INNOTRAD Innovating Tradition

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INNOTRAD Innovating Tradition
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Aims

• to support traditional manufacturing industries
  in each region through the transition towards
  being knowledge driven this will be achieved by
  strengthening relationships both between
  individual SMEs, and the institutions promoting
  knowledge and services related to technological
  innovation

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Background to INNOTRAD

• Net ?
• Project brief
• Sector approach
• Equitech
• Innovation
• ICT support

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Rationale

• Traditional reliance upon craft based
  manufacturing
• Increasingly competitive global markets
• Breaking down barriers to innovation and
  technical expertise
• Existing infrastructure could offer immediate
  benefits to other sectors

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Proposals

• Develop clusters around technology
• Examination of knowledge transfer mechanisms in
  WM and Tuscany
• Develop knowledge networks in both countries,
  mapping links to HE/FE, business support.
• Explore RDAs strategies in relation to these
  clusters

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Outcomes

• 2 pilot projects, one in textiles, one in leather
  in the West Midlands, involving technology to
  support the implementation of innovation
  strategies in SMEs.
• Each will build upon existing relationships
  developed through previous public/private sector
  support projects. The knowledge providers to
  host seminars for each sector to support and
  disseminate the development of each pilot
  network.

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And

• A database of links between the HVACP cluster and
  the knowledge providers in the UK, and a review
  of similar links in Tuscany.
• 2 planning meetings between SMEs and the project
  partners to review the regional and local
  strategies, with one in Italy, one in the UK,
  involving transnational attendees from the
  knowledge sectors.

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And

• A Transnational Conference to highlight the
  results of the project, and the pilot programmes.
  This will be held in the UK, hosted by
  Wolverhampton, and will involve the partnership
  and other interested cluster stakeholders.
• A recommended support infrastructure to increase
  process changes in the sector businesses
  utilising innovation and the knowledge providers.

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And..

• The development of a virtual knowledge resource
  for the leather pilot, accessible by both the
  SMEs and the knowledge providers to be used as
  an example for other sectors
• A report on the way the project has the potential
  to impact on the wider business community in both
  partner regions

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Progress

• Steering group meetings in July September
• Meeting in Prato in November to agree
  transnational collaboration
• Pilot project within leather sector started, with
  planned visit to Tanning Technology Centre in
  Pisa with sector representatives