INKA - Strengthening SMEs' Innovation and Growth Potential in Internationalizing Ecosystems
The INKA project is developing a unified, business-driven service model between two universities of applied sciences. This model enables the effective utilization of both institutions' RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) services and infrastructure to meet the needs of SMEs, both regionally and across regions. The developed model will be integrated into each university’s orchestrated Digital Innovation Hub (DIH).
The central goal of the INKA project is to strengthen cooperation between universities of applied sciences and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by developing and harmonizing RDI services on a cross-regional level. The project aims to build a sustainable service concept that allows companies smooth access to research, development, and innovation resources beyond regional boundaries. Another key goal is to integrate these services into a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH), which enhances SMEs’ ability to utilize the RDI infrastructure of universities of applied sciences for business development. INKA also seeks to ensure that the services better meet the specific needs of SMEs in various stages of product development and commercialization. In doing so, the project lays the foundation for broader collaboration, growth, and competitiveness both regionally and nationally.
The INKA project enhances the innovation capabilities and growth potential of SMEs by offering user- and customer-oriented RDI services for various stages of product development and commercialization. Through the project, a cross-regional “innovation bridge” is established, enabling closer collaboration between universities of applied sciences and SMEs on both regional and interregional levels. By integrating the developed services into a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH), the project ensures the continuous and widespread availability of RDI infrastructure to support business development. In this way, INKA promotes the emergence of new businesses and the renewal of existing ones by opening up the RDI interface of universities of applied sciences to companies – both locally and nationally.
The objectives of the INKA project are being realized in a practical way by building cross-regional collaboration, in which RDI services provided by universities of applied sciences are developed and shared beyond regional boundaries. The user-driven design and piloting of services enable their smooth implementation to support SMEs in product development and commercialization. The integration of these services into a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) further supports the achievement of goals by ensuring their sustainability and broader accessibility. Additionally, the project emphasizes unified operating models and the exchange of knowledge among stakeholders, which strengthens cooperation structures and contributes to the intended impact. In this way, the project advances toward its goals systematically, starting from the needs of SMEs.
The central goal of the INKA project is to strengthen cooperation between universities of applied sciences and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by developing and harmonizing RDI services on a cross-regional level. The project aims to build a sustainable service concept that allows companies smooth access to research, development, and innovation resources beyond regional boundaries. Another key goal is to integrate these services into a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH), which enhances SMEs’ ability to utilize the RDI infrastructure of universities of applied sciences for business development. INKA also seeks to ensure that the services better meet the specific needs of SMEs in various stages of product development and commercialization. In doing so, the project lays the foundation for broader collaboration, growth, and competitiveness both regionally and nationally.
The INKA project enhances the innovation capabilities and growth potential of SMEs by offering user- and customer-oriented RDI services for various stages of product development and commercialization. Through the project, a cross-regional “innovation bridge” is established, enabling closer collaboration between universities of applied sciences and SMEs on both regional and interregional levels. By integrating the developed services into a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH), the project ensures the continuous and widespread availability of RDI infrastructure to support business development. In this way, INKA promotes the emergence of new businesses and the renewal of existing ones by opening up the RDI interface of universities of applied sciences to companies – both locally and nationally.
The objectives of the INKA project are being realized in a practical way by building cross-regional collaboration, in which RDI services provided by universities of applied sciences are developed and shared beyond regional boundaries. The user-driven design and piloting of services enable their smooth implementation to support SMEs in product development and commercialization. The integration of these services into a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) further supports the achievement of goals by ensuring their sustainability and broader accessibility. Additionally, the project emphasizes unified operating models and the exchange of knowledge among stakeholders, which strengthens cooperation structures and contributes to the intended impact. In this way, the project advances toward its goals systematically, starting from the needs of SMEs.
Project period
-
Project state
On-going
Project area
National
Project funding
EAKR 2021-2027
LAB role
Partner
Unit
Business and Hospitality Management
Project focus area
Intangible value creation
