Scheme Details

Limburg has an extensive infrastructure of intermediary organisations supporting knowledge transfer to private businesses. However, like in many other European regions, the region experienced difficulties in involving small and medium-sized enterprises in its innovation support system.

 

The Research Vouchers pilot project was carried out under the umbrella of the Regional Technology Plan (RTP) of Limburg. The initiative, led by Limburg Development Company LIOF, DSM Research BV and the Province of Limburg, aimed at increasing the level of knowledge and improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises by creating and developing a “knowledge market” in the region, which would allow SMEs to call on external sources to supply the know-how they lack. Bigger companies often have known how to track innovation, but this exercise is too complex for an SME, as they generally lack the necessary manpower and resources. The Research Vouchers project aimed to address this problem by providing SMEs with access to external sources of expertise. The objective of the project was to convince SMEs that much of the knowledge and expertise that they require has already been developed by the so-called knowledge institutions and large companies.

The project was to introduce a system of research vouchers that would allow SMEs to make use of DSM Research’s expertise and problem-solving abilities. Meanwhile, a limited number of research vouchers were supplied to companies in the sample group which allowed them to have three days of advice from DSM Research free of charge. The voucher system developed in this project was experimental. After a random sample was selected from the target group, 20 companies were sent vouchers to make use of DSM Research’s expertise, which covers environment and safety; advanced analyses; polymer chemistry; plastics; chemicals; and process technology, for a three-day period. To encourage the companies to use the vouchers, and to declare the rights and obligations of the parties involved, a set of rules was drawn up and printed on the back of each research voucher.

 

Specific problems of the SMEs were determined by the companies themselves or by Limburg Development Company (LIOF), then the Steering Committee consisting of staff from DSM Research, LIOF and Province of Limburg evaluated the determined problems and appointed relevant DSM experts to the companies. Following, DSM experts prepared draft strategies for the participant SMEs. If the experiment turned out to be successful, a follow-up project would be planned involving more knowledge providers. The implementation of these follow up projects were monitored by LIOF.

 

To conclude the project, an evaluation research was conducted and a final report was written. The intention was also to find out whether, and to what extent, a research voucher would be a suitable instrument to achieve the main aims. The evaluation therefore clarified the considerations/motives that played a role in convincing SMEs to purchase external knowledge to solve technological problems, and to what extent research vouchers would be a suitable tool to encourage them to do so in a consistent manner.

Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Strategies and Infrastructures (RITTS) and Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS), are partly funded by the European Commission. The initiative for the project was taken by Limburg Development Company LIOF, DSM Research BV and the Province of Limburg.

The results of the evaluation all in all showed that the project was generally successful. Although interest in the vouchers was initially mild, the participating SMEs were satisfied when the implementation process started and proceeded smoothly. This means that beyond achieving good research results, it is equally important to approach and help the participants in the proper manner. The way in which DSM approached the companies was appreciated very much. The greatest progress was therefore made in this particular area, offering a high level of know-how with a customer-friendly, attentive attitude.

Nevertheless, the results were disappointing in terms of making companies aware of the range of different fields in which DSM can provide expertise. The evaluation demonstrated that not all of the participants were aware of the relevant expertise that DSM can offer to SMEs. On the other hand, the companies quickly benefited from redeeming the voucher. In most instances the benefits were improvements rather than earth-shattering innovations. But it was confirmed that the voucher was a good way of awakening the enthusiasm of SMEs for innovation and for using external sources of know-how. All things considered, it can be said that the voucher project has been a very effective instrument in Limburg.

 

[The above information has not been validated by the contact person of the scheme]