Workshops for SME and larger companies in innovative collaboration (InnoMetSME)

Purpose and goal

The purpose of the InnoMetSME project was to improve the conditions for collaboration between small and large companies to strengthen the innovative power in the Swedish metal industry. The work has contributed to an increased ability of six participating small companies to create innovation collaborations and further developed a meeting platform for innovation-stimulating interaction. Through workshop programs, expert activities and innovation meetings, the project has developed and disseminated methods, tools and processes that support relationship building.

Expected results and effects

Post project, the six participating companies say they experience stronger self-confidence and increased security in creating contacts with potential customers and partners in the metal industry. A platform for moderated innovation meetings between SMEs and large companies was identified and further developed through Jernkontoret´s Technical Areas and R&D council to increase value-creating interaction. Methods and tools developed in the InnoMetSME have continued to be used and disseminated to other projects where there has been a need to stimulate innovation collaboration.

Planned approach and implementation

Through an iterative and interactive approach, empirical activities have further developed methods and processes based on needs analysis and theoretical basics studies in the project. The overall elements of the project consisted of SME networking, Program development, Method development and Dissemination. Two new processes were developed and applied, including preparatory workshops, expert activities and innovation meetings with two different orientations, either with a selected metal company or with an ecosystem of metal companies.