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Centr@tec Program: Advanced Innovation Services for SME´s
Published on 06 July 2018
Spain
Castilla y León
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
CyL is one of the largest regions in Europe, with 2.5 million people, depopulated areas, ageing people, talent drain, and where 95% of the companies are microcompanies and very traditional, so there is a lack of innovation in SME´s. The Strategy for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Self-employment of CyL highlights the role of technological collaboration and better use of community resources to improve competitiveness. ICE, responsible for the implementation of the R&D+I regional policy in companies, has a tool to achive this goal: Centr@tec Program. The Regional Technological Centers are in charge of its execution, and the main beneficiaries are self-employers and SME´s. The aim is to support and guide self-employers and SMEs through a continuous and complete process to be more competitive. Centr@tec includes actions in different areas: Industry 4.0, Digitization, Innovation in Processes and Design of Products/Services, Internationalization of R&D and innovation and Support for Entrepreneurs of Technological Base. The program is structured in:
1. Demonstrations meetings, Experts workshops and training in new technologies: 2-4-8h
2. Internationalization of R&D+I: Bilateral meetings, agreements of collaborations and participation in international R+D+i programs
3. Diagnostics and Implementation Plans: Personalized analysis of the company, Action Plan and search for Financing
4. Innovative Projects Bank: Analysis of innovative projects, Business Plan, search for Financing
1. Demonstrations meetings, Experts workshops and training in new technologies: 2-4-8h
2. Internationalization of R&D+I: Bilateral meetings, agreements of collaborations and participation in international R+D+i programs
3. Diagnostics and Implementation Plans: Personalized analysis of the company, Action Plan and search for Financing
4. Innovative Projects Bank: Analysis of innovative projects, Business Plan, search for Financing
Expert opinion
The practice presents some remarkable features, which make it potentially interesting for almost any region, as most will have at least some sectors with a large number of traditional micro-companies presenting a lack of innovation:
- It builds on a holistic approach to innovation and competitiveness, starting from a comprehensive diagnosis, which are then translated into tailored action plans,
- The diversity of the offers provides a variety of easily accessible entry points for SMEs, which might help them to overcome common obstacles such as the lack of time, competences or funding,
- It fosters a close relationship between targeted SMEs and the regional technological centers, which is likely to generate a virtuous circle of collaboration leading to both the improvement of the service delivered yb the technological centers and the innovation capacity of the involved SMEs.
In sum a coherent approach to the issue of lack of innovation in traditional sectors… and it can be transferred to others too!
- It builds on a holistic approach to innovation and competitiveness, starting from a comprehensive diagnosis, which are then translated into tailored action plans,
- The diversity of the offers provides a variety of easily accessible entry points for SMEs, which might help them to overcome common obstacles such as the lack of time, competences or funding,
- It fosters a close relationship between targeted SMEs and the regional technological centers, which is likely to generate a virtuous circle of collaboration leading to both the improvement of the service delivered yb the technological centers and the innovation capacity of the involved SMEs.
In sum a coherent approach to the issue of lack of innovation in traditional sectors… and it can be transferred to others too!
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
On its 1st edition 2017-18, 1,3M€ Budget and 2M€ on its 2nd Edition which is on going. The funding comes from Regional Government of CyL. Regarding human resources, a technical team from ICE (9 people) coordinates the program and the 5 Regional Technological Centers execute the actions (15 people).
Evidence of success
This good practice has been selected because of its incidence on the regional SMEs. The success in the 1st edition is reflected in the outputs: There were 134 training actions, 10% focused on European Programs. 2231 people participated in the different trainings. 735 of them showed their interest in continuing with more training. 145 diagnostics were made in collaboration with the companies. The program was valued with 3,4 points (of 4, with the participation of 52%).
Potential for learning or transfer
We consider this practice interesting for other regions to learn and with potential for transfer, because of the holistic format of the program. The network create with the regional technological centers allows to get closer to the SMEs. This means to know the real needs of the companies for planning the training actions, to make the diagnostics and for guiding SMEs on the best way to improve their capacities and technologies in order to be more competitive, throughout the collaboration with the regional working groups involved in the topics related with the program. The structure of Centr@tec in 4 different types of actions allows companies to participate in the program in many ways, and gives the opportunity to SMEs to be involved in a circuit of support and training, that helps them to develop their potential of innovation and competitiveness. This practice has been shared recently in the RDAs National Forum (June 2018 Santander, Spain) with numerous Regional Agencies interested in.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Regional Government of Castilla Y León
Spain
Castilla y León