Growth Catalyst, open innovation environment for Industry and SMEs in cooperation
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | SynerLeap powered by ABB AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 16 500 000 |
| Project duration | September 2016 - September 2022 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
In September 2016, SynerLeap, ABB´s growth hub, started with the ambition to shorten innovation cycle times and increase value creation by opening up ABB´s offices and lab infrastructure for startups. The project was in many respects groundbreaking as it challenged culture and processes in the large company. The project has shown that innovation cycle times have been shortened. The indirect evidence is that the project has attracted over 125 startups worldwide to become members to SynerLeap, as well as 10 industrial, strategic and ecosystem partners.
Expected results and effects
In total, more than 200 collaborations between SynerLeap startups and ABB and industry partners have been recorded. In addition, over 50 collaborations have been initiated between startups and ABB´s customers, thanks to contacts established by SynerLeap. Furthermore, two of the startups have become Unicorns and 13 of them have either become partners with ABB or received an investment from ABB. A total of 126 startups have been admitted to SynerLeap from 21 countries on five continents. Furthermore, SynerLeap has onboarded 10 partners and 14 ´Senior Startup Advisors’.
Planned approach and implementation
** Denna text är maskinöversatt ** The project has been executed in three phases. The first years have been colored by the discovery of limitations for collaborations to succeed. The second phase focused heavily on developing and implementing structural capital to overcome and/or reduce these constraints. The last phase has focused on scaling up and ´economy of scale´ in order to continue to operate the ecosystem without the need for funding from Vinnova.