CrossCare

By project S34Growth

Published on 19 March 2019

Belgium

Prov. Antwerpen

About this good practice

The goal of CrossCare is to support businesses (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in bringing their health innovation products or services closer to the market. SMEs/entrepreneurs can apply for funding through the CrossCare project for further R&D activities. This is done through collaboration between six health living labs which are located on both sides of the Netherlands/Flanders border. By offering services to SMEs, these living labs not only bring added value through their end-user involvement - ensuring that the product or service meets the needs of the individuals for whom the product/service is intended, but also through the interregional exchange. This interregional component of the CrossCare project allows SMEs/entrepreneurs to come into contact with foreign markets (and the end-users which populate those markets) to further enhance the development of their product/service.

Resources needed

CrossCare is a project funded by the Interreg VA Flanders - the Netherlands Cross-border Cooperation Programme. The total budget for the project is €10.091.625,55 of which € 4.999.353,18 (49.54%) is funded by the Interreg programme.

Evidence of success

The evidence of success is reflected by the vast interest shown in the project and the number of applications received. Over the course of 4 waves/calls, Cross Care received over 160 application. Of these, 19 have been supported financially.

Potential for learning or transfer

The potential for learning or transfer with regards to CrossCare is high. This is mainly due to the fact that the project is funded under a support measure such as the Interreg VA programme. However, the strength of the project is that it allows for developments such as further standardisation of services provided to SMEs amongst the living labs. Harnessing this development of standardisation could/should become the next step in the development of sustainable, interregional or cross-border collaboration activities which could then be supported through national, regional or local funding.