INSME PILOT PROJECTS INSME INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR SMEs The first INSME Promoting Committee Meeting Milan 7-8 July 2003

WHAT IS AN “INSME PILOT PROJECT”? It is an initiative aimed at the ideation, experimentation and assessment of innovative practices, of a sectoral and/or factoral nature, in Countries which participate in the INSME Process. 2

THE “INSME PILOT PROJECTS”? WHICH ARE THE AIMS OF THE “INSME PILOT PROJECTS”? To stimulate SME’s innovation processes through the creation, on a reduced scale, of networks of intermediaries, services and initiatives which support innovation and technology transfer (TT) To identify, refine and select methodologies and services which can be “scaled-up” and/or reapplied To lead to further, complementary developments in other geographical areas or industrial sectors 3

ADVANTAGES OF AN INSME PILOT PROJECT Limited investments for its implementation Maximisation of the yield, in terms of acquired experience and efficacy High speed and flexibility Reduced risks and exertion 4

PARTNERS Intermediaries Networks other bodies Involved bodies: Policy Makers Intermediaries Networks other bodies operating in the field of innovation and TT to SMEs Generally involving at least two INSME Countries 5

+ FUNDING A special section of the INSME AWARD Directly funded by Members Cash In kind Co-financed by national, regional or international institutions Directly Through participation in calls for proposal + A special section of the INSME AWARD 6

At least 4 of the above CHARACTERISTICS OF INSME PILOT PROJECTS FEATURES GEOGRAPHICAL SPAN Replicable Re-applicable Scale-up Sub-national National Regional STRUCTURE NATURE Modular Flexible Sectoral Factoral LENGTH Short-medium project life cycle (max. 2 years) At least 4 of the above 7

EXAMPLES OF INSME PILOT PROJECTS New networks New services New policy instruments Specific horizontal projects creation of back-offices delocalisation and/or internationalisation of intermediaries exchanges, twinning and partnerships cooperation and connections among research bodies, intermediaries, industry and the finance sector … Etc..... 8

HOW TO PROPOSE A PROJECT REALISATION OF THE PROJECT SECRETARIAT CHECK SEND IT! NOT INSME Pilot Project INSME BOARD DON’T WORRY! TRY AGAIN!!! INSME Pilot Project PROJECT IDEA CREATE PARTNERSHIP INFORMATION OBSERVER FACILITATOR PARTNER PROJECT MANAGER INSME AWARD REALISATION OF THE PROJECT 9

FIRST INSME PILOT PROJECTS RIDITT – the Italian Network for the Diffusion of Innovation and Technology Transfer FASHION NET Pilot Project “TUNISIA” ASK INSME ... THINK TANK IDEAS YOUR IDEAS & PROPOSALS! 10

RIDITT Italian Network for Innovation and Technology Transfer to SMEs promoted by the Italian Ministry of Productive Activities and managed by IPI Started in early 2003 OBJECTIVES To promote the exchange of information, experience, methodologies, and good practices at national level; To encourage the integration, specialisation and marketing of services for SMEs’ innovation, also through the use of ICT To stimulate the creation of partnerships and projects on a sectoral and geographical basis To facilitate access to financial resources by creating, extending and developing networks for innovation To support the internationalisation of intermediaries also by using the INSME channel 11

RIDITT works as the Italian Focal Point of INSME SERVICES Portal: www.riditt.it (under construction) Information services Technical Assistance and Training Provision of Financial Grants (2004) RIDITT works as the Italian Focal Point of INSME 12

RIDITT FEATURES GEOGRAPHICAL SPAN Replicable Re-applicable Scale-up Sub- national National Regional STRUCTURE NATURE Modular Flexible Sectoral Factoral LENGTH Short- medium project life cycle (max. 2 years) 13

Further expansion of the partnership is welcome “FASHION NET” Proposal presented in April 2003 within the 6th EU RTD Framework Programme (FP6), 2002-2006 – Structuring the European Research Area (ERA) Partners: 16 Intermediaries from 8 Countries Grant requested : ~ 900,000.00 EURO Length: 24 months France (ANVAR, IFTH, IC&D) Greece (EOMMEX, CLOTEFI) Italy (IPI, APRE, CITER, TXX) Spain (ASINTEC, AITEX, ADEI) Czech Republic (INOTEX) Lithuania (LATIA) Romania (INCDTP) Turkey (KOSGEB) Further expansion of the partnership is welcome 14

“FASHION NET” OBJECTIVES To enhance the competitiveness of SMEs by both coordinating and improving access to strategic information and Economic & Technological Intelligence (ETI) tools and to qualify research and technical services To consolidate ties and integrate networks and partnerships between intermediaries, accordingly with INSME’s goals, related to the fashion industry To promote transnational SME cooperation across the enlarged Europe To facilitate SME access to FP6 To promote a knowledge-sharing process by strengthening networks for exchanging expertise, methodologies and best practices 15

“FASHION NET” ACTIVITIES Networking activities among intermediaries aiming to foster innovation and TT in the fashion system and FP6 participation among SMEs Information & Knowledge Management 2 Conferences & Network Consolidation and extension Studies & Best Practices in ETI Specific Workshops and Training Transregional Twinning & Expert Personnel Exchange 16

“FASHION NET” FEATURES GEOGRAPHICAL SPAN Replicable Re-applicable Scale-up Sub-national National Regional STRUCTURE NATURE Modular Flexible Sectoral Factoral LENGTH Short-medium project life cycle (max. 2 years) 17

Pilot Project “TUNISIA” Main Promoters: Ministry of Industry, API (Tunisia) and IPI (Italy) Started in June 2003 Expected duration: 2 YEARS OBJECTIVES To promote the internationalisation of sectoral technical centres (TC) for innovation and TT for SMEs To establish a Tunisian pilot network among TC so as to strengthen their critical mass for international activities To strengthen partnership among Tunisian and Italian TC 18

Pilot Project “TUNISIA” DRAFT ACTION PLAN Draw up a feasibility study SWOT Analysis + Demand & Supply Analysis Establishment of a consortium among selected TC Design and provision of needed interventions marketing & communication strategy training Experiencing & Testing Evaluation for potential replicability and extension to Maghreb Countries 19

Pilot Project “TUNISIA” FEATURES GEOGRAPHICAL SPAN Replicable Re-applicable Scale-up Sub-national National Regional STRUCTURE NATURE Modular Flexible Sectoral Factoral LENGTH Short-medium project life cycle (max. 2 years) 20

“ASK INSME” OBJECTIVES professional and timely answers to explicit questions given by a network of experts, grouped according to specific industrial sectors or particular subjects of interest on-line service (www.insme.info) network of experts one-to-many approach knowledge transfer tool 21

HOW DOES “ASK INSME” WORK? Knowledge Base Ask INSME Group of experts Answer 22

ASK INSME as INSME PILOT PROJECT Users Network of Experts System Test Platform Management Knowledge Base Partner INSME Secretariat 23

TIME SCHEDULE pilot service Technical “Ask INSME! Specifics 2nd OECD Ministerial Conference on SMEs Launch of the INSME Portal Q2 Q4 Q3 Q1 2003 2004 Technical Specifics pilot service “Ask INSME! – Fashion ” Experts involvement and contractual aspects Service promotion (in particular in the Promoting Committee Countries) Extension of “Ask INSME! – Fashion” on an international scale “Ask INSME!” to other thematic channels 24

ASK INSME as INSME PILOT PROJECT FEATURES GEOGRAPHICAL SPAN Replicable Re-applicable Scale-up Sub-national National Regional STRUCTURE NATURE Modular Flexible Sectoral Factoral LENGTH Short-medium project life cycle (max. 2 years) 25

www.insme.info secretariat@insme.it or grandi@ipi.it 26