Working paper

This trial focuses on projects that have already received a matched grant from the agency and are seeking crowdfunding to secure the remaining funds.

This project is looking at whether a process of co-creation can be used to encourage first time innovators.

This pilot is exploring the potential of a new innovation support scheme to enhance SME utilisation of ‘Design thinking’.

This trial brings together six organisations across Europe (the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the South Muntenia Regional Development Agency, the Fomento San Sebastian, the Business Development Friesland and the Friuli Innovazione) to develop and test a novel version of the European Innovation Audit Tool that includes a strong social innovation element.

Torino Wireless Foundation (TOWL) in Northern Italy leads this project that aims to improve its Digital Transformation support scheme. The scheme allows SMEs from the Piedmont region to change their business and organisational activities, processes, competencies and products by taking advantage of a mixture of digital technologies. The D3T project was prompted by the recognition that many companies are not taking full advantage of the advanced technologies or innovative business models the digital economy offers.

This trial developed by KTN and Innovate UK aims to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the 4Manufacturing® tool and the extra support offered by experts. 4Manufacturing® is an innovative support programme based on diagnosis and one-to-one consultant advice, which aims to accelerate the adoption of industrial digital technologies for manufacturing SMEs. 

Growing pressure on public budgets demands that support schemes become more innovative, effective, efficient, and evidence-based and that scarce resources are allocated to schemes with the greatest impact. This project aims to assess what level of support to SMEs is optimal for promoting the digitisation of their processes, products and assets. The aim of the project was to improve efficiency for the Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) and improve value for client SMEs while managing risk and helping businesses discover new opportunities for generating income.

The project, led by the Lithuanian Innovation Center, aims to design a service that supports startups in dealing with investors more effectively. For small and innovative businesses, growth can often be constrained by difficulties accessing suitable finance. Many interventions seek to address concerns about the limited supply of finance, leading to, for example, decisions to establish ‘hybrid’ venture capital schemes where public investments are used to draw private finance into the equity gap.