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Establishing partnerships and maximising synergiesPromoting knowledge transfer: networks and exchanges

Example: “Innovation Assistant”

Irma Priedl Amt der NÖ Landesregierung

Establishing partnerships and maximising synergiesPromoting knowledge transfer: networks and exchanges

Example: “Innovation Assistant”

Irma Priedl Amt der NÖ Landesregierung

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Niederösterreich – some geographical & structural data

• Largest province of Austria

• 1.55 mill. Inhabitants

• Area of 19.174 square km

• Approx. 7% unemployment rate

• Very heterogeneous economic structure

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Continuous improvement process of Regional Innovation System NÖ

1997

2001 20041999

Development of theRIS NÖ Strategy

Implementation ofthe RIS NÖ Strategy

Development of the holistic Regional

Innovation System

•Intensification of cooperation of enterprises, research and administration in Lower Austria in the field of innovation

•Sharpening the innovation profile of Lower Austria and international positioning of the region

•Achieving consensuson the orientation of the RIS Strategy Lower Austria

•Definition of 5 strategic corner pillars for RIS Lower Austria

•Definition of role allocation of the regional actors

2008

•Establishment of Lower Austrian innovation system as European benchmark

•Positioning and Lead of Lower Austria for an innovation strategy „Vienna Region“

Vision:Establishment of NÖ as „Top“ innovation region

in Europe

•Start of implementationof strategic cornerpillars

•Start and realisation of projects that complement the corner pillars

•Orientation of the Obj. 2 New and INTERREG IIIa Programme towards the Regional Innovation Strategy Lower Austria

1999 2001 2002 2008

… was initiated in 1997 with the development of the Regional Innovation Strategy Lower Austria

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RIS++ NÖ: Basic information

Regional Program of Innovative Actions (RPIA) Lower Austria : 2002 to 2004

Total Budget: 6.000.000 Euro

Strategic themes:

Regional economies based on knowledge and technological innovation

the information society at the service of regional development

Actions:

• Dialogue Science – Economy – Policy & Administration

Innovation Assistant

Experts dialogue

• Strategic User Value Orientation

• IT Pilot-Projects for B-to-B Solutions

• Pre-Seed Acceleration for Technology Based Firms

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Innovation assistant Objectives / Frame conditions:

Fostering the innovation capability and culture within SMEs

Stimulation of SMEs, especially with no or little experience with graduated employees,

Innovation assistant must be a new employee and recently graduated (university or university of applied sciences).

Innovation assistant has to be employed for a specific innovation projectImplementation of a specific innovation project within the SME (R&D,

internal management and organisation, communication and information).

Funding for a maximum of 15 months

open for SMEs of all sectors of industry and industry related services

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Innovation assistant type of support

Grant of the labor costs of the innovation assistant (50% for the first 8 months of employment, 35% for further max. 7 months) with a maximum amount of € 18.385,-;

Mandatory training of the innovation assistant by a specially designed post graduated training program established at the Danube University Krems (100%)

Grant of max. 50% of costs for project related, accompanying trainings up to € 3.000,-;

Funding of project and innovation assistant coaching and monitoring (100%, max. € 5.240,- ) by an external consultants.

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Innovation assistant mid term results

Duration:

2002 – 2004 within the Regional Program of Innovative Actions (RPIA) Lower Austria

2004 – 2006 within the standard funding programme of the department of economy and technology of the Lower Austrian Government

Since July 2005 mainstream to the Obj. 2 programme of Lower Austria

Results:

• 6 rounds are approved

• 49 innovation assistants are on their job

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companies represent the following sectors:

Production:air conditioning and heating technology, machine building,food preparation, wood construction,special chemistry

Service:information technology, innovation management consultancy etc.

Companies participatingin the evaluation

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Funding projects carried out by the Innovation Assistants:

Development of new construction elements, construction of technical devicesSupply Chain optimization, introduction of logistics monitoring system Patenting of new production methods

Companies participatingin the evaluation

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funding was de cisiv e for starting the

proje ct31%

funding substantially

facilitate d the proje ct

57%

Stimulating effectof the funding programme

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Stimulating growthin the companies funded

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Development of turn overin the companies funded

PLUS

5 % - 50 %

PLUS

5%-50%

r is in g71%

u n ch an g e d29%

PLUS

5%-50%

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Development of earningsin the companies funded

PLUS

5 % - 50 %

unchanged43%

rising50%

falling7%

PLUS

3%-30%

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Employment effectof the funding programme

Long-term employment of the innovation assistant PLUS additional new jobs created

Long-term employment of the innovation

assistant13%

innovation assistant no

longer employed in the company

13%

1-6 new

jobs

Production, R&D, order processing, sales

department, new business field, etc.

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Companies´ investments stimulated by the funding programme

Average investment volume

ca. 200.000 €

In 1000 €

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Strengthening the competitivenessof the companies funded

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proce ss innova tion

21%

1-2 ne wproducts / se rvice s

29%

> 2 ne wproducts / se rvice s

50%

Development of innovative products / services

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broa de ning of hom e m a rke t

position39% broa de ning of

e x port m a rke t position

19%

se curing of hom e m a rke t position

16%

ope ning up of ne w e x port

m a rke ts13%

ope ning up of ne w hom e

m a rke t fie ld13%

Competitiveness in the home market / in export markets

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te chnological jump7%

minor improv e me nt

21%

significant improv e me nt

72%

Technological positioningof the companies funded

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Building innovation networksstimulated by the funding project

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ne w coope ra tionsof continue d significa nce

58%

no ne w coope ra tions

21%

coope ra tions lim ite d to the

funding proje ct21%

Stimulation ofcooperation culture

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Know-How transferthrough new cooperations

co o p e ratio n s w ith o th e r co mp an ie s

50%

co o p e ratio n s w ith R&D

in stitu tio n s25%

co o p e ratio n s w ith

u n iv e rsitie s25%

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Organisational developmentof the companies funded

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Introduction of modern project management methods stimulating further innovation

100 %of the participating

companies are planning further innovative projects

after the the end of the funding project

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project management

43%

division management

36%

member of management

board7%

assistant recruited by competitor

14%

Professional prospectsof the Innovation Assistants

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Strengthening of competitivenessca. 80 % innovative products / ca. 20 % innovative processes created

during funding projectca. 80 % significant technological improvements

Improvement of market positionca. 2/3 in the home market, ca. 1/3 in export markets

Introduction of modern management methodsMore than 90 % improved their project managementCa. 80 % organisational change activities

Stimulation of cooperation culture and know how transfer More than 50% established new long term cooperations, 50% improved collaboration with RTD and/or universities

Summary (1)

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Growth of the companies fundedMore than 85 % created new jobsMore than 70 % with rising salesMore than 50 % with rising earnings

Stimulation of companies´ investmentsIn average additional investments amounting 200.000 €

in each company funded

Innovation Assistents turned into important kwow-how owners and perspective managers in their companies!

Summary (2)

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Consulting -> accompanying evaluation

The consulting foreseen in the pilot phase was transferred into an accompanying evaluation.

Upgrade of the training programme

From a workshop concept to a academic training course.

Project description

A meeting at the very beginning between regional authority and interested SME enables to improve the project setup.

Mobilisation

Still hard to mobilize SME with 50 to 100 employees to take part in the programme

Experiences Pilot-Project -> Implementation

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Thank you for your attention !

Irma Priedl

Amt der NÖ Landesregierung

Abteilung Wirtschaft und Technologie

3109 St. Pölten, Landhausplatz 1

+43 2742 9005 - 16123

Post.wst3-w@noel.gv.at