InnovationCamps

A survey in 2011 among SME companies in the food industry concluded that app. 1/3 of the companies expected to operate in a different market segment (due to change in consumer demand, increased competition etc.) within the next 5 to 10 years. These companies expressed a need for new competencies to innovate their businesses, and at the same time a lack of knowledge about how & what means and competences to apply. Therefore, there was a need to establish new incentives and links between SME's & business education institutions. Development of policy instruments to address the need required pilot tests of various ways to establish interaction between the three parties. An Independent facilitator establishes the contact between 1 or more SME's & education institutions (Vocational, Bussines Academies, Business Colleges specialized within the food sector). Through facilitation, the SME & the institution clarify the key challenge related to the SME's business model & value chain. Together they decide the approach as to how students can be involved in working with the challenge & agree on time, terms & conditions. The process can be everything from a 1-2 day workshop on campus, to one or more student(s) in 2 – 10 weeks practice in the company. In some cases, the "product" can also be a practice based interim period or final thesis for the student. The methodology was developed and documented step by step over the period 2013 – 2015 sponsored by Central Denmark Region (CDR).