SuperBIO: Evaluation Els Van de Velde Els.vandevelde@ideaconsult.be

Introduction The objective of this study is to evaluate the current situation of the SuperBIO project, its efficiency and effectiveness, and to formulate recommendations for future innovation support programs, in particular in light of the large-scale demonstrator approach as defined by the EC. Based on: Desk research of available information: SuperBIO project proposal, project reporting documents (evaluation forms, value chain reports, etc.), SME application forms, the survey filled in by the participating SMEs, meetings and seminars with stakeholders, and event feedback forms. Data and interviews with stakeholders and SMEs

SuperBIO´s evaluation framework Problems and challenges Strategic goals Operational goals Implementation Output Results Impact New value chains need to be performed at EU level to ensure a critical mass and a synergetic effect with smart specialisation strategies. Requirements to develop new value chains: Actors: End-users, building block producers and R&D technology providers Actions: Coaching, mentoring and networking SMEs´ needs: A professional business case and an industrial proof of concept (needed to convince investors to support them) TRL 4 To develop new, disruptive and sustainable cross-sectoral and cross-national industrial value chains To realise innovations that have the potential to penetrate in the market; To create open collaboration To provide a comprehensive innovation support program To facilitate access to extra support Target SMEs in the bio-based economy with an innovative product at TRL4 Structured networking and interactions among stakeholders (WP1 and 6), (Open Collaboration Space) Offer 10 services that SMEs can need (WP4) Offer support of 60,000 euros (75% cofinanced) (WP4) To develop new value chain concepts (WP2), and turn them into real value chains (WP3) To monitor the impact of the support services on innovation of the SMEs (WP5) and the value chains To ensure that investors will get involved (WP6) Input: Human resources Financial resources Infrastructures Actions: Project management Communication and dissemination Value chain development Services To develop at least 10 new bio-based value chains that will affect at least 30 SMEs To develop an open collaboration space: To offer a defined list of 10 services To support the provision of services by co-funding up to 80% of the cost of services with a value of max 65.000 euros At the level of the supported SMEs: To increase innovation performance, resource efficiency, turnover, and growth To improve the business environment To foster new ideas for innovation and new collaboration partnerships To improve innovation capacity and integration of new knowledge To strengthen industrial leadership, competitiveness and growth in the EU and Associated Countries To stimulate the creation of new globally competitive industrial value chains To foster the development of a resource-efficient economy To reduce the environmental impact of the industry through the use of bio-based products To leverage and complement support for innovation in SMEs and other funding schemes (national or regional, including ESIF and private investors) Contribute to regional smart specialisation strategies

Main indicators related to SuperBIO’s output Evaluation criteria Survey items Sum of the percentage of respondents that indicated that they “Agree” or “Strongly agree” with each of the items Number of responses Adequacy Support was easy to access 93% 29 The support offer provided the right knowledge and expertise to help my business 89% 28 The project understood the needs to my business 82% The support I received met my expectations 79% Effectiveness The support was value for money 78% 27 Efficiency The support I received met the needs to my business 64% Source: IDEA Consult on the basis of the survey to the project beneficiaries launched by the SuperBIO project.

Indicators on efficiency and sustainability Source: IDEA Consult on the basis of the survey to the project beneficiaries launched by the SuperBIO project.

Survey of participating companies: The SuperBIO project contributed to… 8 out of 10 companies agree or strongly agree that SuperBIO contributed to improving the competitiveness of their value chain 7 out of 10 companies agree or strongly agree that SuperBIO contributes to fostering an environment for new collaborations and to improving the sustainability of the value chain, 7 say that networking and interaction with other companies increased during the project AND continued after the project had ended. 2 say that it did not change as a result of the project. The consensus is low on whether SuperBIO contributes to regional ecosystems and regional smart specialisation strategies. Expectations/goals to participate: To accelerate the development of new products or services (10) To create a cross-national value chain (8) To increase my knowledge base (8) To expand my network with partners along the value chain (8) To buid cooperations along the value chain (8) Not an initial goal: To have access to investors (0) To have access to relevant services inside my country (2) To attract other public funding (2) To attract private investors for my project (3) To foster collaboration with other participants in the SuperBIO project (3) To acquire new skills (3) The most common effecs that have realised during the project or between the end of the project and now are: To identify partners in the value chain (9/10) To identify skilled service providers (8 during the project +1 between end and now) To have access to relevant services outside my country (8 during the project + 2 still expected) To expand my network with partners along the value chain (7 during the project +1 between end and now + 2 still expected) To increase my knowledge base (6 during the project +3 between end and now) To create a cross-national value chain (7 during the project + 2 still expected) To build cooperations across the value chain (7 during the project + 2 still expected) To accelerate the development of new products or services (6 during the project +1 between end and now + 2 still expected) To connect with other actors in the value chain (6 during the project +1 between end and now + 1 still expected)

Survey of participating companies: Economic effects Impact on investments Impact on employment Impact on turnover e.g. estimated investments needed for building a plant e.g. estimated employment when sales are realised (operators, accounting, etc.) e.g. estimated revenues, often not realised yet but expected if succesful

Recommendations On project implementation and effectiveness On monitoring On the creation of the SuperBIO Innovation Script On future innovation support programmes On the legacy of SuperBIO in the light of the large-scale demonstrator approach

Main recommendations Provide the value chain support only to those whose technology is sufficiently close to market. Keep the co-financing system as it guarantees the SMEs´ motivation and a strong impact of the intervention. Offer larger vouchers for more expensive services (i.e. proof-of-concept) to attract more mature companies and to increase the use and impact of the other services offered. Adapt the language used when communicating to SMEs to their needs and context.

Main recommendations The large scale demonstrator approach has a demonstrated EU added value: It connects national and regional ecosystems that would otherwise be disconnected It helps companies to access the services of organisations located in other countries, facilitating knowledge transfer and access to new markets Building cross-border value chains is positive for participating companies, but not all companies need it The provision of cross-border services is key to generate a pan- European ecosystem.

Survey of participating companies: The SuperBIO project should… Agreement by 8 or 9 out of 10 companies to the first four recommendations in the graph: cooperation and co-financing are important, but allowing access to services from outside the consortium would mean an improvement for the companies. Also 6 out of 10 agree that language used should be adapted to the needs and context of SMEs and that larger vouchers are welcome. HOWEVER during the interviews, participants emphasised that larger vouchers should not mean that fewer companies can take part in the project. It is much appreciated that SMEs have access and that their chance for being selected is sufficiently large to make it worthwhile.

Main discussion points Importance of a co-financing system to guarantee the SMEs´ motivation and to enable a strong impact of the intervention Availability of cross-border services and value chains to generate a pan-European ecosystem Need to set up a voucher system to allow companies to use services offered by actors outside their region

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