Eastern Skåne innovation ecosystem
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Kristianstads kommun - KOMMUNLEDNINGSKONTORET |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 768 305 |
| Project duration | October 2019 - October 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Innovation management - research for increased innovation capability |
| Call | Innovation management - research for increased innovation capability, 2019 |
Important results from the project
Objective: Identify what needs to be strengthened to create an innovation ecosystem in sparse environments and increase knowledge of how rural municipalities should work in the system. Aim: Increase knowledge of how regional innovation system should be organized to integrate companies in sparsely populated areas. New knowledge has been disseminated to actors within and outside of Skåne. The actors (municipalities, regions, support systems and entrepreneurs) have gained insight into current obstacles and how an innovation ecosystem in a sparse environment should be designed.
Expected long term effects
Closeness to the support systems is an important factor for knowledge transfer, access to capital and for collaboration. Companies in sparsely populated areas do not know about the support system. Most collaboration takes place between companies. Companies lack paths to knowledge organizations such as academia and science parks. Companies in sparsely populated areas have not the same access to national and regional innovation system. There is a need for a clear and transparent system in sparsely populated areas that can act as an intermediary by connecting companies to the systems.
Approach and implementation
The project has conducted a survey via telephone interviews where 1502 entrepreneurs have answered questions related to five innovation areas. 5 dialogue meetings were held with a total of 33 entrepreneurs and 3 dialogue meetings with a total of 11 actors within the support system in the east of Skåne. A joint closing meeting was held with the municipalities´ business offices and entrepreneurs. Research was conducted on questionnaire responses and on the dialogue meetings. The knowledge was analyzed and compiled in two reports. Based on the analyzes, an action plan has been developed.