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Open Platform for the Adoption of Digital Innovation
Published on 01 April 2020
Switzerland
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
An open platform for technology adoption coordinates the collaboration of technology / service providers and end-users to showcase, test, customize and/or develop new digital technologies in an interorganisational network, addressing the needs of the technology users. The platform helps SME to become more competitive due to the use of digital technologies. The platform is coordinated by a neutral instance (e.g. non-profit research organisation), which acts as facilitator for the collaboration providing:
• confidence among the partners
• increasing visibility and support public relations, and
• providing specific service for demonstration, test and development of technologies in an interorganizational network.
The platform supports:
• exchange of best practises between technology / service providers and technology end-users
• support the ideation process using workshop and showcasing the state-of-the technology available on the platform
• support for the design, customization and testing of digital technology in a step-by-step approach: from the idea to the proof-of-concepts / digital experiment to the prototyping and the industrialisation.
• During the course of this development process, the role of the neutral instance will be steadily reduced, while commercial, industrial partners will overtake more and more responsibilities until the state of commercial industrialisation is reached.
• confidence among the partners
• increasing visibility and support public relations, and
• providing specific service for demonstration, test and development of technologies in an interorganizational network.
The platform supports:
• exchange of best practises between technology / service providers and technology end-users
• support the ideation process using workshop and showcasing the state-of-the technology available on the platform
• support for the design, customization and testing of digital technology in a step-by-step approach: from the idea to the proof-of-concepts / digital experiment to the prototyping and the industrialisation.
• During the course of this development process, the role of the neutral instance will be steadily reduced, while commercial, industrial partners will overtake more and more responsibilities until the state of commercial industrialisation is reached.
Expert opinion
The good practice features the example of an open platform that supports the exchange of knowledge and best-practices for the adoption of digital technologies for SMEs. The open platform is coordinated by a third-party (non-profit organisation) that provides supports such as services for demonstration, prototyping, testing, networking opportunities, sharing best practices, sharing methodologies for helping SMEs to adopt digital technologies. Such initiatives require a coordinator and innovation infrastructures to showcase new digital technologies. The good practice shows that more than 50 private companies are members of the open platform.
Some insights from the good practice:
-Such initiatives are more relevant for regions in which the high-technology industrial sector represents an important share of the regional economy (>20%) and in which private industrial companies are open to collaborate with one another.
-The good practice highlights that regional political and industrial supports are key to implement such initiatives.
Some insights from the good practice:
-Such initiatives are more relevant for regions in which the high-technology industrial sector represents an important share of the regional economy (>20%) and in which private industrial companies are open to collaborate with one another.
-The good practice highlights that regional political and industrial supports are key to implement such initiatives.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
Personal resources:
o 1 coordinator
o 2+ technicians / engineers
Infrastructure:
o Showroom and workshop (> 200 m2)
Network to relevant actors from industry
o 1 coordinator
o 2+ technicians / engineers
Infrastructure:
o Showroom and workshop (> 200 m2)
Network to relevant actors from industry
Evidence of success
KPI for verification at Swiss Smart Factory:
• Number of platform partners: Swiss Smart Factory has collected within two years more than 50 paying technology partners joining the platform, among these partners such as SIEMENS, FESTO, DASSAULT, FANUC, YASKAWA, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, BALLUFF, HILSCHER, etc.
• Number of projects of technology adoption: Swiss Smart Factory has performed several projects for technology adoption and test in 2019 e.g. with BALLUFF, HILSCHER, SIEMENS, TROTEC, etc.
• Number of platform partners: Swiss Smart Factory has collected within two years more than 50 paying technology partners joining the platform, among these partners such as SIEMENS, FESTO, DASSAULT, FANUC, YASKAWA, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, BALLUFF, HILSCHER, etc.
• Number of projects of technology adoption: Swiss Smart Factory has performed several projects for technology adoption and test in 2019 e.g. with BALLUFF, HILSCHER, SIEMENS, TROTEC, etc.
Potential for learning or transfer
This best practise addresses very typical challenges of SMEs that can be found in any region across Europe. The best practice is designed to be rather generic and must be adapted to regional, industrial needs (e.g. specialisation on specific sectors). The political and industrial support in the region is key for the successful implementation of this best practise.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AG
Switzerland
Espace Mittelland
Contact
Research Director