Translating Industry 4.0 to improved SME policy instruments targeting innovation
Industry 4.0 (I4.0) affects innovation activities of companies throughout Europe to a dynamically increasing extent. Failing to turn production or service provision adapted to I4.0 results in losing clients and markets. In our project it will be primarily SMEs that we intend to assist so that they can better address the challenges this new paradigm imposes to increase their competitiveness. Partners’ experience suggests that policy instruments (PIs) targeted to SME innovation often struggle to support I4.0 related projects efficiently. With 8 partners from 5 regions INNOPROVEMENT aims at improving SME PIs targeting innovation activities and adapting them to requirements set by I4.0. This overall objective will increase the share and number of SMEs successfully implementing I4.0 related innovation projects in the partners’ regions and countries. 7 thematic issues will be explored by partners through intense experience exchange: 1) Innovation in software development; 2) Effectiveness of public money used to support industrial R&D under I4.0; 3) Introducing I4.0 to traditional industries; 5) Definition of I4.0 public policy initiatives; 5) Adjusting calls to I4.0 requirements; 6) Market price assessment methodologies; 7) Definition of an I4.0 maturity evaluation matrix. Sharing transferable good practices from these 7 thematic issues will be central among project activities. Using the outcomes partners will elaborate action plans to improve their PIs. Improvements of the addressed PIs (mainly calls for proposals) will take place primarily at the level of management of the instruments. The composition of the partnership contributes substantially to durability of project results since the 7 action plans will be elaborated by MAs and IBs directly responsible for the management of the addressed PIs. INNOPROVEMENT’s approach ensures 4 levels of learning. The project lies on a sound project management and implements a targeted communication strategy.