SMART CON EUROPE

The SMART CON EUROPE project was formed out of recognised regional and European needs to encourage more SMEs to successfully participate in European Research and Innovation (R+I) programmes.

The problem addressed is confirmed by a number of analyses. The „Study on the effectiveness of public innovation support for SMEs in Europe” says that “Most studies on barriers to innovation for SMEs consider access to finance an important factor.” Interim Evaluation report of Horizon 2020 shows large differences in SME-participation among countries (18%-points) and on average only 20% SME participation. Thus, a system approach is needed to help SMEs by further developing the respective regional ecosystems.

The project brings together 8 partners and 2 associated policy authorities from 6 European regions. All partner regions will use the SWOT results of their Peer Review and further findings from the very intensive interregional exchange and learning process for the improvement of their own respective regional ecosystem – an innovative approach for improving addressed Operational Programmes, other addressed policy instruments and governance structures among the SMART CON EUROPE partners. All addressed policy instruments are improved before the end of the core phase (phase 1).

The repository of knowledge developed during the SMART CON EUROPE project is put at the disposal of all EU regions via the Interreg Europe programme and the relevant policy platform(s) by strong communication activities based on the SMART CON EUROPE communication strategy.