Consolidation of National innovation consultancy services

By project HIGHER

Published on 12 September 2018

Lithuania

About this good practice

The problem of ineffective R&D activities execution in Lithuania was addressed by presenting new policy instruments to promote R&D activities and increase demand for innovations. Few of the key success factors are business support measures “InoSpurt” and “InoLink” that have contributed to enhanced companies’ involvement into R&D activities. These instruments help to reduce the fragmentation of innovation advisory and support services. Moreover, these measures influence the scope of the cooperation between business entities and science institutions. As the “InoLink” measure directed to fostering clustering activities encourage partnership between companies and higher education institutions.
These instruments are administered by Lithuanian agency of science, technology and innovation which coordinates all services provided by project partners. This organizational structure reduces the level of instruments fragmentation and ensures that companies could easily access the consultation services that matches their needs. These services are provided by public institutions (LIC), science and technology parks and business associations. The support services are provided to economic entities that are carrying out or intending to carry out activities related to R&D.

Expert opinion

“InoSpurt” and “InoLink” are two policy instruments to promote research and development (R&D) activities in private companies in Lithuania. Private companies often have lack incentives to engage in R&D activities due to the difficulties to fully appropriate the returns on their R&D investments since that knowledge can be seen as a public good and to the difficulties to access funding. The programs “InoSpurt” and “InoLink”, which are administered by the Lithuanian agency of science, technology and innovation, provide innovation and R&D consulting advisory and support services.

Some insights from the good practice:

-The programs require that public institutions, science and technology parks, and business associations are motivated in providing the services and have enough consultants to carry out the R&D consulting advisory services.

-In addition to programs involving public entities, a voucher mechanism could be implemented to facilitate the access of private companies to private R&D consulting services from Lithuania and abroad.

Arnault Morisson

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

A total of 5.2 million euros are allocated for the implementation of these two instruments. Also a significant number of consultants are needed in order to make consultations available in whole region.

Evidence of success

Companies expenditure on R&D has increased by 16 mln. Euros, also 44 new technological companies were established. In addition to this, instruments have contributed to organizing 65 clusters strengthening sessions, 30 consultations for clusters members about R&D activities and engaging 18 new members into clusters that are eager to exercise R&D activities.

Potential for learning or transfer

Before implementing this kind of consultancy service structure, the region should ascertain that they have enough technology parks, innovation agencies or other institutions, that have proper competencies and would be interested in providing this kind of services. Because the main point of this practice is that the consultancy services provided by project partners cover all geographical area. The network made consultations on R&D and innovations more accessible for business entities. This structure has fostered the actors to explore the advantages of these services. Companies are allowed to have just one particular consultation or are suggested to get a full package of services ranging from financial support advices to participation in business incubation program. This has led to more active involvement of business entities into R&D activities and broadened actors’ knowledge about them.