Nuclis, International Cooperative Research Projects

By project S3Chem

Published on 09 July 2018

Spain

Andalucía

About this good practice

The innovation strategy for the intelligent specialization of Catalonia (hereafter RIS3CAT) prepared by the Generalitat of Catalonia with the support of experts in intelligent specialization, research, innovation, productive fabric and citizen contributions contributed during the public consultation period will bcontribute to the strategy of the EU "Europe 2020" for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth through the Strategy 2020 2020 (ECAT 2020), giving coherence to investments in research and innovation and optimizing the impact on economic and social development.
The RIS3CAT strategy are prioritizing the call for projects of industrial research centers and experimental development. These actions must be structured on the basis of ERA-net initiatives, international bilateral agreements between ACCIÓ and other regions or countries or initiatives with a leading international character in which Catalan companies cooperate with other companies and international entities. Additionally, a scheme of collaboration between Catalan companies and partners from other territories has also been developed to carry out joint R & D projects without being linked to any agreement established between ACCIÓ and the agencies of these territories.
The objective is to create international consortiums to carry out high-impact R & D business projects in any sector, which give rise to new products and services of high technological value or to the improvement of production processes.

Expert opinion

This practice can provide inspiration for support to SME internationalisation and joint research and development with counterparts in other countries. It stresses the importance of not only internationalisation of regional results and technology, but also that regional companies may access results from elsewhere. Grants are not an uncommon tool to stimulate R&D collaboration, but there is a potential for learning based on the experience gained from building networks with the necessary international partners.

Marc Pattinson

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

Grants co-financed with the ERDF, to encouraging R & D projects carried out in Catalonia and with a high impact on the territory and the companies. The projects must have a strong impact on the internationalization of results and technology, as well as enable companies to access international R & D

Evidence of success

In the last call 12 projects presented, with an investment of 3.4 MEUR, 4 were approved, with an investment of 800,000 euros. Among the approved projects, 2 were from the field of chemistry, engineering and resources in collaboration with Germany and Chile

Potential for learning or transfer

This type of collaborative research and innovation projects can be replicated in other regions to promote the internationalization and co-competitiveness of European companies in the field of chemical industries, in an environment of global competitiveness, since the challenges are shared and the Development times may be shortened.
Within the framework of the project, mechanisms and platforms can be think out to connect companies and centers from different participating regions.