based OI management platform with 500 innovation seekers from 300 SMEs and 5.000 innovation solvers from 500 R&TD institutions, and special transnational OI innovation forums and OI labs are planned. The experiences shall be used to improve regional innovation policies and shall be disseminated in the EU27 in order to make a valuable contribution to the innovation policy in Europe especially the Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union.