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Kickstart Digitalization
Published on 29 May 2020
Sweden
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Kickstart digitalization (Kickstart) is part of Swedenās Smart industry strategy. Kickstart is the largest national effort to boost digital skills and utilization of digital technology among SMEās within the manufacturing sector in Sweden. Kickstart has been carried out by the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, IF Metall, IUC and Swedish Incubators & Science Parks (SISP). The project has been financed by The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
Kickstart aims to get key representatives in SMEs to understand what digitalization is and what it means for their businesses and start their digitalization towards Industry 4.0.
The method is based on a series of workshop over a six-week period consisting of three free-of-charge meetings where two representatives from approx. 10 companies share experiences and ideas. The workshop series end with concrete activities that the companies will work on. The companies also identify the need for external support.
The concept is about de-dramatize digitalization, showing that it concerns all companies, and lowering the thresholds for firms to get started. It is also organized as to enable peer-learning between the participating companies and providing good examples of digitalization relating to the companies.
Part 1: Inspirational lectures and workshops
Part 2: Workshops to identify the company's opportunities
Part 3: Workshop to identify start-up activities for the company
Kickstart aims to get key representatives in SMEs to understand what digitalization is and what it means for their businesses and start their digitalization towards Industry 4.0.
The method is based on a series of workshop over a six-week period consisting of three free-of-charge meetings where two representatives from approx. 10 companies share experiences and ideas. The workshop series end with concrete activities that the companies will work on. The companies also identify the need for external support.
The concept is about de-dramatize digitalization, showing that it concerns all companies, and lowering the thresholds for firms to get started. It is also organized as to enable peer-learning between the participating companies and providing good examples of digitalization relating to the companies.
Part 1: Inspirational lectures and workshops
Part 2: Workshops to identify the company's opportunities
Part 3: Workshop to identify start-up activities for the company
Expert opinion
Kickstart Digitalization is part of the large family of practices aiming at fostering the digitalization of businesses considering the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Such initiatives are to be found throughout Europe. You might have a look at the policy brief on Industry 4.0 https://www.interregeurope.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/plp_uploads/policy_briefs/INDUSTRY_4.0_Policy_Brief.pdf.
An interesting aspect of the Kickstart Digitalization consists in its delivery through a series of workshops bringing together representatives from different businesses over a six-week period. This enables a peer learning and a benchmarking among businesses, thus making digitalisation less theoretical and lowering the barrier for many companies to make the first step.
This method also enables to reach a large number of businesses and generate development activities with a limited budget (here about 2.200 EUR per business on average, according to the figures provided).
By linking a large number of relevant stakeholders, the practice additionally contributes to create a national Industry 4.0 community able to sustain the initial efforts after the ending of the Kickstart, and adapt their services to the needs identified in the workshops.
The practice has a high transferability.
An interesting aspect of the Kickstart Digitalization consists in its delivery through a series of workshops bringing together representatives from different businesses over a six-week period. This enables a peer learning and a benchmarking among businesses, thus making digitalisation less theoretical and lowering the barrier for many companies to make the first step.
This method also enables to reach a large number of businesses and generate development activities with a limited budget (here about 2.200 EUR per business on average, according to the figures provided).
By linking a large number of relevant stakeholders, the practice additionally contributes to create a national Industry 4.0 community able to sustain the initial efforts after the ending of the Kickstart, and adapt their services to the needs identified in the workshops.
The practice has a high transferability.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
Kickstart Digitalization was managed as a nationwide project with 1,4 ME National funding (The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth). Scouting of SMEās was made distributed all over Sweden and training by RISE certified trainers.
Evidence of success
627 companies have participated in Kickstart Digitalization. The companies are satisfied with their participation in the program and with the Kickstart Digitalization method:
ļ§ In a survey, 81 percent of the companiesā state that they have begun a digitalization project or increased the pace of ongoing digitalization work.
ļ§ 91 percent state that they have received new ideas on how they could use the possibilities of digitalization.
ļ§ 92 percent think the concept is good or very good.
ļ§ In a survey, 81 percent of the companiesā state that they have begun a digitalization project or increased the pace of ongoing digitalization work.
ļ§ 91 percent state that they have received new ideas on how they could use the possibilities of digitalization.
ļ§ 92 percent think the concept is good or very good.
Potential for learning or transfer
A key challenge when it comes to SME digitalization is related to creating awareness and an understanding of opportunities related to the use of digital technologies. Kickstart is a widely used and proven concept with good results. Evaluations show its applicability and usefulness as to initiate and support SME early stage digitalization. KIckstart is easily replicated in other national context without great efforts, and it is exported to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and organizers in these countries receive training in the usage of the concept.
1. How to inspire and motivate SMEs to start to digitalize and implement Industry 4.0 technologies.
2. How to support SMEs to take initial action towards higher levels of digitalization.
3. How to coach SMEs in digitalization efforts.
4. How to build broad national coalitions of SME support actors.
5. How to use cluster organizations to support SME digitalization.
6. How to deal with large scale onboarding processes for SME support.
1. How to inspire and motivate SMEs to start to digitalize and implement Industry 4.0 technologies.
2. How to support SMEs to take initial action towards higher levels of digitalization.
3. How to coach SMEs in digitalization efforts.
4. How to build broad national coalitions of SME support actors.
5. How to use cluster organizations to support SME digitalization.
6. How to deal with large scale onboarding processes for SME support.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
RISE Research Institute of Sweden
Sweden
Norra Mellansverige
Contact
SME Development