The four different levels of innovation readiness stated in the European Innovation Scoreboard are represented among the partners, allowing for replicability, dissemination and the scale-up of innovation ecosystems across Europe, with no country left behind.
The project partners are supported by their respective national innovation and SME funding agencies (within an Innovation Funding Advisory Board- IFAB).
The AFPC brings together 54 Competitiveness Clusters as of 2020. The AFPC represents these 54 clusters and their more than 12 000 members and is in close contact with the French government and the European Commission. It contributes actively to public innovation policy in France and Europe. It takes part in all initiatives that contribute to business and employment growth.
Confindustria Emilia is the association of companies and industries born from the path of integration between Unindustria Bologna, Unindustria Ferrara and Confindustria Modena which led to the creation of a single businesses association capable of guaranteeing greater representation to a territory that represents the second Italian manufacturing centre. Confindustria Emilia represents and protects the more than 3200 Emilian small, medium and large enterprises located in the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara and Modena, to whom it offers the excellence and quality of services and business culture, in order to support its members in responding to the needs of the global market and the competitive scenarios of the future.
Clusters of Sweden was established to highlight and channel interests, needs and opportunities of Swedish cluster organisations. Clusters of Sweden is backed by clusters from diverse industries and geographical locations across the entire Sweden, and work together to support cluster development, collaboration, policy and internationalisation.
The National Federation of Innovative Business Groups and Clusters was established in 2009 and, at national level, it has about 40 members, spread across the country in Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Canary Islands, Castilla-León, Catalonia, Valencia, Euskadi, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia and Navarra. FENAEIC chairs the European Clusters Alliance, bringing together 14 national cluster associations, representing more than 870 clusters (out of a total of 965 registered), where 134,000 highly innovative companies collaborate with thousands of universities, research centres and public institutions to boost their competitiveness.
Klastry Polskie is the only organisation in Poland representing cluster initiatives. It supports company innovation and economic development. It represents social and economic interests of consociated employers (especially coordinators of clusters, cooperative relations, and cluster initiatives) on the national level and executes actions supporting the development of clusters and the idea of clustering.
Bpifrance, a public investment bank, supports companies from start-up to stock market listing, from credit to equity capital. Bpifrance is a privileged interlocutor and offers financing and investment solutions adapted to each stage of a company’s life in each region. As a partner bank for entrepreneurs, Bpifrance provides long-term support for their growth and competitiveness. The teams are at the heart of the regions, throughout the country, through more than 50 regional offices.
Invitalia is the Italian National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development. It is owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy. It manages all national incentives and finances small to large projects, targeting entrepreneurs with concrete development plans, especially in innovative and high added-value sectors.
Invitalia provides services to the Public Administration for timely disbursement of EU and national funds, as well as in promoting cultural heritage.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth is a government agency that works to promote sustainable growth and competitive companies in all parts of Sweden. It does this by supporting and strengthening companies and regions. Tillväxtverket offers knowledge, networks and financing. One principal task is helping to ensure that EU funds are invested in projects that promote regional growth and employment.
Vinnova is a government agency under the Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, and the national contact authority for the EU framework programme for research and innovation. Vinnova also is the Swedish Government’s expert authority in innovation policy and its task is to promote sustainable growth through the development of Swedish innovation systems in the areas of technology, transport, communications and working life, and by financing needs-driven research.
The Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism is the Department of the General State Administration responsible for the formulation and execution of the Government’s policy in the areas of industry, trade and tourism, which covers industrial development and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, the promotion and protection of industrial property, commercial policy of internationalisation and foreign investment and transactions, as well as tourism policy and the other responsibilities and powers conferred on it by the legal system.
The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) is involved in the implementation of national and international programmes financed by the EU structural funds, state budget and multiannual programmes of the European Commission. As a key authority responsible for creating a business-friendly environment in Poland, PARP contributes to the creation and effective implementation of the state policy related to enterprise, innovation and staff adaptability. Pursuant to the principle “Think Small First”, in all its activities the Agency puts a particular emphasis on the needs of the SME sector.
