Innovation Springboard Service (PTI) for ceramic SME
About this good practice
The Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine (NA) wants innovation become an effective vector for the development of regional companies even for small ones and the main vehicle for creating business and jobs.
In artistic ceramic sector, innovation is not in the real DNA of companies. Actors of this sector consider themselves as traditional and think that innovation is not for them. But they are wrong. Indeed, innovation could be applied to this sector for example to reduce production cost and time or to faster develop new products.
That is why to promote innovation for these companies, NA launched the dedicated network “Innovez en Nouvelle-Aquitaine», led by Agence de développement et d’innovation, the regional agency dedicated to innovation.
One of different available services concerns the first step to innovation which is the most difficult one. This network launches the PTI: Innovation springboard service. PTI is a financial tool to help companies in the implementation of an innovative collaborative project for the first time with an external skills center (RTD, laboratory, company).
Several services can be eligible: Technological pre-studies, Characterization, Functional model, Scientific and technical feasibility studies, Market studies, State of the art, Design Studies, Filing of 1st French Patent.
The amount of PTI is 10 000 € (maximum) funded up to 50% by Region Nouvelle Aquitaine and 50% by BPI France. A monthly committee select projects.
Expert opinion
Vouchers are interesting support schemes when it comes to promoting and improving the overall innovation capacity and competitiveness of whole sectors through collaboration with research organisations or cross-sectoral collaboration. The schemes target typically traditional sectors with an overall low innovation capacity and tradition of collaboration with knowledge providers and build on the simplicity of vouchers, which make them attractive to a large number of businesses.
The use of vouchers is expected to spark more ambitious improvement which will lead on the mid- to long-term to growth on the level of single businesses and increased competitiveness of the whole sector.
Further information on innovation vouchers can be found in a recent publications form TO1 Research and Innovation:
https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/news/10863/voucher-schemes-implementing-innovation-vouchers/?no_cache=1&cHash=004fcb376182477a0687a7cfd1d80f0e
https://www.interregeurope.eu/policylearning/news/10861/voucher-schemes-zooming-in-on-innovation-vouchers/?no_cache=1&cHash=b9047b22d59a8313ca01e4eeddc379ee
Resources needed
In 2019, the annual budget for PTI was 600 000€, 50% from the Region Nouvelle Aquitaine & 50% from BPI France.
Evidence of success
Biopythos, a traditional ceramic company, manufactures egg ceramic containers for wine aging. The shaping of this product is a technical challenge. The PTI was used to develop the egg: improve the mineral composition by integrating the technical requirement for wine aging. It worked with Porcelaines JL Coquet to carry out the different phases of the project. Finally, it manages to prove the concept of developing big porcelain eggs for wine and allowing them to double the number of sells in 2020.
Potential for learning or transfer
PTI program can be adopted by other regions to inspire innovation in small companies of traditional sectors, very resistant to change. It could open the door to new technologies, to new products development and to an increasing of turnover.
This program is a good way for companies to better understand the innovation ecosystem (laboratories and innovative companies) and the collaborative working.
Moreover, this first project experience for company introduces it in the project world and shows that a foot in the door can lead to others projects, either regional, or national or European projects.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Conseil Régional du Limousin