Access Newsletter 5
- 1. e-Newsletter 5 - ACCESS AUGUST 2012 CONTENT INTRODUCTION 1. ABOUT PEER REVIEW METHODOLOGY IN GENERAL AND CONCLUSIONS (CNA ER) 2. PEER REVIEWERS „ON FIELD EXPERIENCES“FROM INTERVIEWS 3. SWOT FINDINGS IN 3 SECTORS AND BEST PRACTICES 4. KEY EVENTS DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT 5. NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS INTRODUCTION Dear reader, It is ACCESS Newsletter time and getting closer to the end of project, we have more and more concrete materials and knowledge to share with you. This addition focuses on Peer review Methodology, “on field” implementation, and outputs from this pretty active periode of the project. Project partners’ peer reviewers as well as external experts went to analyze sectors selected – each partner in sector hosted other partners’ peers in his own country and from that a lot of experience and information was obtained which resulted in reports and SWOT analysis for participating countries. Those outputs are materials for partners to implement in strategic action plans for stakeholders and pilot hosting regions. Also in this edition you will find upcomming events as always related to sectors investigated. Again we hope to provide you interesting reading in this particular edition - for more information please browse the official website (www.cetntral-access.eu ) or send us email with either question or suggestion. We are looking for your feed-back and will do our best to provide you competent answers.. Enjoy the reading .
- 2. 1. ABOUT PEER REVIEW METHODOLOGY IN GENERAL AND CONCLUSIONS (CNA ER) At the basis of ACCESS lies the Peer Review Methodology, that allows to obtain a clear and objective analysis of the situation due to the external point of view, objective and experienced, of the peers who visited the examined region. It helps regions to improve their innovation policies by drawing upon best practice developed by other European regions. In the last months - from September 2011 to April 2012 - the peers of the Project, divided into 3 sectorial groups, conducted the Peer Reviews in the following dates and places: FOOD SECTOR • 26 – 30 September 2011 Bologna, Italy • 14 - 18 November 2011 Pécs, Hungary • 23 – 27 January 2012 Ljubljana - Murska Sobota,Slovenia MECHATRONICS SECTOR • 10 - 14 October 2011 Badem Württemberg, Germany • 21 - 25 November 2011 Upper Austria, Austria • 12 - 16 March 2012 Bielsko Biala, Poland • 16 - 20 April 2012 Presov, Slovakia BIOTECH SECTOR • 26 - 30 September 2011 Budapest, Hungary • 28 Nov – 2 Dec 2011 Prague, Czech Republic • 23 - 27 January 2012 Trieste, Italy In every peer week a team of 4-6 innovation experts from other European regions visited each host region for a week. These experts possessed comprehensive and high-quality expertise related to innovation and sectoral issues. During the visit, the peer review team had face-to-face meetings with a wide range of stakeholders from the host region. The aim of these meetings were to find out what they considered as the most effective ways used by the regional authority to manage the innovation system and what they thought could be improved. Meetings were held with regional authority, universities and businesses, and site visits have been organised throughout the host regions. The final aim of the visits was to identify strengths and weaknesses in
- 3. the region’s innovation management and to make specific recommendations for improving policy design and delivery. The Peer Review helped to better understand how sector-based innovation is currently approached and tackled by the region and what can be done to make improvements. After the visits, the peer review team analysed all the information that they have collected and prepared a comprehensive report analysing the region’s innovation system policies. The ACCESS partnership has made improvements to the methodology based on the experience in the field. The methodology has become more efficient, streamlined and calibrated on the cross-cutting theme of innovation. 2. PEER REVIEWERS „ON FIELD EXPERIENCES“ FROM INTERVIEWS Sectoral Group in Mechatronics AB: “The interviewees were selected due to the triple helix structure. The stakeholders were classified into following levels: Government, Public Administration, Institutions and Associations, Research and Development Agencies, Educational Bodies, Companies. This classification was suggested by the sector group leader. It was tried to keep a balance of stakeholders from different levels for the interviews.” DS: “The peer review was most useful because it showed the wide spectrum of region economy and region research network. The peers learnt a lot about SMEs operations and their connections with research networks.” AB: “Findings of peer review seems to be very relevant for the representatives of regional government. Dissemination of outcomes to the policy makers would be very beneficial for the region. Moreover interviewees were informed that there are several different initiatives that support SMEs and transfer of innovation.” DM: “A wide range of local stakeholders including industry, R&D, education, intermediates and policy makers were involved in the different discussions. Discussing the situation, as it is seen by each individual stakeholder, raises awareness and sometimes leads to admittance of potential for improvements.” Sectoral Group in Agro-food sector AK: “PR methodology is a powerful tool –
- 4. through interviews with stakeholders in whole sector chain we got insight status of a sector, we linked different actors in chain by disseminating observations, we saw stakeholders starting to think “out of box”, and last but not least, we made long term cooperation basis among competent actors, who showed interest to take active role in contributing to strategic approach of the sectoral innovation, up-to the regulators” – just amazing what a result we can get with such a tool”. BZ: “After interviews conducted, we saw that a selection of interviewees (predefined target groups) was appropriate: we learned a lot about the situation in the whole sector, current status and issues of individual actors in system. International PR teams enabled interviewees to be open and that made work of PR teams even more competent. Based upon such a real data from the field, it was easier to see the situation in the sector and to make the SWOT analysis and give hosting regions better recommendations. Also as a host region, our institution got link to national regulators to take part in an expert group to assist forming new priorities (later even concrete measures) of support for the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, which are related to innovation, particularly in Rural Development schemes.” Sectoral Group in Biotech sector - Friuli Venezia Giulia Region CB: “The innovation system in Friuli Venezia Giulia seems to have developed, in both the entrepreneurial and the scientific sector, according to specialization criteria. The institutions are well interconnected. Within this network the AREA Science Park plays a fundamental role in supporting and managing the agents involved. There is a very high percentage of foreigners in the Region. This is due not only to the quality of the research, but also to the presence of an excellent service for promoting international mobility, such as the Welcome Office. Moreover, in the field of technological transfer for small and medium industries, a method has been consolidated and successfully experimented over the years which may be taken as an example.” 3. SWOT FINDINGS IN 3 SECTORS AND BEST PRACTICES AGRO-FOOD SECTOR The agro-food sector group implemented peer reviews in Emilia-Romagna, South-Transdanubia and Pomurje/Slovenia regions. During the three one-week long peer reviews the peers met around 80 representatives of more than 50 regional stakeholder organisations according to the triple-helix model of regional innovation systems: CEO-s, marketing and technology managers of agro-food companies, as well as experts from academia and government discussed characteristics, strengths and challenges of agro-food innovation from different point of views.
- 5. Comparing the 3 regions Emilia-Romagna has the biggest and strongest agro-food sector with internationally well- known products and high quality standards. 32 certified PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) products come from the region, among them some worldwide known brands like Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciuto di Parma or Aceto balsamico di Modena. South Transdanubia and Pomurje are both significantly smaller regions with similar characteristics of the agro-food sector in terms of structural problems, less developed entrepreneurial culture and the heritage from the socialist system. However in both regions the agro-food sector has long tradition, it is important in the regional economic structure and there are high quality regional food products (e.g. wine, traditional sausage / meat products, mountain cheese, or pumpkin oil, bakery, diary), which can serve as basis of the innovation-oriented development of the sector. The main general findings of the peer reviews were the following: 1. The agro-food sector is specifically characterised by micro- and small companies, which need specific support measures and policies. They are rather hidden within the European “SME” framework and their special needs are not considered. The role and sufficient competencies of regional intermediaries (associations, innovation support organisations, technology parks) is very important in this context. 2. The support policies targeting the agro-food sector are divided due the traditional economic framework and the divided European support policies (CAP and Regional Development). However the successful innovation development of the sector needs coordinated support measures considering the whole value chain from farm to fork. Coordinated support policies creating synergies among agriculture and the food industry are needed. 3. Vertical and horizontal cooperation is a key issue in the success of the agro-food sector increasing visibility and achieving the critical mass of the micro- and small size companies. This ensures better market access and promotes the knowledge and technology transfer, so supporting cluster initiatives is very important in the sector. The good practice of cooperatives from Emilia-Romagna serve as example to follow in this field. 4. The agro-food sector is considered as low-tech sector by policy makers. However research and technology transfer is essential in order to produce high quality, safe and high added value products. Special support measures can help companies to create in-house capacities or to provide access to high quality research services to support their product development. The promotion of technology transfer and triple-helix partnership is necessary for the sector-based innovation development. The intermediary organisations should have important role in motivating the cooperation of the business and research institutions. Identified good practices in this field are the Regional High Technology Network and the SPINNER programme in Emilia-Romagna.
- 6. MECHATRONICS Baden Würtemberg Within the Mechatronics sector this was the first peer review week. As it was the first experience of implementing the peer review methodology, it was quite challenging. The group was able to get a lot of contacts to different interview partners covering the stakeholder list from BW region. The expectations about the innovative standard in BW for the whole group had been very high, clearly caused by the strong and traditional industrial success and as BW is one of the strongest regions in Germany and Europe in general. After one week´s impressions these expectations have been really fulfilled. The structure of scientific centres is well developed. Another feature is the various frameworks for joint R&D activities which are established and utilized a lot. Also, there is a lot of support to the SME sector by funding tools on a regional level and which are simple to apply for the applicants. Openness to support really new topics, thus good support of entrepreneurship is characterizing the regional innovation system. Besides officially supported networks a tight network of personal exchange is responsible for good communication between industry, education and R&D. To create the future qualified staff, an entrepreneurial approach towards training kids in technical fields can be identified in different areas. As there are a lot of activities by different institutional actors, it is recommended to coordinate all these activities by a general management or structuring them along a regional innovation strategy. Upper Austria The methodology was still enhanced after gaining experience in BW. It was extremely helpful to use both MC premises as well as organization resources. The group was able to get a lot of contacts to different interview partners covering the stakeholder list from UA region. Upper Austria has a clear strategy. The focus on innovation and mechatronic sector is present in the strategy. The outstanding feature of the region is well established network of supporting institutions like UAR, which are acting in-line with the strategy and what is more there is a complementary vast informal network of personal connections. The Johannes Kepler University plays the very important role within the innovation system. The results of effective entrepreneurial approach to innovations can be seen just to name the spin-offs initiatives which are operating very well. What is worth mentioning is that the initiatives of promoting sector and technology to general public takes place.
- 7. The general impression is that there is plenty of different activities and initiatives both formal and informal in the region and what‘s more they are to some extend coordinated. The second impression is that the region fosters the innovations. So Upper Austria is the region with great potential of growth especially taking into account the mechatronics sector. It is also very innovation oriented with noticeable share of spin-offs companies in the sector. The well-designed balanced strategy plays an important role in the development of the sector. The impressive network of effective supporting institutions (including Mechatronic Cluster) doing their job very well is also the key factor in the process of sector growth and development. However few threats and challenges can be named, they are: lack of multinational human resources, relying mostly on state subsidising when it comes to fostering the innovations. Bielsko-Biala Within the Mechatronics sector this was the third peer review week. As it was not the first experience of implementing the peer review methodology, it was quite challenging, especially because of 2 new external peers and different region with different habits and potential. During the peer review week we had visited and interviewed 11 interesting local and regional actors acting in private and public sector. Also we had possibility to visit and to see big regional companies “brewery Zywiec” and “Fiat Auto Poland”. The group of foreign experts was able to get a lot of contacts to different interview partners covering the stakeholder list from Katowice and Bielsko-Biala district. In the Upper Silesia region there are mainly SMEs privately held (ca. 96%). There is also a group of SMEs concentrated on high technology products and actively doing R&D performance. In generally most of privately held companies operate in the service sector (nearly 80%) and other privately held companies operate in the Industry and construction/building sector. The coverage of the Upper Silesia area with communication network infrastructure is not uniform. Most of the private sector companies are opened to innovations. The key factors of the competitiveness of a region are: an efficient infrastructure, the education system, research and innovation system and also culture of the region. The mentioned factors are taken into account in the “Strategy of Development of the Silesian Voivodship 2000-2020”. Among others the three strategic areas are defined in the strategy: high level of education well developed infrastructure, innovative and competitive economy. Also another very important document exists. Regional Innovation Strategy for Upper Silesia, which was elaborated by Katowice Marshal Office, creates the conditions and strategies for innovative Smart Specialized region.
- 8. Also, there is a lot of support to the SME sector by funding tools on a regional level and which are simple to apply for the applicants. A lot of banks and private financial institution operate in the region. They offer financial services to the entrepreneurs. There are also venture capitals institutions. The supporting agencies (GAPP, ARRSA) are offering assistance in an access to the government or EU funds focusing of strengthening competitiveness and supporting innovations. Besides officially supported networks a tight network of personal exchange is responsible for good communication between industry, education and R&D. To create the future qualified staff, an entrepreneurial approach towards training kids and adults in technical fields can be identified in different areas. As there are a lot of activities by different institutional actors, it is recommended to coordinate all these activities by a general management or structuring them along a regional innovation strategy. Presov The Presov self-governing region PSGR is the largest and most populated region in Slovakia. It is characterized by a mix of industry and agriculture. There is a lack of heavy industry and it has the lowest rate of straight foreign investments in the country and one of the lowest GDP in the EU. Most of the businesses are small enterprises with less than 19 employees (92,78%). Beside the Regional Innovation Strategy of PSGR which was approved in 2008 two other important regional strategies do exist: The Slovakia-East Develpment Plan and the Social and economic development programme of PSGR for the years 2008-2015. The market for venture capital is not very well developed in the region but there are some banks and institutions which offer guarantees and loans to SMEs like the Slovak Guarantee and Development Bank, the Microloan Programme, the Agency for research and development support and the Initial Capital Fund. The key institutions in the field of SME development are: The National agency for SME development Presov regional chamber of SCCI Slovak investment and trade development agency SARIO Slovak trade chamber Regional advisory and information centre Presov, Poprad Centre of first contact Levoca In respect of technology transfer there are already good efforts to build up the hard infrastructure: An Innovation Partnership Centre was established with Norwegian grants. In 2011 the project ended but follow-up activities, dealing with the implementation of the elaborated tools, require new subsidies.
- 9. BIOTECHNOLOGY Budapest In Central Hungary the ACCESS project will establish an international cluster of biotechnology. To prepare for this purpose a series of multi-day audit was held with the project partners from the Czech Republic and Italy along with their external experts between September 26 and 29 2011. In the framework of so-called “peer review” local government and administrative actors, university and private research institutes, innovation and technology intermediary organizations, venture capital investors and companies and enterprises were visited by the specialists. As well as an opening and a closing workshop has been added. The survey examined practical application of innovation strategy, strengths and weaknesses of cooperation between research institutes and private enterprises, forms of communication, knowledge and technology transfer functions and the social impact of all this. The preliminary findings of experts concluded that in the field of biotechnology Hungary has a strong research base. This applies to both university and academic research institutions, as well as the rapidly developing private companies in industry. The experts found that the project is planned under international cluster will help researchers and businesses communicate. It can still cancel the existing theoretical and practical differences. It also helps all new research and development results in the appearance of the market. Prague The second round of peer reviews in biotech sector took place during the last week of November, 21st – 25th, last year. Experts from Hungary and Italy conducted 14 interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, which included research and TT institutes and organisations (Technology Centre of the Academy of Sciences, Institute of Applied Biotechnologies, Innovation Biomedical Centre, Biotechnology and Biomedicine Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and Charles University in Vestec), universities (Institute of Chemical Technology Prague), public authorities (City Development Authority of the Prague City Hall, Technology Agency of the Czech Republic), NGOs (BIOTRIN Association), private companies (LentiKat´s a.s.), media (Hospodarske noviny), Prague Chamber of Commerce and the CzechBio cluster.
- 10. The experts concluded that the main strengths of Prague biotech sector include: high concentration of academic institutions and research organizations, high concentration of private companies, especially in the biotech sector, highly skilled workforce and large knowledge base in the field of biotechnology. On the other hand inadequate coordination in R&D&I policies and programs, insufficient cooperation in R&D&I between public and private sectors, low level of patenting and slow growth of startup/spinoff companies constitute the main setbacks for the Prague biotech sector. The upcoming National Innovation Strategy and the newly established Regional Development Agency and Prague Council for Research and Economy give reasons for optimism, however constant attention and support have to be paid to innovation and development of necessary structures on all levels of governance and academic structures to ensure the opportunities in the Prague biotech sector will not be missed. Friuli Venezia Giulia Region Czech and Hungarian experts participated in visits and interviews with the most significant actors of the local innovation system. Among these: professors and researchers from the Universities of Trieste and Udine, officers working for the most important regional innovation support institutions (among which AREA Science Park, the Chamber of Commerce of Trieste, Friulia, etc.), directors of international research centres (CBM, ICGEB, etc.), journalists and experts in science communication, representatives of the most significant regional enterprises operating in the biotechnologies sector, representatives of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government (Directorate for Education, University, Research, Families, Associations and Cooperation and Directorate for Productive Activities). The experts pointed out that FVG Region has developed a strong Regional Innovation System in which the relationships between the academic and the productive world stimulate the growth of both parties. The Special Statute of Autonomy of the Region allowed its government to pass a law about scientific research and innovation. It is the framework of all local funding on innovation. The regional law 26/2005 "General guidelines on innovation, scientific research and technological development" responds to new challenges and needs of the Region with regards innovation. It is based on consultation with social partners, collaboration with institutions, universities, research and innovation centers to subsidize and promote international cooperation. The regional action promotes the environment for innovation, initiates and supports the development of research, integrates training and innovation, stimulates the collaboration between businesses, universities, research centers, science parks and the financial system as well as it is promoting entrepreneurial innovation and enhancing human capital. The regional innovation is derived from the interaction of five sub-systems: 1) Enterprise promotion, 2) research and technological transfer, 3) training, 4) finance, 5) public administration.
- 11. One of the high-tech emerging specializations in the Region is represented by the red biotech sector, characterized by a dynamic and virtuous triple helix approach. The red biotech sector is driven by the TDMB (Technology District of Molecular Biomedicine), an innovative knowledge district officially endorsed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, the Regional Government and AREA Science Park. The TDMB is managed by CBM–Cluster in Biomedicine, an SME whose main shareholder is AREA Science Park. The nanobiotechnology has an important role in the nanotechnology sector. The interaction between micro technologies and nano-electronics and biotechnology, has enormous applicative potentials in several market fields such as: food farming, environment, cosmetics and medicine. Regrettably, within the Italian framework, Trieste covers a peripheral position with transport logistics problems which restrict the developing potential of the Science System. 4. KEY EVENTS DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT Beside already mentioned Peer Review Weeks in all sectors selected, partners intensified dissemination of project achievements, beside activities related to external communication, partners met for Steering and Project Management meetings, one in Linz / Austria which took place in August and another in 4 th reporting period which took place in Krakow / Poland in February. More about that….see on next page PARTNER MEETING IN LINZ (29 th - 31 st AUGUST 2011) This event was organized by two Austrian partners CATT Innovation Management and Clusterland Upper Austria in Linz – as usually two standard general topics were on agenda, wher epartners cleared issues related to management of the project, e.g. reporting and financial issues, and Communication part, where partners gave information on activities performed in comparison to planned indicators – new Newsletter contents were debated and confirmed. Most of the meeting was related to WP 5, especially to Presentation of peer review templates and later 3 sectoral group meetings with definition of future steps toward pilot actions in 3 regions. Also next partner meeting was fixed – Krakow, 13 th and 14 th of February 2012.
- 12. PARTNER MEETING IN KRAKOW (13 th – 14 th FEBRUARY 2012) 4th Project Group Meeting took place in Kraków, Poland on 13th and 14th February, 2012 and was organized by project partner 8, the Regional Development Agency of Bielsko-Biala. Representatives of all projects partners were present – 18 participants. Project Partners met all together for the 4th time to discuss progress in implementation of the project and to plan next activities. Issues raised at the meeting were divided into sections accordingly with work packages of the project. Current issues regarding administration of the project were discussed. Regarding promotion of the project mainly ideas for new visualization of the newsletter. Main part of the meeting was devoted to work package 5 and peer review visits. Mechatronics still has to organize two visits (Poland and Slovakia). Biotech and agro-food have all their visits behind them. Plans for Pilot Action in sectoral groups were elaborated. 5. NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings of project partners 12th – 13th June , 2012, Murska Sobota, Slovenia - 5th SC Steering Committee and Project Group Meeting will be organized by Pomurje Technology Park (PP10) Project related events in Mechatronic: 1. 17th-19th September, 2012, Linz, AUSTRIA, The 13th Mechatronics Forum International Conference (Mechatronics 2012); -more - http://www.mechatronics2012.com
- 13. 2. June 6 - 7, 2012, Le Grand-Bornand, Haute-Savoie, France; 10th European Mechatronics Meeting; more: http://www.emm-mechatronics.eu/?lang=en 3. 14 th -15th June 2012, Izmir, Turkey; Clusters as Drivers for Economic and Social Development in ... - ... the Mediterranean Area In 2012, TCI will expand its activities for the first time to the Mediterranean area. Organized in collaboration with TCI member Izmir Development Agency, the conference will focus on clustering and innovation policy practices and the clusers' experiences in the Mediterranean Area;. more: http://www.tci-network.org/ Project related events in Biotechnology: 1. 28th of September -1 st of October, 2012, Trieste, Italy, TRIESTE NEXT, European scientific research exhibition focused on ‘New frontiers in nutrition sector’: more: http://www.b2match.eu/next2012 AREA Science Park, Italian leading multi-sector Science and Technology Park, as member of Enterprise Europe Network, organizes a technology dating on food/biotech technologies. Before the B2B meetings, thanks to the collaboration with APRE, the National Agency for the Promotion of European Research, an operational workshop dedicated to the FP7 Call - KBBE 2013 will be organized. This will be an opportunity to get all information on available funding for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology research activities. For a pre-evaluation of project proposals the Italian NCP (National Contact Point) will be available during the B2B sessions. The initiative is aimed at introducing European participants from industry and research to AREA Science Park food/biotech cluster as well as to promote competence, technologies and know how available from university departments, research performers and companies of the North East of Italy in the a.m. technology sectors. The matchmaking event will enhance the opportunity of setting up new cooperation opportunities in research, technology transfer and business.
- 14. Main topics: Technologies for the food industry Food safety Nutrition and health 2. 17th-18th September 2012, Düsseldorf, “Global Maintain Pharma Masters”, more: http://business- masters.econique.com/ Project related events in Agro-food sector: 1. 28th of September -1 st of October, 2012, Trieste, Italy, TRIESTE NEXT, European scientific research exhibition focused on ‘New frontiers in nutrition sector’: more: http://www.b2match.eu/next2012 2. 25th - 30th August, 2012, Gornja Radgona, Slovenia, “The 50th Anniversary Fair of Agriculture and Food Industry Agra on the Foundations of Traditions and the Wings of Future”;more: http://www.pomurski- sejem.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=22&Itemid=163&lang=en More on http://www.central-access.eu