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SMERF

Project overview

SME Ready for the Future

Countless companies will have to change their business models to stay competitive. They need to innovate to be prepared for a greener and more digital future. One way to cope with this challenge is to seek support from so-called innomediaries that function as innovation bridgers or change agents. The SMERF project offers smaller companies guidance on working with innomediaries. The project also creates a transnational inno-green market for transforming companies across central Europe.

2,49m €

Project Budget

80%

of the Budget is funded by ERDF

Layer 1

7

Countries

8

Regions

8

Partners

2

Pilots

Duration

Start date

End date

Project progress

33%

About the project

The project focuses on supporting low-tech and medium-tech SMEs' transition towards SMERF: SME Ready for the Future and providing new services to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Innomediaries (entities either supporting SMEs or closely cooperating with SMEs on innovations development) that will enhance their competences and equally support SMEs, especially in Lower Silesia (PL), Upper Austria (AT), Emilia-Romagna (IT), Baden-Württemberg (DE), Nyugat-Dunántúl (HU), Jadranska Hrvatska (HR), Liguria (IT), Východné Slovensko (SK) regions. SMERF creates a unique approach by linking concurrently 4 pillars based on new concepts and models of: 1) Innovation culture, 2) Digital manufacturing, 3) Open innovation 2.0 & sharing economy, 4) Green & circular economy & sustainability. SMERF helps SMEs to effectively transform and adopt innovative approaches. The goals of interregional cooperation (cross-border knowledge & good practice exchange) include: - creating innovation-friendly culture (often underestimated in SMEs), - speeding up or introducing digitalization in manufacturing, - starting or enhancing organizations to open up and encouraging them to Open innovation 2.0 tools & methods, - implementing solutions & best practices in line with Green Deal and circular economy.

Project partnership

Project partners

Polska (PL)

Lead partner

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology

Department for Laser Technologies, Automation and Production Management
Address
Łukasiewicza 5
50-370 Wrocław
Country
Poland (PL)
Web
www.pwr.edu.pl, www.wm.pwr.edu.pl

Project partner

Mechatronics Cluster
Address
Hafenstr 47-51
4020 Linz
Country
Austria (AT)
Web
www.biz-up.at
Total partner budget
254,010 €
Address
Via Confine 2310
41058 Vignola
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
www.crit-research.it
Total partner budget
404,403 €
Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI)
Address
Kaiserstr 12
76131 Karlsruhe
Country
Germany (DE)
Web
https://www.kit.edu, https://www.iai.kit.edu
Total partner budget
292,000 €
Address
Gesztenyefa u. 4
9027 Gyor
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
www.pbn.hu
Total partner budget
229,480 €
Address
Radmile Matejčić 10
51000 Rijeka
Country
Croatia (HR)
Web
http://www.step.uniri.hr
Total partner budget
272,488 €
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Energetics, Management and Transportation
Address
Via All´Opera Pia 15
16145 Genoa
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
www.unige.it
Total partner budget
286,600 €
Address
Letna 9
040 01 Kosice
Country
Slovakia (SK)
Web
www.tuke.sk
Total partner budget
272,600 €

Roadmap

1

Context

SMERF will strongly support SMEs from regional S3 sectors: automation, environmental technologies, industry 4.0, technology-assisted life, industrial production processes, energy, sustainable food production and processing, mobility and logistics. Other beneficiaries of the project will be higher education and research organizations, business support organizations, enterprises except SMEs, sectoral agencies, local and regional public authorities.

2

Specific problem

Many CE firms do not yet have sufficient capacities to adopt new concepts and models as they lack know-how, human capital, best examples as well as organizational and managerial capacity. According to Flash Eurobarometer 486 “SMEs, start-ups, scale-ups and entrepreneurship” among EU SMEs' biggest problems are lack of skills, incl. managerial 17% (out of 12.343 SMEs); difficulties with digitalization 13% and innovation 9%, internationalization 8%. In such challenging circumstances, efficient and effective support is needed, which will allow SMEs to transform their organizational culture and business models, become more resilient to further challenges and to adapt changing conditions in terms of a digitalized and greener economy.

3

Idea

There is need for SMEs to effectively transfer and adopt new market and social -driven concepts and models will be addressed by focusing on 4 Pillars oriented on: innovation culture, digital manufacturing, open innovation & sharing economy, green & circular economy & sustainability.

4

Solution

Lack of know-how, human capital and organizational & managerial capacity in introducing new concepts & models will be reduced by providing Inspiration Knowledge Base together with webinars on 4 pillars topics, trainings for SMERF mentors, SMERF Trainings, SMERF Individual Support Program, study visits and SMERF Handbook.

News

Szombathely 2030

P1 Smart

NEWS

28.03.2024

Szombathely 2030

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Hungary

ZIM funding

P1 Smart

NEWS

22.03.2024

ZIM funding

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Germany

Society of Ideas (Gesellschaft der Ideen)

P1 Smart

NEWS

18.03.2024

Society of Ideas (Gesellschaft der Ideen)

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Germany

Gründerinnenzentrale (Female founders centre)

P1 Smart

NEWS

06.03.2024

Gründerinnenzentrale (Female founders centre)

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Germany

Support for the Digital Transition of Businesses in emilia-Romagna

P1 Smart

NEWS

26.02.2024

Support for the Digital Transition of Businesses in emilia-Romagna

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Italy

SIIT: non-profit consortium company

P1 Smart

NEWS

22.02.2024

SIIT: non-profit consortium company

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Italy

Croatian State Aid in Research & Development

P1 Smart

NEWS

12.02.2024

Croatian State Aid in Research & Development

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Croatia

Poland´s Roadmap towards the Transition to the Circular Economy

P1 Smart

NEWS

08.02.2024

Poland´s Roadmap towards the Transition to the Circular Economy

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Poland

Open Innovation Strategy for Austria

P1 Smart

NEWS

31.01.2024

Open Innovation Strategy for Austria

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Austria

Research Bonus

P1 Smart

NEWS

30.01.2024

Research Bonus

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Austria

Innovation voucher

P1 Smart

NEWS

19.01.2024

Innovation voucher

Introducing best practices and policies of more innovative partner regions to be transferred to less innovative region- Austria

What´s to come in the first half of 2024?

P1 Smart

NEWS

11.01.2024

What´s to come in the first half of 2024?

As we step into the vibrant year of 2024, we're thrilled to invite our valued stakeholders, to join us in a journey brimming with extraordinary activities and opportunities. This year promises to be one of innovation, engagement, and memorable experiences.

Events

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Project Contacts

Project Manager

Mariusz Cholewa
Phone: +48713203137

Finance Manager

Ewa Mus
Phone: + 48 71 320 25 56

Communication Manager

Laura Fotulová
Phone: +421 907 066 557