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Arctic Smartness RDI-Excellence
Published on 31 May 2020
Finland
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The objective of the Arctic Smartness RDI-Excellence (ASR) project behind the practice is to set up a Lapland regional research, development and innovation centre of excellence. Together with its “sister” project Arctic Smart Growth (ASG), a SMEs' Growth and Internationalisation ERDF -project, the goal is to increase the SMEs’ research, development and innovation activities and improve companies’ opportunities to utilise EU funding and international networks more effectively.
The ASR development initiative is a direct output of activities and results of previous Arctic Smartness Portfolio (ASP) and Arctic Smartness Excellence (ASE) ERDF projects. These projects were instrumental to the implementation of the Lapland's Smart Specialisation Strategy into action.
The Lapland Regional RDI Centre of Excellence centre serves businesses in the service/product development cycle, from helping to develop ideas into products to commercialising innovations. This is achieved by a boundary crossing RDI collaboration structure that brings together the research organisations, development environments and RDI actors in the region.
The work is supported by means of networking with other European centres of expertise/excellence and thematic innovation development networks. The research groups and enterprises produce concrete billets of RDI-projects and ideas for further development to make new products and services as the final products within the regional innovation cycle.
The ASR development initiative is a direct output of activities and results of previous Arctic Smartness Portfolio (ASP) and Arctic Smartness Excellence (ASE) ERDF projects. These projects were instrumental to the implementation of the Lapland's Smart Specialisation Strategy into action.
The Lapland Regional RDI Centre of Excellence centre serves businesses in the service/product development cycle, from helping to develop ideas into products to commercialising innovations. This is achieved by a boundary crossing RDI collaboration structure that brings together the research organisations, development environments and RDI actors in the region.
The work is supported by means of networking with other European centres of expertise/excellence and thematic innovation development networks. The research groups and enterprises produce concrete billets of RDI-projects and ideas for further development to make new products and services as the final products within the regional innovation cycle.
Resources needed
The total budget of the project is 655 656 €, with 524 525 € EU funding (European Regional Development Fund / Regional Council of Lapland).
Total work allocated to the project:
University of Lapland 30 mo.
Lapland University of Applied Sc. 31 mo.
GTK 15 mo.
Natural Resources Institute 21 mo.
Total work allocated to the project:
University of Lapland 30 mo.
Lapland University of Applied Sc. 31 mo.
GTK 15 mo.
Natural Resources Institute 21 mo.
Evidence of success
ASR project is yet ongoing but a linear model through smart specialisation implementation projects have shown that the network governance model as a background infrastructure is a strong basis of a regional collaboration proven via collaboration and capacity building. Under ASR project the regional RDI centre of excellence is being piloted and the results have been very promising in terms of bringing together the RDI capacities offering joint support for the development of SMEs in the region.
Potential for learning or transfer
The practice builds on the collaboration model constructed in previous smart specialisation projects. Even though it is in strong relation to the operational environment and needs of region of Lapland, the created model not only enhances the use of developmental environments as a tool for business but also enables the utilisation and combination of current know-how and broadens the developmental potential of innovations.
The benefit comes from creating a long-term collaboration model that enables multidisciplinary cooperation including all regional RDI players, including ICT and CCI sectors. The model offers a potential to be even more focused on utilisation of integrating CCI, especially design, to ICT as a cross-cutting combination for digital development projects assessing better the future need of all business sectors. In general, the model can be seen offering a great potential especially when linked to business development centres and startup hubs enabling the rapid growth.
The benefit comes from creating a long-term collaboration model that enables multidisciplinary cooperation including all regional RDI players, including ICT and CCI sectors. The model offers a potential to be even more focused on utilisation of integrating CCI, especially design, to ICT as a cross-cutting combination for digital development projects assessing better the future need of all business sectors. In general, the model can be seen offering a great potential especially when linked to business development centres and startup hubs enabling the rapid growth.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
University of Lapland
Finland
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi
Contact
Senior Lecturer