PPNT leads the European project ‘Innoinvest’ aimed at innovative SMEs

2021-04-14

The Horizon2020 project reveals the role of technology parks as innovative agencies in the management of capital investments and financial support to SMEs.

PPNT (project coordinator) has participated in the first virtual meeting of the European project ‘Innoinvest’. The main goal of this project is to support SMEs that are in the process of launching innovative products or technology (R&D) by finding tools and methods to improve the investment process, especially by facilitating the SMEs cooperation with corporate companies.

The project, promoted by the European Commission within the framework of the Horizon 2020 program, is developed by the consortium formed by PPNT together with t the WISTA Science and Technology Park in Berlin-Adlershof, the Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol of Estonia, and Málaga TechPark of Spain.

This first virtual meeting set out the work plan and methodologies that will be developed throughout the year that the project lasts. In this period, technology parks will show their role as innovative agencies of their companies. They will work on the development of supporting tools in the internationalization and investment processes for SMEs’ innovative technologies/solutions to ensure the best quality in the selection of the SMEs and their management staff and proposals.

All the project partners will pay attention how to choose the best qualified and experienced experts for the process of evaluating ideas. Besides, the main emphasis will be put on the validation process to ensure the SMEs feedback from the potential business partners and facilitate them to start the cooperation with corporate companies and acquire the financial (short or long term) support.

These agencies will be responsible for the selection of the SMEs, the evaluation, and the validation leading to obtaining the capital by SMEs. The results of the project will enhance also the possibilities of SMEs to obtain not only the short but also the long-term capital from business and financial partners which can enhance SMEs growth, competitiveness and facilitate their focusing on profitability of innovative solutions.