The main objective of the project was to improve the competitiveness of SMEs, whose customers are found within the process/mining/energy/oil/gas industries, by supporting them in finding the needs and opportunities, develop new business models, build European partnerships, apply for EU-level funding for project proposals, and further to develop SMEs' products, services and other offerings.
The participating Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) organizations were Lapland University of Applied Sciences as project leader, Kerttu Saalasti Institute at University of Oulu, Luleå Technical University and NORUT Narvik AS. Additionally several business development organizations brought in their SME networks and business development capabilities: NIHAK and Nivalan teollisuuskylä Oy from Finland, IUC Norr Ab from Sweden and Forskningsparken I Narvik AS. The latter one was shut down during the project and their role was taken by NORUT.
Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish project partners worked together with approximately 120 SMEs in activities, which lead to that about 25 SMEs developed their business models or participated in EU-level project proposals. Over 40 SMEs participated sectoral cross-border workshops with process industries. Other expected effects and results were:
• methods and tools regarding advanced business models;
• created business cooperation contacting model of Matchmaking workshop
• an updated ProcessIT.EU Roadmap which will impact policy/decision-makers on national and international levels;
• increased cross-border cooperation within the region between SMEs, larger process industry companies, networks and academy in order to enable creation of advanced business models;
• knowledge and best practices were disseminated on a continuous basis on project’s web pages www.process-sme.eu;
• new methods used by SMEs when commercializing advanced business models globally;
• and increased internationalization of SMEs concerning business/research/development activities.
The project was part of Interreg North programme and financed by Interreg North programme by the EU, Norrbottens läns landsting, länstyrelsen I Norrbotten, Lapin Liitto, Troms fylkeskommun, Nordlands fylkeskommun, Norwegian IR financing and the participating organizations. The activities in the project involved several types of know-how and capabilities. Because of this, a total of over 40 specialists in the participating organizations gave their input to the work conducted.
These web pages have interested in about 2 500 persons visiting the pages from several countries. Thank you all!
Kyllikki Taipale-Erävala
Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Oulu
Kyllikki.taipale-eravala@oulu.fi
