Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Estonia - Latvia

Date of latest update: 2023-11-15

Description

Description (EN):

Project’s background: Current project is initiated between Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region. These regions are very similar by their economic profile. Main industries of these regions are wood, food and tourism. Current project is targeted on strengthening the wood and furniture industry, as wood industry is recognized as smart specialization sector in sustainable development strategies of both regions. Wood and furniture industry in both regions is recognized as traditional industry. But there are still lot of opportunities for innovation and developing high added value products, because still at least 40% unprocessed wood, logs are exported to other countries. If we look at the statistics, economic growth can be increased, if innovations are brought in the sector and export capacity of companies is increased. To solve this problem, it is important to bring together public, private and educational/since sectors and start experience exchange not only on regional and national level, but also on international level. Project partners have organized two meetings also with industry experts (relevant clusters and competence centres), where industry problems and potential activities to target these problems were discussed. All planned project activities are developed based on experience and opinion of both regions industry experts. Cross-border nature of the project: The project comprises different activities, which bring together Estonian and Latvian entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, students and future partners in export markets. Participation in most of the events requires active networking, involvement and cooperation between Estonian-Latvian companies, thus directly contributing to the development of cross border business cooperation. While introducing Estonian-Latvian wood and furniture entrepreneurs and young people in the sector to each other, we also introduce the idea of further cross-border cooperation among companies and industry stakeholders. Aim of the cross border cooperation activities is to bring awareness of importance of cooperation to help solve different problems and challenges more effectively. As a result, bigger share of wood and furniture entrepreneurs and new businesses in Võru and Vidzeme region will be ready for cross-border cooperation during the project and after the end of it. It will support economic growth in the wood and furniture sector in partner regions. Objective of the project: The objective of the project is to enhance cross-border cooperation in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region between wood and furniture sector companies to innovate industry and add value to wood and furniture products, introduce design-thinking and increase export capacity. Activities of the project: Activities of the project are set up in logical sequence and can be divided into three themes: promotion and application of innovation and design in wood products development process; increasing export capacity (knowledge and know-how); creating contacts and networks in partner region and in potential export markets. Project begins with (1) research to summarize and analyse main tendencies and opportunities of the target industry. Results of the research will help to develop and implement educational acitivities of the project. Project will be introduced to target groups with a help of take-off event (2) Garage48, which will focus on first theme. Garage48 will be so-called hardware hackathon concentrating on wood industry challanges and its’ possibilities. It will involve participants from different target groups and backgrounds. Participants will form cross-border and cross-sectoral teams to develop over 48 hours new products or solve industries’ problems. This will be followed by two (3) innovation and design workshops (one in Võru County and other in Vidzeme region). The focus of one workshop will be on furniture and other on wood. Target groups of the workshops are from both regions. After the design workshop has been carried out, a (4) promotional video will be made about the regions and most innovative and design-oriented wood and furniture companies in the area. This video is meant mainly as a tool for the effective implementation of the project for both partners. Also two (5) workshops on export will be carried out (one in Vidzeme and other in Võru region). The markets, which the workshops will focus on, will be selected based on the results of the research carried out in the beginning of the project. On the second day, more practical training about communication in specific markets will be carried out. End of the project is focused on networking, establishing contacts and experience exchange. (6) Contact visits between partner regions’ companies will be held to introduce neighbouring companies to business leaders from the partner region – to get to know with good practices and exchange experiences in business development in the industry. (7) Trade missions from selected export target countries are invited to visit the area. Missions will involve visits to the companies from both regions and joint networking seminars. The aim of the activity is to create real business contacts. Most active participants of the project have an opportunity at the end of the project to (8) visit to international exhibition, which will be selected based on the results of the research. Also a seminar between our industry representatives and potential export partners will be carried out during the visit.

Achievements (EN):

The objective of the project was to enhance cross-border cooperation in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region between wood and furniture sector companies to innovate the industry and add value to wood and furniture products, introduce design-thinking and increase export capacity. Activities of the project have been divided into three themes: 1) promotion and application of innovation and design in the wood products development process, 2) increasing export capacity (knowledge and know-how), 3) creating contacts and networks in partner region and in potential export markets. Activities carried out during project lifetime: The (1) research served as a base for decisions about possible target markets and summarized the main tendencies and opportunities of the target industry. Project's take-off event, (2) Garage48 Wood hackathon, the first time hackathon-format was implied in relation to wood as a material. It involved participants from different target groups and backgrounds. Participants formed cross-border and cross-sectoral teams to develop new products and prototypes over 48 hours to solve industry challenges and problems. It was followed by (3) innovation and design workshops. The focus of one workshop was on furniture and others on the wood building. As well as two (4) workshops on export were carried out (workshops were held in Valmiera, Vidzeme, and in Tsenter, Võru region). A (5) promotional video was made about the regions and most innovative and design-oriented wood and furniture companies in the area. It contained summary clips about 6 companies in Võru region and 6 in Vidzeme region and can be watched below. (6) Contact visits between partner regions’ companies were held to introduce neighboring companies to business leaders from the partner region to get to know and exchange experiences in business development in the industry. (7) Trade missions from selected export target countries – Norway, Sweden, and Denmark - were invited to visit the area. The aim of the activity was to create real business contacts. The second hackathon (8) Garage48 Wood 2 was held in Cesis, Latvia, and was based on the success of the initial Garage48 Wood hackathon. Most active participants of the project were invited to (9) visit an international exhibition IMM Cologne Furniture Fair in Cologne, Germany. As companies are always looking for smarter ways to give more value to their products and services and find ways to improve their export capabilities, the companies valued highly the clear step-by-step instructions they received both in design workshops and export workshops as well as from the design and export guidelines that are available on both partners websites and as a project material on this page. The contacts between Latvian and Estonian Furniture Associations were reestablished and it created a better foundation to collaborate in export activities also in the future. 329 participants took part in 11 joint project events and 30 SMEs benefited from the project activities and received non-financial support.

Website: https://old.estlat.eu/

Expected Results (EN): The share of entrepreneurs and new businesses in the region, which are ready for cross-border cooperation

Expected Outputs (EN):

The project comprises many different events, which bring together Estonian and Latvian entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, students and future partners in export markets. Also study visits will be carried out to working companies from both of the regions. Participation in most of the events requires active networking, involvement and cooperation between Estonian and Latvian companies and people, thus directly contributing to the development of cross border business cooperation. While introducing Estonian-Latvian wood and furniture entrepreneurs and young people in the sector to each other, we also introduce the idea of further cross-border cooperation among companies and industry stakeholders. As a result, bigger share of wood and furniture entrepreneurs and new businesses in Võru and Vidzeme region will be ready for cross-border cooperation during the project and after the end of it.

Thematic information

Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks Agriculture and fisheries and forestry

Specific Objective: Increased entrepreneurial cross-border cooperation in the programme area

Thematic Objective: (03) enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs by:

Investment Priority: (03a) promoting entrepreneurship, in particular by facilitating the economic exploitation of new ideas and fostering the creation of new firms, including through business incubators

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: Võrumaa Kutsehariduskeskus

Address: Kooli tee 1, 65566 Võru vald, Väimela, Estonia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.vkhk.ee

Total budget: EUR 163 271.34

ERDF budget: EUR 138 780.64

Vidzemes plānošanas reģions

Name: Vidzemes plānošanas reģions

Address: Jāņa Poruka iela 8, LV-4101 Cēsu novads, Latvia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.vidzeme.lv

Total budget: EUR 117 110.96

ERDF budget: EUR 99 544.32

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Vidzeme Planning Region

Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region

Partners and Projects info

Vorumaa Kutsehariduskeskus

Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region

Project acronym: Wood and Furniture

Project start date: 2017-04-10

Project end date: 2019-03-09

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 280 382.30

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 238 324.96

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 238 324.96.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Studies / surveys

Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County (Vöry region) and Vidzeme Planning Region (Wood & Furniture)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: http://jauna.vidzeme.lv/upload/WF/Innovation_and_export_of_wood_and_furniture_in_Voru_and_Vidzeme_Planning_Region_Wood__Furniture_Part_2-ENG.pdf

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2017-11-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Reports

Market report: Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County (Vöry region) and Vidzeme Planning Region (Wood & Furniture)

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://tsenter.ee/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Labots_Reports_2_MeKA_Novembris_2017_3-003_EN_corr.pdf

Publication date: 2020-01-27

Document date: 2017-08-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

VERU APGABALA UN VIDZEMES PLĀNOŠANAS REĢIONA KOKAPSTRĀDES UN MĒBEĻU INDUSTRIJAS SITUĀCIJAS APRAKSTS UN REKOMENDĀCIJAS EKSPORTSPĒJAS VEICINĀŠANAI

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://estlat.eu/en/estlat-results/wood-and-furniture.html

Publication date: 2022-08-31

Document date: 2018-12-31

Languages: lv

Attachment file: Download

DESCRIPTION OF THE SITUATION IN THE VÕRU COUNTY AND VIDZEME PLANNING REGION OF THE WOOD AND FURNITURE INDUSTRY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROMOTING EXPORT CAPACITY

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://estlat.eu/en/estlat-results/wood-and-furniture.html

Publication date: 2022-08-31

Document date: 2018-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Brochures / magazines / manuals

Product / Service Development: DESIGN & EXPORT GUIDELINES

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://estlat.eu/en/estlat-results/wood-and-furniture.html

Publication date: 2022-08-31

Document date: 2019-03-09

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

Kokrūpniecības nozare Veru apgabalā

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://estlat.eu/en/estlat-results/wood-and-furniture.html

Publication date: 2022-08-31

Document date: 2018-09-17

Languages: en, lv

Kokrūpniecības nozare Vidzemes plānošanas reģionā

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://estlat.eu/en/estlat-results/wood-and-furniture.html

Publication date: 2022-08-31

Document date: 2018-09-17

Languages: en, lv

Kokrūpniecības nozare Vidzemē un Veru

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://estlat.eu/en/estlat-results/wood-and-furniture.html

Publication date: 2022-08-31

Document date: 2018-09-17

Languages: en, lv

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG V-A Estonia - Latvia

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2023-11-02

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

55 / 55 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

329 / 329 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.estlat.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-11-08 and 2024-03-08.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

Languages

Contact Form

Innovation and export of wood and furniture in Võru County and Vidzeme Planning Region

Description

Thematic information

Partners (2)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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