1. Regional Programme of Innovative Actions 2002-2003 Region of Murcia Spain Francisco Sardina Costa General Director

2. PROGRAMME TITLE CONSOLIDATION OF THE REGION OF MURCIA IN AN ECONOMY BASED ON KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION (CECOTEC-MURCIA)

3. RPIA OBJECTIVES 1.Creation of an Innovative substratum in SMEs. 2.New tools to facilitate the Transfer of Technology. 3.Improve the Coordination and Integration of the Science-Technology-Industry System.

4. PARTNERSHIP Steering Committee: –Regional Ministry of Economy, Industry and Innovation –Regional Ministry of Treasury –Regional Ministry of Presidence. Secretary of E.U. Affairs –General Directorate of Science, Technology and Information Society –Regional Development Agency (Instituto de Fomento) –University of Murcia –PolItechnic University of Cartagena –CEEIC (European Business and Innovation Centre of Cartagena) –Technological Centres: Footwear, Furniture, Canned Foods, Marble, Craftwork, Metal TC and Environmental TC

5. PARTNERSHIP Executive Committee: –General Director of the Regional Development Agency (Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia) –Vice-Chancellor of University of Murcia –Deputy President of Polytechnic University of Cartagena –Director of CEEIC (European Business and Innovation Centre of Cartagena) –Directors (7) of the Technological Centres: Footwear, Furniture, Canned Foods, Marble, Craftwork, Metal TC and Environmental TC –Head of Technological Policy Service of G.D. of S. T. and I. S. –PRAI manager team (CECOTEC)

6. Innovative aspects Extreme bottom-up approach Demand led and asked –Demand originates the proposal and not viceversa Many RIS-RITTS projects conclusions have been analysed and included

7. Bottom-up approach C.T. 1 C.T. 2 C.T. 3 INFO SMEs

8. Mainstreaming Pilot experiences. Test bench PRAI

9. Methodological actions Characterisation of pre-innovative companies Introduction of innovative culture in companies Adapted technological indicators

10. Objective: Detect models in SMEs in disposition to innovate for the first time in order to target the attention and services offered to them. Diversification Results: New companies identified. Changes in aid programmes. Characterisation of pre-innovative companies

11. Objective: Find new strategies to concern the companies with the innovation. ( innovation new sales strategy) Results: Statistical background (800 SMEs) Found a methodology /Guide. Already developed Selfdiagnose in 150 SMEs. Conclusions Introduction of innovative culture in companies

12. Objective: Identify indicators that justify the paradox: High growth of the Region and low innovation ratios. Regionalisation, adaptation and enrichment of European indicators Results: European indicators do not include the Micro- SMEs (<20 workers). Establishing two levels of innovation (broad and strict) more than 2/3 of SMEs declare innovation activity. Adapted technological indicators

13. Applied activities Mobility of technologists New Tools for Quality and Design Technology transfer Technological plans Technological fora Knowledge management network of Technological Centres

14. Mobility of technologists Objective: Allocate technology windows in SMEs –No enployment policy –No University policy Results: 51 technologists in SMEs that are connected toTechnological Centres.

15. New Tools for Quality and Design Objective: Satisfy a permanent demand of some companies in those topics. –No general recipes. Diferent sectors, diferent solutions Results: Demand satisfied but difficulties to mainstream. Conclusions assumed by the horizontal design unit in Technological Centres network.

16. Technology transfer Objective: Analyse new approaches to help companies to transfer technology. Bad results in aid program Results: Mainstreaming. Give a global treatment to the companies projects. Answer linked to assets financing.

17. Technological plans Objective: Introduce the technological vector in the strategy of companies.To test and compare different sectors, companies sizes and types of consultancies. Results: Dificult to sell.(Not for free) The consultants must be specialists in the sector. Generalist consultancy is not valued by the companies directions.

18. Technological fora Objective: Change mentalities. Businessmen have to go out and play their technological match in Europe. No time to loose. Results: Big success. Visibility. Interest. Demanded. Continuity. Sinergies and role of IRC network

19. Knowledge management network of Technological Centres Objective: Platform to develop new added-value services related to knowledge management. An instrument to involve SMEs in Knowledge society. Results: Stregthen the idea of TC network in the region –Sinergies ->Horizontal units. Design, robotics and environmental –Technology watch. Leveraged an INTERREG project in an agrofood subsector (juice producers)