The Innovation Pathway Programme

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The Co-Innovate Programme will increase the proportion of SMEs engaged in cross-border research and innovation (R&I) collaboration in the eligible region from 22% (2014) to 33% (2023). The Programme will result in a transformation of the awareness and performance of innovation activities in the eligible region, in enhanced cross-border linkages, and in strengthened innovation capabilities in SMEs. These benefits will continue well beyond the lifetime of the project. The project involves five strands of activity that engage over 1,408 SMEs, providing education and capability development support tailored to their needs and absorptive capacities. The programme will complement existing R&I resources in the target area. It is focused on the needs of SMEs, and developing their capability to use available innovation resources. Strand, Activities, Outputs. Results: 1 Innovation Ready Reckoner; Workshops, 1,408 SMEs; Heightened awareness of the need for R&I in business and of ways to develop R&I capability. 2 Business status reviews; Innovation audits, 469 innovation audits; Participants have a thorough understanding of their R&I position, and a clear action plan to achieve their aims and objectives in terms of new product and process development. 3 Innovation Capability Development Programme, 94 SMEs, Enhanced capability. 4 Innovation graduates & academic partnership,. 70 innovation interns engaged, Jobs created; investment in human capital; development of new products and processes. 5 Business-to-Business Innovation Partnerships, 4 R&I network projects; 15 cooperative R&I projects grant-aided, Increased performance, capability and profit for SMEs; sustainable innovation networks. Information added on 2020-05-05, regarding the mitigation of the effects of COVID-19 (the corona virus pandemic that started in 2019): The Co-innovate project is looking to support a Personal Protective Equipment B2B Cluster under its Strand 5 (Business-to-Business Innovation Partnerships).

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