SUPPORTING INNOVATION PROJECTS · Supporting innovation projects by focusing on design Author: Philipp Aiginger-Evangelisti Created Date: 2/26/2019 4:21:58 PM

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

SUPPORTING INNOVATION PROJECTS

19.02.2019, Brussels

Philipp Aiginger-Evangelisti | Programme Manager Impact Innovation


WHAT THIS PRESENTATION IS ABOUT

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Implications for SkillsProgramme Design

Funding Innovation Projects


WHAT WE DID

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Renewing the view on „Innovation“:

• Non-technical innovation

• New/Different types of innovation

• Innovation methodology

PROGRAMME DESIGNSTARTING POINT

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Study – „Opening up our view on innovation“:

• using Open Innovation and Design Thinking in the study

• looking for unusual suspects to open up new perspectives

• focusing on user problem to understand the needs

• thinking outside the (our) box

PROGRAMME DESIGNLOOKING FOR THE SOLUTION

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PROGRAMME DESIGN – JOURNEY

2015-2016 Q3/2016

First concept

Defining goals & principles

Application form & criteria

Defining the problem & generate Ideas

Study & Benchmarking

Q4/2016

Iteration workshop

03-06/2017

Pilot: Impact Innovation

Budget: € 1 Mio

Applications: 104

Funded: 16

09/2017

Evaluation of the user journey

03-05/2018

Pilot II: Impact Innovation

Budget: € 2,2 Mio

Applications: 93

Funded: 30


WHAT THE PROGRAMME IS ABOUT

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© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at 8

• Funding of innovation projects

• Focus on the project design rather than on

research or market potentials:

• Understanding the problem as core value

• Innovation methodology

• User interaction/co-creation

• Keeping it open

WHAT IS IMPACT INNOVATION ABOUT?


INNOVATION PROCESS IN IMPACT INNOVATION

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Application possible

Funding possible


• Target group: SMEs (including startups, associations,

..), Special focus on „innovation newbies“

• Max. project size/funding: €150.000 | € 75.000

• Project duration: max. 12 months

• Bottom-up

FRAMEWORK


Keep the process open and focus on the project design (not on the detailed steps)

• which methods are used and ho isinvolved?

• define milestones/key results for the first6 months (not a detailed work plan)

• Estimated costs in total

Ask questions relevant to the innovationprocess

• what is the problem and who is affected?

• what is the overall goal of the project?(not the detailed outcome)

• why isn‘t the problem solved yet?

Be open to new solutions!

APPLICATION


Impact

Size of affected group

Relevance of problem

Scalability

Problem-solution fit

Innovation

Differences to existing solutions

SELECTION CRITERIA

Impact Innovation

MethododicalApproach

Appropriate method

Influence of feedback

User Interaction

Right people

Regularly

Early

Methodical Approach& User Interaction

Qualifications

Innovation methods(external possible)

Skills in the specifictopic

Team diversity

Financial capabilities

Capability

Additionality

Funding goals

Effects on methodocialapproach

Early phase in project

New to innovation

Funding goals


Type of project: No R&D Innovations with addedvalue, focus on process of problem solving

Application: No detailed work plan till project end milestone and overall budget estimation, focuson problem definition and project design

Applicants: not classic R&D/Innovation companies but micro companies, associations, socialentrepreneurs (80% first timers)

Criteria: no research and development risksfocus on the project design

IMPACT INNOVATION IS DIFFERENT


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Plan a funeral fromhome


• Applicants new to innovation: 81%

• Influence on project design: 69%

• Majority in education (24%) and business model

innovations (20%)

• Understanding the problem as key issue but also

as key message

• Support to design the innovation process is

needed

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR


• Impact Evaluation of pilot programme until03/2019

• New call starting 06/2019

• Open call

• More communication and explanation ofinnovation

• Maybe: Experiment about digital supporttools

• PhD Student about evaluation of innovationprojects

• Maybe: Matched Crowdfunding

WHATS UP IN 2019?


WHAT ABOUT THE SKILLS?

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1. External consultants in project context –often first time

2. There is a need for explaining innovationand innovation methods

3. Demand for knowledge aboutskills/consultants before project start

4. Team criteria is especially important in early project stage

CONCLUSION:IMPLICATIONS FOR INNOVATION SKILLS



Philipp Aiginger-EvangelistiBusiness Development & Programme Manager

Austrian Research Promotion AgencySensengasse 1, A-1090 Vienna

T +43 (0) 5 77 55 – 1206M +43 (0) 664 88 54 [email protected]/impactinnovation

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

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SUPPORTING INNOVATION PROJECTS · Supporting innovation projects by focusing on design Author: Philipp Aiginger-Evangelisti Created Date: 2/26/2019 4:21:58 PM