ACcelerating SmE innovation capacities with a Living Lab approach

Programme 2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-08-09

Description

Description (EN):

Megatrends like ageing populations and digitalization require but also enable a multi-dimensional approach. While new innovative value sources are created, it is also necessary to attain new capabilities. Especially SMEs lack the resources or capacities to deal with these dynamic and increasingly complex market conditions, needing to go outside to create value in ecosystems. The overall objective of ACSELL is to sensitize the public sector, innovation intermediaries (e.g., chambers of commerce, technology transfer offices, etc.) and SMEs towards -- integrating the user already early in the innovation process and -- expanding SME competencies by following the (interregional) living lab approach. SMEs greatly benefit from ecosystems that enable collaboration, orchestration, creation and networking. Access to smart and integrated (inter)regional policy instruments, a vibrant (value chain) ecosystem and relevant competencies will pave the way towards demand-driven and thus effective and efficient innovation, simultaneously solving societal challenges and supporting economic growth. ACSELL will facilitate complex policy orchestration and promote network thinking, openness and collaboration through 1) concerted twinning activities in the form of study visits based on comprehensive self-assessments, 2) knowledge exchange and mutual learning by identifying transferable good practices and hacking regional policy challenges and 3) accelerating innovative capacities through improved innovation policy and access to SME policy instruments. What is the optimal framework for nudging that paradigm shift towards open and demand-driven innovation? How can mutually reinforcing value propositions be attained in a multi-dimensional ecosystem? These questions will guide activities that will feed into the action plans for each region.

Achievements (EN): In terms of activities, the project has organised a total of 81 policy learning events. It has also identified 14 good practices, produced 7 action plans and led to the increased capacity of 69 people.

Website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/interreg-europe-2014-2020

Expected Results (EN):

The overall objective for improving innovation and development policies is to sensitize decision-makers, innovation intermediaries (e.g., chambers of commerce, technology/transfer managers, etc.) and SMEs not only towards the benefits of demand-driven innovation, but also how (transnational) living labs can contribute to expanding the competencies of SMEs. Policy action to boost the growth prospects in the form of innovation capacities of start-ups and SMEs is essential. With access to adequate regional and national policy instruments, SME competitiveness can be enhanced with a combination of deep integration, smart regional policies, a vibrant (value chain) ecosystem and relevant capacities. ACSELL will facilitate complex policy orchestration and promote network thinking, openness and collaboration through 1) concerted twinning activities in the form of study visits based on comprehensive self-assessments, 2) knowledge exchange and mutual learning by identifying transferable good practices and hacking regional policy challenges and 3) accelerating innovative capacities through targeted coaching and webinars on e.g., design thinking and co-creation. Therefore, the following sub-objectives are at the forefront of the project proposal: • provide 7 comprehensive self and expert assessments of SME support services and overall policy framework encouraging structured dialogue, multi-stakeholder and collaborative ecosystems as well as a (mutual) learning culture. • generate 7 regional action plans on how to improve SME capacities and access to policy instruments. • disseminate at least 7 case studies on transferable good practices to at least 50 regions through high-quality and multi-stakeholder networks in Europe and worldwide.

Expected Outputs (EN):

Over the entire project period: 7 Steering Committee (SC) meetings, of which the first 6 are combined with transfer panel (TP) meetings. Kick-Off meeting at the end of semester 1. 6 regional stakeholder meetings per region per semester where the upcoming events are prepared and the experiences and learnings from past events shared with local target groups. 7 twinning exchanges will not only exchange experiences but also further identify and assess transferable good practices, barriers to SMEs and mutually reinforcing value propositions for leveraging ecosystem partners. 2 polithons will hone capacities with respect to the living lab approach and design thinking, provide coaching and hack SME policy instruments and enabling exchange of values in ecosystems. 1 interregional workshop for peer reviewing action plans where using the OSAT and consensus methodology. Expected outputs from step 1 – Identification and Analysis: Online Self-Assessment Tool (OSAT) adapted to the topic of accelerating SME innovative capacities (which could be used in other non-ACSELL regions). 7 comprehensive self and expert assessments of ACSELL region’s SME support services and their overall policy framework. 3 optimally matched twinning pairs based on the OSAT in order to enhance learning . Expected outputs from Step 2 – experience exchange and mutual learning: 6 twinning exchanges focusing on good practices and challenges (e.g., barriers to SMEs and mutually reinforcing value propositions for leveraging ecosystem partners) and accordingly at least 7 transferable good practices . 2 polithons hacking SME policy and accordingly 7 solutions to 7 challenges on how to improve policy, better engage SMEs and promote the demand-driven living lab approach. 7 case studies on good practices to at least 50 regions through high-quality and multi-stakeholder networks in Europe and worldwide. Expected outputs from Step 3 – knowledge transfer and action plans: 7 action plans on how to improve innovation policy and access to SME policy instruments and create mutually beneficial value cases. Expected results of the ACSELL project will be: • Increased smartness and coherence of innovation policy mix at the regional, transregional and national level — broad policy environment. • Concrete measures implemented for strengthening the collaboration in not only research and innovation (infra)structures (i.e. hubs), but across the entire (value chain) ecosystem with the living lab approach. • Deep integration for immediate environment. • Enhanced overall capacities of SMEs to connect, compete and change with respect to increasing dynamics and complexity. • Firms own capacities.

Thematic information

Innovation capacity and awareness-raising SME and entrepreneurship

Specific Objective: Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, ETC programmes, supporting SMEs in all stages of their life cycle to develop and achieve growth and engage in innovation

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

Investment Priority: (03d) supporting the capacity of SMEs to grow in regional, national and international markets, and to engage in innovation processes

Partners (8)

Lead Partner: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen

Address: Geschwister Scholl Platz 1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany

Legal status: public

Total budget: EUR 546 305.00

ERDF budget: EUR 464 359.25

Consiliul Judeţean Timiş

Name: Consiliul Judeţean Timiş

Address: Bd. Revolutiei din 1989 Nr.17, 300034 Timisoara, Romania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.cjtimis.ro

Total budget: EUR 150 900.00

ERDF budget: EUR 128 265.00

Tehnološki park Ljubljana d.o.o.

Name: Tehnološki park Ljubljana d.o.o.

Address: Tehnoloski park 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: private

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

Total budget: EUR 171 380.00

ERDF budget: EUR 128 535.00

INCE INIZIATIVA CENTRO EUROPEA – SEGRETARIATO ESECUTIVO

Name: INCE INIZIATIVA CENTRO EUROPEA – SEGRETARIATO ESECUTIVO

Address: Via Genova 9, 34121 Trieste, Italy

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.cei.int

Total budget: EUR 183 750.00

ERDF budget: EUR 156 187.50

Scottish Government

Name: Scottish Government

Department: Technology Enabled Care and Digital Healthcare Innovation Division (TEC Division)

Address: St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, EH1 3 DG Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ehealth.scot

Total budget: EUR 193 790.00

ERDF budget: EUR 164 721.50

Region Nordjylland

Name: Region Nordjylland

Department: Ideklinikken

Address: Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark

Legal status: public

Website: http://ideklinikken.rn.dk/

Total budget: EUR 199 175.00

ERDF budget: EUR 169 298.75

Thomas More Kempen vzw

Name: Thomas More Kempen vzw

Department: LiCalab

Address: Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440 Geel, Belgium

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.licalab.be

Total budget: EUR 232 989.00

ERDF budget: EUR 198 040.65

Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen

Name: Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen

Address: Koning Albert II-laan 35, 1030 Brussels, Belgium

Legal status: public

Website: https://www.vlaio.be

Total budget: EUR 74 060.00

ERDF budget: EUR 62 951.00

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): ACcelerating SmE innovation capacities with a Living Lab approach

Project acronym: ACSELL

Project start date: 2019-08-01

Project end date: 2023-07-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 752 349.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 472 358.65

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 472 358.65.

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.

Reports

Action Plan - Technology Park Ljubljana

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2022-07-22

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan for Baden Württemberg

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2022-07-15

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan for Central European Initiative – Executive Secretariat

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2023-07-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan for Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2022-07-19

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan for North Denmark Region

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2022-03-22

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action Plan for the Scottish Goverment

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2022-05-16

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Action plan for Timis county council

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2022-05-09

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Studies / surveys

Establishing a sustainable living lab

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2023-07-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

ACSELL - Accelerating SME Innovative Capacities With the Living Lab Approach

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2021-02-03

Languages: en

Scaling up SMEs in the midst of Corona

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://projects2014-2020.interregeurope.eu/acsell/

Publication date: 2024-08-02

Document date: 2021-03-01

Languages: en

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

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Interreg Europe

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

2023-10-31

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

258 / 258 (100%)

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

2 084 / 2 085 (99.95%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme.

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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ACcelerating SmE innovation capacities with a Living Lab approach

Description

Thematic information

Partners (8)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

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

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