1. A national initiative to stimulate sustainable growth, innovation system within strong cluster, long term cluster Karin Markides vDG VINNOVA VINNVÄXT Programme Towards a Knowledge Society The Nordic Experience November 14th 2005

2. Efficient innovation systems Interaction between Business Research Policy/Public Sector Sustainable growth requires interaction between business, research, and policy/the public sector – Triple Helix. The interaction results in new products, services, and processes.

3. Success Factors for a Regional Innovation System Regional leadership for renewal (Triple Helix) Shared vision/strategic concepts Strong commitment from the business community Identification of growth areas Regional focus/prioritization Functional regions Strong research and innovation milieus Strategies and resources for learning Insight into business and development logic

4. Generic Model Sector Specific Demands Regional Conditions and Cultural Settings Time Windows Research and Innovation Environment Business Research Policy/Public Sector

5. An innovation system and a cluster manifest a systemic whole. Its elements are linked to and influenced by each other. Also, they collectively act towards a common objective (economic growth and competitiveness) imbedded in a vision about a preferred future. Dynamic Innovation Systems The competitiveness is developed through an innovative transformation of knowledge to new ways of thinking, new processes (how to do things), new value chains and to innovations and commercialized products and services Cluster Agglomeration of similar and/or inter-dependent actors that commonly also grow to include tripel helix. Systemic collaboration

6. Regional Growth through Dynamic Innovation Systems 10 years 65 MEuro from VINNOVA 65 MEuro from regions

7. Aim of programme To promote sustainable growth and international competitiveness in functional regions through research that meets the needs from industry for growth and competitiveness enhancement of the innovation system to an internationally competitive level in future growth areas

8. Objectives for VINNOVA Support the development of strong research and innovation environments Stimulate systems of actors to enhance the innovation system in Swedish functional regions to an international level within specific areas of strength Be a catalyst for coordination of resources

9. Accompanying measures Support to RIS developers and facilitators Triple helix management courses International collaboration Innovation research Publications Programme committee Learning from pilot projects Follow-up of program process and learning Strengthening of VINNOVA staff Indicators of regional growth

10. Process for the call 2002-2003 200120022003 Program initiation Pilot projects 5 Preparation workshops Call planning phase 159 proposals Courses Meetings with regional teams Seminars Call implementation phase 51 proposals Communication to regions 25 winners3 winners Publications Process support

11. Winning criteria Triple Helix leadership and management well developed Future growth areas identified and good growth potential A Triple Helix shared strategic idea and vision Innovative environments strong or under building Research fully involved in the process Companies strongly involved from the beginning Effective measures for improving cooperation and interactive learning

12. 1)In-house evaluation by 10 VINNOVA staff 2)3 independent panels (each triple helix sphere) 3)Programme committee meeting 4)Interviews with potential winner regional teams 5)Programme committee meeting 6)Negotiations with potential winners 7)Final decision by VINNOVA Procedure for selection of winners

13. 2003 51 applicants - 3 winners  Uppsala Bio (Biotech supply cluster in the Uppsala region)  Robotdalen (Robotics cluster in the western part of the Lake Mälaren Valley)  Innovation i Gränsland (Food cluster in the Skåne region)

14. Studies of VINNVÄXT 2003 Some opinions expressed by 25 processes “very long term grants are essential” (10 years!) “call and competition is very positive” “too short time to deadline” (6 months!) “the Acknowledgement – to be in a future oriented business sector is more important than money” “process support is more important than research money” “now everybody knows about Innovation Systems and Triple Helix” “the policy thesis of Growth is made very clear”

15. Process for the call 2004 200320042005 3 winners Workshops for process leaders Call VINNVÄXT 2004 Education Meetings with regional process teams Deadline 5 winners Publications Process support Interactive research 7 process grants Studies Assessment

16. 2004 23 applicants - 5 winners  ProcessIT Innovations  Fiber Optic Valley  New Tools for Life  Triple Steelix  Biomedical Development in Western Sweden

17. ROBOTICS VALLEY Steel Sheet Refinement BIOMEDICINSK UTVECKLING I VÄSTSVERIGE

18.  The vision is to strengthen the Mälar Valley as the world leader in research, development and manufacturing within the field of Robotics  Specialises in industrial robots, field robotics and robotics for medical and health care Erik LundqvistEvelyn Karlsson Nagoya Area Automation Alley www.robotdalen.org ROBOTICS VALLEY

19. - An important regional growth initiative with a deserving cause The New Tools for Life initiative makes the region of Östergötland a major international player in the development of individually designed products for best possible health New Tools for Life The primary motives are a huge and growing market and a suitable regional competence and profile, with the roots in the academic world, the politics and the business Founders of the initiative are a great number of individuals from Linköpings universitet, public organisations, authorities and regional companies

20. Magnus Lagnevik Kjell Olsson  Spearhead competence in agribusiness  Creates foods with high added value  Border-crossing research on company’s terms  Strong political backing in the region  Food industry turnover in the region 20.000 Million Euro  Scania has 50% of Swedish food production  The majority of Swedish R&D in the food industry is located in Scania www.innovationigransland.se

21. UPPSALA BIO Uppsala BIO is an initiative from the local biotech industry, the two universities in Uppsala, and regional development bodies. Its aim is to contribute to the long-term growth of the biotech sector in the region. The coordinated action plan developed by all parties involved defines four strategic areas. 1. Uppsala BIO-X – the cross- disciplinary research effort for biotech projects 2. Secure the sector’s future needs for suitably trained people 3. Secure the flow of high quality innovations from idea to industry 4. Communicate the region’s competences to the world Madeleine Neil Rhiannon Sanders Jonas Åström

22. Operation of programme At least 50 percent to R&D Development of organisation and process management Mobilisation Competence supply Brand creation Strategic work Follow-up

23. Effects of programme Helps regions to go from words to action Competition format forces regions to prioritise Strategic research on companies’ terms Clear coordination effect Strong role for regional politicians Growth in focus Gives credibility Builds brands Prepare to scale up!

24. Interaction of Winners and Non-Winners Biotech Food IT Biotech-IT Learning Tripel Helix regional up-scaling Networking MaterialsPharma

25. Lessons learned  International benchmarking of programme idea  Extensive support to potential applicants  Problem-oriented research as a driving force  Focus on leadership  VINNOVAs internal learning is crucial  Changing mindset takes time  Separate triple helix spheres evaluation teams  Follow-ups and assessment are essential

26. Strategic Analysis Forsight National strategy Global analysis Backsight 1 2 2 3 3 4 4

27. Development is good! Change is no good! For development change is needed!!!

28. More lessons learned  Call for proposal, implying competition between proposals.  Few winners  Resources to the already strong, not to the weak.  Functional regions. No geographical distribution rules.  Support activities (process support, training, learning, exchange of experiences, research)  Long term commitment - 10-years  Frequent evaluations and continous follow up research.  Taking care of losers as well as the winners.

29. VINNOVA is working to achieve sustainable growth by developing efficient innovation systems and financing research that meets the needs from industry for growth and competitiveness The first of VINNOVA's programmes with a regional perspective was VINNVÄXT - regional growth through dynamic innovation systems. This programme has attracted much attention. VINNVÄXT was a novel initiative in Sweden with its long-term perspective, its process support and the fact that the programme selection procedure is competitive. In addition there is regional co- funding of at least 100%. VINNVÄXT enables a concentration of efforts around a strategic idea in the regions. Many of these concentrated efforts and processes have shown themselves to be sustainable, even in cases where no co- funding has been provided by VINNOVA.