Introducing service innovation into product-based manufacturing companies

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Central Europe

Date of latest update: 2023-11-15

Description

Description (EN):

CE industries are still mainly focused on manufacturing of products. Despite the investments in innovation technologies, their competitiveness is seriously challenged due to the commoditization and low cost competition from non-EU countries. The strict division of products and services has been replaced by a service-product continuum and service innovation may constitute a factor impacting directly and positively regional economic growth and societal well-being, in particular in areas with below-average economic performances (ESIC, 2015). CE SMEs are hindered by a lack of service innovation management and THINGS+ project aims to strengthen entrepreneurs’ skills on this issue. By enriching their portfolios with additional services, SMEs could increase the value delivered to their customers and improve their position on the market. Innovative business models underpinning product-service systems are needed and Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) are increasingly viewed as vital in helping traditional industry staying competitive by training entrepreneurs and creating new business opportunities. The main output of the project is a new methodology to improve entrepreneurs’ skills on introducing service innovation into manufacturing companies. By introducing servitization of products through an adequate human capital investment, the traditionally product-based firms will cope with changing market forces and shrinking markets, and may act as regional innovation motors with no need of high investments. The process of servitization of industries is a trend in the most developed EU regions and can be accelerated in the CE thanks to the capacity building actions foreseen by THINGS+. The transnational approach will help regions understanding the potential impact of service innovation as a driver for industrial transformation and competitiveness and tailoring regional service innovation-related policies to be integrated into mainstream innovation policies.

Achievements (EN):

We have successfully finished the THINGS+ project! We are proud to have touched more than 220 entrepreneurs and managers from 128 SMEs through 70 workshops in 9 CE regions! Through 2 cohorts of pilot actions, 94 new service concepts were implemented in companies, and servitisiation became widely known. Project partners also took great care to create a Policy Recommendation Paper that gives a blueprint on how to leverage project's results, implement Service Innovation Methodology on a larger scale, and help manufacturing companies throughout the EU. Aside from the companies & policymakers, THINGS+ project also managed to create a certified course for experts to become servitization managers in cooperation with CEPAS. The challenge(s) we addressed: Despite vast investments and development of innovation technologies, many industries in Central Europe still focus on product manufacturing. Low cost competition from non-EU counties, together with gradual commoditisation further challenge their competitiveness. Thus, it is essential especially for SME companies to adapt their skills and successfully overcome rapid changes, following innovation and technological progress. Servitisation of products through adequate human capital investment could be one of the solutions for a greater prosperity on an ever-changing market. THINGS+ project aims to enrich portfolio of companies with additional services that can increase value delivered to customers and improve their position on the market, by strengthening entrepreneurs skills in service innovation management. THINGS+ project is focused in transformation of traditional companies into regional innovation motors, with no excessive investments. Key output will be a new approach to improve entrepreneurs’ skills that help them introduce service innovation into manufacturing companies and increase prosperity on changing markets.

Website: https://programme2014-20.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/home.html

Expected Results (EN): R 1.2 Status of capacities of the public and private sector for skills development of employees and entrepreneurial competences achieved through transnational cooperation driving economic and social innovation in central European regions.

Expected Outputs (EN):

THINGS+ expected results will facilitate the take up of innovative services throughout the CE region leveraging on the transformation power of service innovation in strengthening existing and emerging industries and markets. The declining competitiveness of CE manufacturing SMEs will be tackled by enhancing entrepreneurs' skills in terms of innovation management and digital transformation. The projects' main expected results are: - New Service Innovation Methodology developed and adopted by KIBS project partners. It will contribute to strengthen CE regional innovation capacity. - Developed service innovation skills of ≥100 CE entrepreneurs. - New services developed by the test bed companies (≥60% will develop a new service to be put in their portfolio). - New markets opened by the test bed companies (≥10% of them will sell a new service on a CE foreign market). - CE policy makers (representing ≥ 25 PA) shared knowledge about the most advanced public support schemes for service innovation targeting traditional manufacturing SMEs. - Policy Recommendations for implementing a CE Service Innovation Inclusive Policy. These results altogether will foster the economic and social innovation of the CE regions addressed, by helping manufacturing sector greatly benefit from service innovation in terms of increased productivity and profitability on the short term and getting closer to the Industry 4.0 paradigm on the medium range, which is essential for companies’ survival.

Thematic information

New products and services SME and entrepreneurship

Specific Objective: To improve skills and entrepreneurial competences for advancing economic and social innovation in central European regions

Thematic Objective: (01) strengthening research, technological development and innovation by:

Investment Priority:

(01b) promoting business investment in R&I, developing links and synergies between enterprises, research and development centres and the higher education sector, in particular promoting investment in product and service development, technology transfer, social innovation, eco-innovation, public service applications, demand stimulation, networking, clusters and open innovation through smart specialisation, and supporting technological and applied research, pilot lines, early product validation actions, advanced manufacturing capabilities and first production, in particular in key enabling technologies and diffusion of general purpose technologies

Partners (10)

Lead Partner: Friuli Innovazione Centro di Ricerca e di Trasferimento Tecnologico scarl

Address: via Jacopo Linussio 51, 33100 Udine, Italy

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.friulinnovazione.it

Total budget: EUR 336 885.00

ERDF budget: EUR 269 508.00

Znanstveno-tehnologijski park Sveučilišta u Rijeci d.o.o.

Name: Znanstveno-tehnologijski park Sveučilišta u Rijeci d.o.o.

Address: Radmile Matejčić 10, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.step.uniri.hr

Total budget: EUR 206 804.00

ERDF budget: EUR 175 783.40

Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Bautzen GmbH

Name: Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Bautzen GmbH

Address: Preuschwitzer Straße 20, 02625 Bautzen, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.tgz-bautzen.de

Total budget: EUR 204 870.00

ERDF budget: EUR 163 896.00

Tehnološki park Ljubljana d.o.o.

Name: Tehnološki park Ljubljana d.o.o.

Address: Tehnoloski park, building B 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.tp-lj.si/

Total budget: EUR 201 426.50

ERDF budget: EUR 171 212.52

Województwo Łódzkie

Name: Województwo Łódzkie

Department: Department of Regional Policy

Address: Pilsudskiego str. 8, 90-051 Lodz, Poland

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.lodzkie.pl

Total budget: EUR 170 005.00

ERDF budget: EUR 144 504.25

Innovations- und Technologietransfer Salzburg GmbH

Name: Innovations- und Technologietransfer Salzburg GmbH

Address: Südtiroler Platz 11, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.itg-salzburg.at

Total budget: EUR 167 172.50

ERDF budget: EUR 133 738.00

Regione del Veneto – Sezione Ricerca e Innovazione

Name: Regione del Veneto – Sezione Ricerca e Innovazione

Department: Research and Innovation Unit

Address: Fondamenta Santa Lucia, Cannaregio 23, 30123 Venezia, Italy

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.regione.veneto.it

Total budget: EUR 158 817.50

ERDF budget: EUR 127 054.00

Slovak Business Agency

Name: Slovak Business Agency

Department: Department of International Activities

Address: Karadžičova 2, 82109 Bratislava, Slovakia

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.sbagency.sk

Total budget: EUR 150 547.50

ERDF budget: EUR 127 965.38

Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Megyei Fejlesztési Ügynökség Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.

Name: Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Megyei Fejlesztési Ügynökség Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.

Address: Városház tér 1, 3525 Miskolc, Hungary

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 146 749.00

ERDF budget: EUR 124 736.65

BizGarden, s.r.o.

Name: BizGarden, s.r.o.

Address: Příkop 2a, 60200 Brno, Czech Republic

Legal status: private

Website: http://bic-rtd.cz/en/home/index.html

Total budget: EUR 146 022.50

ERDF budget: EUR 124 119.12

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Introducing service innovation into product-based manufacturing companies

Project acronym: THINGS+

Project start date: 2017-06-01

Project end date: 2020-10-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 889 299.50

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 562 517.32

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 82.50%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 562 517.32.

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.

Brochures / magazines / manuals

Smart Solutions for Smart Products in Central Europe

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Guidelines on Service Innovation Learning System

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2018-05-25

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Key Tools Portfolio for Servitization of CE Product-based Manufacturing Companies / Phase 1 - Revised

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2019-03-26

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Key Tools Portfolio for Servitization of CE Product-based Manufacturing Companies / Phase 2 - Revised

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2019-03-26

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Key Tools Portfolio for Servitization of CE Product-based Manufacturing Companies / Phases 3,4 & 5 - Revised

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2019-03-26

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Helping manufacturing companies become more competitive by introducing service innovation.

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

THINGS+ Service Innovation Methodology - Transforming the Central European manufacturing industry

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Introducing Service Innovation into Product-based Companies in Central Europe - Selected works of The Things+ servitization pilot projects

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Introducing Service Innovation into Product-based Companies in Central Europe - Selected works of The Things+ servitization pilot projects 2

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Introducing Service Innovation into Product-based Companies in Central Europe - Selected works of The Things+ servitization pilot projects 3

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Catalogues

List of CE Companies Admitted to the Second Cohort

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Catalogue

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2019-05-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Media releases / articles

THINGS+ Newsletter #1

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2017-12-27

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

THINGS+ Newsletter #2

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2018-05-14

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

THINGS+ Newsletter #3

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2019-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

THINGS+ Newsletter #4

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2019-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

THINGS+ Newsletter #5

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

THINGS+ Newsletter #6

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Media release / article

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Flyers

Introducing service innovation into productbased manufacturing companies

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

The THINGS+ project

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

The THINGS+ Service Innovation Methodology

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Piloting Servitization in Central Europe Small Companies

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

The THINGS+ Skillset for Servitization

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Servitization of Companies - Why create a product, if you can develop a service?

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Flyer

Data source: https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/THINGS-.html

Publication date: 2022-09-21

Document date: 2020-10-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

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

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Central Europe

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)

138 / 138 (100%)

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

1 434 / 1 434 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (https://www.interreg-central.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-09-20 and 2024-01-30.

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.

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Contact Form

Introducing service innovation into product-based manufacturing companies

Description

Thematic information

Partners (10)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

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

Disclaimer