The 2015 BSR Stars Innovation Express call results in 27 new international collaboration projects, involving more than 1180 SMEs

December 16, 2015

The BSR Innovation Express call (open between 1 May – 30 October 2015) attracted 50 applications from cluster organisations and business networks in the six funding and extended partner countries. Of these, 40 have been approved – directly engaging 1186 SMEs in international innovation collaboration activities.

23 applicants have teamed up in 10 joint projects (with 2 or more partners receiving funding). In addition to these joint projects, 17 more projects have been approved – resulting in a total of 27 new international collaboration projects (see overview of IE projects 2015).

Project partners come from a range of business sectors including environment/green technologies, ICT, creative and experience business sectors, healthcare/medical devices, energy, agro-food, and materials/new materials. This year, 30% of projects are cross-sectoral – combining partners with expertise in different business, service or research sectors.

Projects involved 77 clusters from 17 different countries. Again this year, a majority of targeted partners (75%) were located within other Baltic Sea Region countries. Relative to last year, we witness a growing number of partners from other countries around the world.

More than 50% of projects aim to develop international collaboration bilaterally (i.e. a cluster has only one targeted partner). A smaller group of projects include partners in 3 countries. Four projects have partners in 4 or 5 different countries.