1. Towards an EU Label for innovation vouchers
Knowledge Exchange Platform for KETs
Jena/Thuringia, 10 – 11 November 2016
InnoVoucher Project Presentation
(Call H2020 – INNOSUP – 2014 – 6 / Proposal )
Antonio Romero Navarro

2. Today’s Objective To communicate what Innovoucher project is.
To share current state and next steps.
To ask for your collaboration for:
Participate in a survey on innovoucher vouchers
Participate in the pilot project
Disseminate this project
Submit your ideas and views on how to improve project results, to find synergies with other EU policies…

3. Background
Innovation vouchers are well established demand-side mechanisms to promote innovation by regions.
Establishing an ‘european single market for innovation services’ is an opportunity to be explored, by encouraging cross-border collaborations among SMEs and knowledge and technology providers.

4. Innovoucher Project
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no
From May 2015 to April 2018.
Boosted from DG GROW through EASME.

5. Main Objectives
To make recommendations to UE to build a collaborative framework aimed at supporting transnational exchange of innovation services in Europe.
To launch a pilot project in which other interested regions could participate.
Communication and Dissemination.
To find synergies and interconnection with other iniciatives.

6. The project will develop…
A Model for implementing transnational innovation voucher programmes in regions and countries.
A Network of territories willing to create a Single Market in Europe for knowledge and innovation services delivery
A « European label » that entitles those regions and countries to join that collaboration network.

7. Consortium Partners Country Organisation Spain Italy Belgium Romania
INFO – Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia (Regional Development Agency, Region of Murcia)
(COORDINATOR)
Italy
SVIM - Sviluppo Marche SpA
Belgium
EFLAND – Agentschap Ondernemen (Enterprise Flanders)
Romania
UEFISCDI – Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding
Poland
PARP – Polish Agency for Enterprise Development

8. INNOvoucher’s Partnership
5. Poland
3. Flanders
4. Romania
Implementing an European Label for Innovation Vouchers
2. Marche
1. Murcia

9. Partners’ experience
Innovation/Internationalisation/Entrepreneurship Vouchers have been implemented in the partner regions during the last decade.
Openness to service providers from other national regions or members states.
Co-financed by European Funds.
More than vouchers/per year!

10. Other Institutions involved
DG GROW, EASME, DG CNECT, DG REGIO
EURADA, ERRIN, CoR,…
Other european regions and countries

11. Towards an EU Label for innovation vouchers
First Steps towards to a Model

12. Key Concepts (I) Voucher Scheme or Program Label3
Voucher Scheme or Program
Label
European Entity (procedures & services)
Model 4 2 1 1
Application for Label
Awarded with Label

13. Key Concepts (II)
MODEL = a standard or example for imitation or comparison.
It’s an IDEAL Innovation Voucher Scheme
Successful Comparison will result in “labelling”
Both NEW and ALREADY RUNNING Schemes can apply for the Label
NEW Schemes should build the MODEL requirements
EXISTING Schemes should easily adjust the MODEL requirements
(Example - ISO 9000 is an Standard, an ideal model, and both new and existing enterprises should adapt to be awarded)
To determine MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS to define this IDEAL Scheme

14. Our starting point to develop the Model
Partner Experience  Abstraction  MODEL
What an Innovation Voucher Scheme is and how it works
Partner experience on key “design options” when developing IV Schemes
Other external references to develop the abstraction (i.e. the Blue Print by DGCNECT)

15. Internal discussion on first Model
These works have given us the possibility to deeply discuss on difficulties to spread a model for collaboration of Innovation Voucher Programmes in Europe:
Diversity of designs of Voucher Schemes as a Barrier to build up a Cooperation Framework
Which are the minimum requirements to award an innovation voucher scheme with the Label? (another barrier for on-going voucher schemes)
Accreditation of providers should be done with a common criteria set? …

16. First Model: Conclusions
We had to find for a more simple, flexible and open model for collaboration among territories.
Number of Criteria for award with the « label » should be reduced.
First developed model could be useful as a reference for understanding what an Innovation Voucher Programme is and how to implement in a territory.
This is a research project  re-think!!!

17. Towards a Model for collaborationEU
Entity
“LABELLING”
SERVICES …
Country
Region
Country
Region
Country
IVS1
IVS2
IVS1
IVS1
IVS1
IVS2
IVS1
IVS2
IVS3

18. A new approach
Regions & EU would sign an agreement for international collaboration (« EU Label »).
Regions to define their own catalog of services depending on real needs of local SMEs.
Provider accreditation to be done by each region/country and shared with other regions (Mutual Recognition Principle). Same conditions for both international and local providers.
Regions to keep on their own innovation voucher schemes (if already open to grant services delivered by international providers).

19. A new approach Simple, flexible and open
Not imitating a Model (barriers & costs of adaptating)
Requirements  Commitments
One single contract with UE (containing commitments, code of conduct, etc.)
Less bureaucratic Model
Delivered services to be decided by Regions without restrictions (Catalog of Services  Catalog of Categories of Services)

20. EUROPEAN GOVERNING & MANAGING AUTHORITIES CONSORTIUM PROPOSAL
EASME
ENTERPRISE
EUROPE NETWORK
EURADA &
ERRIN
TERRITORIAL MANAGING AUTHORITIES
DG GROW
D.2.8
D.2.10=[D.2.2 – D.2.7] +D.2.9

21. EUROPEAN GOVERNING & MANAGING AUTHORITIES CONSORTIUM PROPOSAL
ENTITY
GLOBAL OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
DG GROW
(European Governing Authority)
PLANS AND CONDUCTS
Direction of R&D policies
Boosting the creation of a Single Market for innovation in Europe
Monitor EASME management of network of territories with an innovation voucher programme
EASME
(European Managing Authority)
DEVELOPS, MAINTAINS AND PROMOTES “LABELLED” NETWORK OF INNOVATION VOUCHER PROGRAMMES
Awarding, renewal, monitoring and revocation of the European Label
Potential accreditation of providers from territories not included in the Network.
Reference to distributed databases of approved providers (mutual recognition mechanism)
Possibility to financial support for launching the Network.
European dissemination and promotion of the “Label”.

22. EUROPEAN GOVERNING & MANAGING AUTHORITIES CONSORTIUM PROPOSAL
ENTITY
GLOBAL OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
TERRITORIAL MANAGING AUTHORITIES
PROMOTE SPECIALISED PROVIDERS TO GO INTERNATIONALLY & MEET REQUESTERS’ NEEDS THROUGH PROVIDERS FROM ABROAD
Involve territorial providers to be accredited in the Network
Promote territorial SMEs to acquire innovation services from abroad
Grant the cost of the services

23. EUROPEAN GOVERNING & MANAGING AUTHORITIES CONSORTIUM PROPOSAL
ENTITY
GLOBAL OBJECTIVES
ACTIONS
ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK (EEN)
FACILITATES RELATIONS BETWEEN SMEs AND PROVIDERS IN DIFFERENT EUROPEAN MEMBER STATES
Support in the search of providers
Help to overcome language barriers
Facilitate agreements
Brokerage with other EEN nodes
EURADA & ERRIN
LOOK FOR NEW TERRITORIES TO BE INVOLVED IN THE NETWORK OF “LABELLED” PROGRAMMES & NEW SPECIALISED PROVIDERS TO BE ACCREDITED
Dissemination activities addressed to Regional Development Agencies, Research entities, Innovative Regions, etc. to increase the number of territories and approved providers in the “Labelled” Programme Network

24. Towards an EU Label for innovation vouchers
Next Steps

25. We are open to your participation & contributions
We need your collaboration to improve project results by giving us feedback through a SURVEY at:
To know more about different innovation voucher schemes running in Europe
To know about your interest in participating in the implementation of the pilot phase of INNOVOUCHER Project that will focus on testing the proposed methodology

26. Benefits of participation in Pilot Phase
Visibility for your Region or Country.
Boosting your enterprises and knowledge centres to export their services to other countries in Europe.
Your participation in the Project might enhance the opportunities of excellent researchers and other specialists in your Region to transfer their knowledge transnationally and accelerate the spin-in of technologies and knowledge in other enterprises.

27. We are open to your participation & contributions
You can find the SURVEY at:
Please fill in the survey and send it by 25/11/2016

28. CONTACT INFO OF COORDINATORS
@innovoucher
Project Technical management:
Antonio Romero
Inmaculada Espinosa
Project Administrative management & EU Affairs responsibilities:
Rafael Ataz
Region of Murcia EU Office (support in Brussels):
Lucía Huertas