KVOUCHER

Implementation of a Transeuropean Knowledge Voucher System

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'KVoucher aims at implementing a transregional Knowledge Voucher System that will facilitate contact making and initiating first projects between SMEs from one region and so called Knowledge Institutes (KIs) from other regions in different countries. A Knowledge Voucher is a coupon that entitles SMEs to receive a certain amount of consultancy or research from knowledge-intensive organisations, so-called Knowledge Institutions (KIs). A company in one region will through a KVoucher get the possibility to “buy competence” and carry out a joint activity with a provider – a KI,– in the other region. The project will reach its overall goal through the achievement of the following specific objectives: • Prepare a standardized methodology and toolkit for the description, analysis and benchmarking of existing voucher systems and apply it to the partner regions • Develop common specifications for a shared transregional voucher system as well as a mechanism to adapt it to any specific EU environments. KVoucher will become integrated with existing systems in partner regions, and will be the foundation for a new system in partner regions that do not have one. • Provide SMEs, Knowledge Institutions and stakeholders with proper tools in order to access, use and maintain a voucher system • Analyse the conditions under which a joint Kvoucher pilot could be carried and prepare an action plan for its implementation • Implement a real-life joint pilot in order to validate the transregional voucher system with some SMEs in each partner region getting a voucher to receive support from KIs located in the remaining partner regions • Design and apply a set of indicators in order to evaluate the performance of the transregional voucher system • Execute the proper dissemination actions in order to create awareness in the partner regions and expand the voucher system beyond the consortium boundaries through the creation of a network of Observers'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Small businesses can access quality international research and the consulting support they require from a larger network of knowledge institutions (KIs), thanks to a new voucher system that spans several countries.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

In recent years, knowledge-intensive organisations, or KIs, have come to represent a very useful mechanism in the EU for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Many European governments and business communities have relied on a system of knowledge vouchers for SMEs to seek the help of KIs in a variety of fields, promoting innovation and competitiveness.

With this in mind, the EU-funded project 'Implementation of a Transeuropean knowledge voucher system' (KVOUCHER) sought to create a pan-European coupon-based solution to help SMEs benefit from consulting or research from KIs. It worked on creating a cross-border voucher system so that a company in one region can 'buy competence' from a KI in another region.

To achieve its aims, the project team identified the success factors related to such schemes and created an experimental network involving seven regions across Europe. It built on existing voucher systems and outlined guidelines for improving current systems and implementing new ones. Work involved developing common specifications for a shared voucher system and a mechanism to adapt it to specific EU environments, analysing where the pilot system could be carried out and outlining measures to evaluate it.

A project achievement that enabled the pilot scheme to operate successfully was a database of knowledge providers in partner regions to create a compatible set of offerings. Another achievement was the network of brokers, considered to be ideal intermediaries between SMEs and foreign KI providers.

Importantly, the project team disseminated the experiences and results of KVOUCHER among key players in the partner regions and beyond, empowering SMEs to seek support. Progress in this direction has also helped strengthen the voucher concept in Europe and ensure its sustainability, representing a noteworthy example of pan-European collaboration. As the voucher idea flourishes, such a dynamic transnational approach is bound to bring innovativeness, competitiveness, and excellence to businesses and industries across Europe.