KARIM – Boosting the competitiveness of innovative SMEs in Europe - 2 October 2014, Brussels
Manage for today, lead for tomorrow – the success of every SME is built on this premise. Yet today’s economic context coupled with growing global competition has made it all the more challenging for Europe’s SMEs to survive let alone thrive. That’s why the support network developed by KARIM, an EU initiative set up in North West Europe, has been so instrumental.
The KARIM Conference taking place on 2 October 2014 is inviting innovation enthusiasts and practitioners to come along for fresh insights into ‘Responsible Innovation’, a new philosophy that the EU is firmly supporting.
Perspective(s) on Responsible Innovation
Set up to assist SMEs in North West Europe, KARIM has made a significant breakthrough in the innovation landscape by considering ‘responsibility’ from the perspective of those behind it - entrepreneurs and researchers.
Its new guidance book, ‘Responsible Innovation in the context of the KARIM project’, proves there is competitive advantage by innovating using new technology from universities in a way, which considers the impact of innovation on society, groups within it and the environment. Such is the evidence that the EU has invested in KARIM to encourage wider adoption of responsible innovation.
2. Welcome note
by Sabine Enjalbert
CEO, Paris Region Entreprises
Dear attendees,
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conference.
Today, we will be sharing the results of a three-year long European
cooperation and paving with you the way forward to responsible
innovation.
KARIM runs under Interreg IVB North West Europe Programme, a major
cohesion policy instrument. North West Europe has a huge potential
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this potential at full extent. As KARIM’s partners, we truly believe that
cooperation is a promising way to address related challenges and that
joining forces will increase the attractiveness of North West Europe.
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way to enhance transnational innovation projects.
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transnational cooperation to help SMEs and universities address societal
challenges, and embed responsibility into innovation.
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lead us to new innovative partnerships tomorrow.
What is KARIM?
Background information
about the KARIM project
Manage for today, lead for tomorrow – the success of every SME is built on this premise. Yet today’s
economic context coupled with growing global competition has made it all the more challenging for Europe’s
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has been so instrumental.
Perspective(s) on Responsible Innovation
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landscape by considering ‘responsibility’ from the perspective of those behind it - entrepreneurs and
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there is competitive advantage by innovating using new technology from universities in a way, which
considers the impact of innovation on society, groups within it and the environment. Such is the evidence
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12. The project has aimed at four areas of activity:
1.Knowledge base
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the available support in their jurisdictions? What is the role of spinoff in technology transfer in the
several KARIM regions and their experiences in the technology transfer from academia to industry?
The resulting studies deliver a detailed picture of the national and regional policies and innovation
systems that frame the emergence and operation of spinoff companies, and report on the experience
lived by innovative SMEs in different European locations.
2.Capacity building
In just over two years, KARIM has proven the value of transnational cooperation
between academia and innovation support organisations to foster cross border
partnerships between labs and SMEs.
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best practice from year one and trains a larger number of people across different
countries.
Responsible innovation is being integrated into teaching from undergraduate to
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3.SME support
KARIM provides transnational support to SMEs in order to enhance their involvement
in European cooperation.
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Manager model has been successfully piloted by the KARIM partners and its success
on both a national and transnational level has been demonstrated.
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4.Networking
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KARIM has reached out to SMEs and innovation actors mainly through online channels
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awareness raising on relevant policies, sustainable innovation and tenders, and supporting
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For more information about KARIM activities: www.karimnetwork.com
3 #RespInnov www.karimnetwork.com 4
15. ‘They’ talk about
the KARIM network
KARIM reinforced the foundations of a European network dedicated to developing the concept of
responsible innovation. The project’s major strength resided in its ability to act as a bridge between
academic research and the need of industry for an increased focus on the practical applicability of the
responsible innovation concept. This was demonstrated through the publication of a guiding docu-ment
aimed at providing SME with the necessary tools and practices for implementing a responsible
innovation strategy.
Prof. Xavier Pavie - ESSEC Business School
The Karim networking events allowed us to learn more about the technical capability of the Research
providers within the project. This lead to a number of collaborative RD projects with both University
College Dublin and the Lancaster Environmental Centre (LEC). The opening of a UK office at the LEC
was a direct outcome of both KARIM and these RD projects.
Mark Bowkett - T.E. Laboratories
KARIM has enabled SMEs to again access to knowledge, technology and expertise not just through
their local university but through the wider transnational network across NW Europe. The KARIM
network has helped SMEs that want to grow, gain a more competitive edge and helped foster wider
developments around responsible innovation.
Dr Ruth Alcock - Lancaster University
One of the major outputs of the KARIM project was an Innovation Network Typology
focusing on informal ad-hoc network functionalities of innovative SMEs. Even though
SMEs are regularly using formal networks such as industry clusters and associations
or chambers of commerce, without their informal networking activities in many cases
innovation would not happen. Thus, regional developers who want to create effective
services and instruments for their SMEs need to know about the structures and charac-teristics
of those informal innovation networks.
Frank Bau - HTW Chur
In every company I support, I am now able to identify sustainable development assets, issues where
to progress and possible competitive advantages to make. KARIM was a great capacity building
opportunity for me in this regard.
The triple bottom line is now a reflex in my daily job with innovative SMEs.
Céline Le Coq and Thomas Fauvel - Paris Region Entreprises
Let’s continue initiatives like KARIM and get more and more SMEs on the sustainability path...
Ayce Celikel - Envisa
Universities are increasingly trying to find ways to disseminate and provide wider impact for their
research. Through KARIM, we at Lancaster have been able to find ways to transfer our research
knowledge and expertise into commercial opportunities through connecting with SMEs across NW
Europe. This not only helps us find a wider scope for our research outputs, it supports SMEs having
a wider impact on the European economy.
Dr Mark Bacon - Lancaster University
At the heart of UCD’s research strategy is the ambition to address the challenges that will shape
Ireland’s future and its role in the wider world. Key national issues include environment, energy,
agrifood, health, ICT, financial services and the development of evidence-based policy. Working
as part of the KARIM network UCD have developed a leading understanding and application of
Responsible Innovation that feeds into our research agenda. Through KARIM UCD have developed
close relationships with SMEs and innovation actors across Europe, working with them to grow the
European economy through responsible research and innovation.
Dr Hugh Hayden - University College Dublin
Europe is in an increasing need to bring together high quality research providers and innovative SMEs
to face global competitiveness. Finding good matches is difficult on a local level and even harder
on a transnational level. An additional challenge is to innovate and consider innovation impacts in a
responsible way. KARIM set up a trustful network of Business Development Managers and innovation
connectors throughout North West Europe to accelerate tech- and knowledge transfer transnationally
in a responsible manner. Underpinning structured and formal networks, trust and informal relations
are a key condition for successful matches that lead Innovative SMEs to global competitiveness.
Dr Doris Kirschner - de Sars - Paris Region Entreprises
#RespInnov www.karimnetwork.com 6
16. 09.00
Programme
Arrival, refreshments
Room: Marbre
09.30
Welcome, Agenda Process
Room: Trône
Sabine Enjalbert
CEO, Paris Region Entreprises
09.40
Knowledge exchange for responsible
innovation in the context of a changing
world
Vicente Rodriguez Saez
Deputy Head of Unit, Competence Centre Macro-regions
and European Territorial Cooperation,
Transnational and Interregional Cooperation,
DG REGIO, European Commission
10.00
KARIM: ambition and methodology
Dr Mark Bacon
Director, Business Partnerships Enterprise in Science Technology,
Lancaster University
Serge Gadbois
Project Director, KARIM, Paris Region Entreprises
10.20
Collaboration in action Mark Bowkett
Managing Director, T.E. Laboratories
10.35
Introduce ConverStations
10.50
Coffee break
Room: Marbre
Delegates are invited to choose
3 ConverStations.
11.20
ConverStations
Room: Trône
A session of exchange, mutual learning and feedback
on KARIM project activities
Setting up in round tables, delegates can choose 3 out of 10 cases studies / thematic areas – ConverStations - that showcase practical
examples of applied Responsible Innovation, Technology Transfer and Transnational Cooperation.
Each presentation will last for 30 minutes.
1 Spin-out - start-up - how to walk through the valley
of death
Dr Victor Scholten - Assistant Professor in Technology-Based
Entrepreneurship, Delft University of Technology
2 How collaboration with students can help SME’s
businesses? Divya Vasudeva - Environmental Consultant, ENVISA
3 Student Exchange – Managing intern placement Aoife Collins - Internships Manager, University College Dublin
4 Responsible ICT
Let’s think information technology differently!
Yann Bouché - Sustainable development advisor,
Paris Region Entreprises
Responsible Innovation:
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Daphné Carthy - Research Project Manager, Institute for Strategic
Innovation Services, ESSEC Business School
Prof. Xavier Pavie - Professor, ESSEC Business School; Director, Institute for
Strategic Innovation Services; Research Associate, Université Paris Ouest
6 7KHFKDOOHQJHVDQGEHQH¿WVRIEXLOGLQJ
a transnational business development network
Dr Doris Kirschner - de Sars - Innovation Advisor, Business Development
Manager in the KARIM project, Paris Region Entreprises
Dr Hugh Hayden - Business Development Manager, University College Dublin
7 Biomimicry, Nature as a model Kalina Raskin - Innovation Advisor, Paris Region Entreprises
Driving innovation through knowledge transfer
between SMEs and universities
Dr William Hynes - Founder and Director,
Future Analytics Consulting Ltd.
9 Reconcile business and environment through
rapid manufacturing and eco-design Christelle Bar - Advisor in technological innovation, InnovaTech
10 The art of technical communication Barry Brophy – Technical Communications Lecturer, University College Dublin
13.00
Lunch break
Room: Marbre
7 #RespInnov www.karimnetwork.com
17. 14.00
KARIM – Pathways to EU competitiveness
Room: Trône
PROgRAMME Speakers
Presentations providing insights and learning points on KARIM key activity areas.
Serge Gadbois - Project Director, KARIM, Paris Region Entreprises
Responsible Innovation for business | Responsible is business
What added value ‘responsible innovation’ brings to SME? What is the role of business support managers in helping SMEs to build value from res-ponsible
innovation? KARIM has considered the conditions and opportunities for SMEs to engage in responsible innovation, and the support they can
get from universities, business support organisations and policy makers.
Dr Ruth Alcock - Head of Enterprise Business Partnerships, Lancaster University
Knowledge: University an actor of EU competitiveness
How do SMEs build cooperation in KARIM regions, how do they prepare to go international, what is the added value to cooperate
with university? KARIM has proven the value of transnational cooperation between academia and innovation support organisations
to foster cross border partnerships between labs and SMEs.
Prof. Michael Gilchrist - Head of the UCD School of Mechanical Materials Engineering, University College Dublin
Seeding Responsible Innovation
What is the role of spin off in technology transfer and their experiences in the technology transfer from academia to industry? How do we create
effective university spinouts that deliver a real competitive advantage? KARIM has examined three important universities and come with proposals on
innovation education and the role of internship.
14.30
Key stakeholders’ perspectives Stakeholders* are invited to give their views and insights on KARIM key activity areas.
15.00
Coffee break - Room: Marbre
15.20
Working groups - Room: Trône Delegates are invited to develop key messages/recommendations on KARIM’s different outcomes.
16.10
Delivering Responsible Innovation
into the future
Stakeholders* react on key messages/ recommendations.
Femke Groothuis - Director and co-founder, The Ex’tax Project
Gaëtan Dartevelle - CEO, Director and co-founder, Greenloop
Françoise Chotard3UHVLGHQW(55,1+HDGRI3DULV5HJLRQ%UXVVHOV2I¿FH
Tim Clarke – Chair of the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation and Former EU Ambassador/
EC Head of Delegation, ex European Commission/European External Action Service
Dr Lino Paula3ROLF2I¿FHU,QQRYDWLRQ8QLRQDQG(XURSHDQ5HVHDUFK$UHD'LUHFWRUDWH
DG Research Innovation, European Commission
Prof. Michael Gilchrist - Head of the UCD School of Mechanical Materials Engineering,
University College Dublin
17.00
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17.10 - 19.00
Cocktail - Room: Marbre
17.15 - 18.00
Side event: Round-table on Biomimicry
Room: Albert Ier
Dr Ruth Alcock
Head of Enterprise
Business Partnerships,
Lancaster Environment
Centre,
Lancaster University
Dr Mark Bacon
Director, Business
Partnerships
Enterprise in Science
Technology,
Lancaster University
Christelle Bar
Advisor in technological
innovation, Innovatech
Yann Bouché
Sustainable
Development Advisor,
Paris Region Entreprises
Mark Bowkett
Managing Director,
T.E. Laboratories
Barry Brophy
Research Engineer,
University College Dublin
Daphné Carthy
Research Associate, Institute
for Strategic Innovation and
Services, ESSEC
Françoise Chotard
President, ERRIN;
Head of Paris Region Brussels
Office
Dr Aoife Collins
Internship Manager,
University College Dublin
Tim Clarke
Former EU Ambassador/
EC Head of Delegation, ex
European Commission/European
External Action Service
gaëtan Dartevelle
CEO, Director and
Co-founder, greenloop
Sabine Enjalbert
CEO, Paris Region
Entreprises
Serge gADBOIS
Project Director, KARIM,
Paris Region Entreprises
9 #RespInnov www.karimnetwork.com 10
18. SPEAKERS
Prof. Michael gilchrist
Head of the UCD School
of Mechanical Materials
Engineering,
University College Dublin
Femke groothuis
Director and Co-founder,
The Ex’tax Project
Dr Hugh Hayden
Business Development Manager,
University College Dublin
Dr William Hynes
Founder and Director, Future
Analytics Consulting Ltd.
Dr Doris Kirschner-de Sars
Innovation Advisor, Business
Development Manager in the
KARIM project, Paris Region
Entreprises
Dr Lino Paula
Policy Officer, Innovation Union
and European Research Area
Directorate, Dg Research
Innovation,
European Commission
Prof. Xavier Pavie
Professor, ESSEC Business
School; Director, Institute
for Strategic Innovation
Services; Research Associate,
Université Paris Ouest
Kalina Raskin
Innovation Advisor,
Paris Region Entreprises
Vicente Rodriguez Saez
Deputy Head of Unit, Competence
Centre Macro-regions and
European Territorial Cooperation,
Transnational and Interregional
Cooperation, Dg REgIO,
European Commission
Victor Scholten
Assistant Professor
in Technology-Based
Entrepreneurship,
Delft University of Technology
Divya Vasudeva
Environmental Consultant,
ENVISA
Peter Woodward
Conference Moderator
Curious about BIOMIMICRY?
Because Human societies are constrained in Earth physical and biological boundaries, new disruptive industrial innovations
and processes should be achieved by learning from other living species and ecosystems.
Kalina Raskin - Paris Region Entreprises
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and environmental issues. These aim to reconcile economic prosperity in society, conserve resources and
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feeding, moving, surviving and reproducing within sustainable ecological systems in dynamic environments.
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and materials. Waste is always used as raw material for other systems. The biological and ecosystem
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solutions and biomimetic ones are thus widely regarded as not only being ingenious, but also being
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Biomimicry potential for responsible innovation in SMEs has been explored within the KARIM project.
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the dedicated side event*.
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11 #RespInnov www.karimnetwork.com 12
21. Partners
Paris Region Entreprises supports the development of businesses delivering the most economic, social and
ecological added value. Its missions are:
- To unite players in the Paris Region ecosystem and to coordinate their efforts, so as to optimise prospection work
throughout the region and worldwide, as well as the overall growth of businesses within the Paris Region.
- To provide businesses with long-term guidance in their development. Paris Region Entreprises plays a key advisory
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- To attract foreign companies with growth potential into the Paris Region and assist in their settlement.
Since 2009, Paris Region Innovation Center (merged into Paris Region Entreprises in July 2014) has been supporting
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added value seeing that the projects mature, become structured and get launched.
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to really take charge of their innovation projects.
The Ecodesign Centre (EDC) is an applied research organisation that aims to build capacity and
capabilities to enable effective ecodesign and eco-innovation in industry, in particular SMEs. EDC is
part of the CARDIFF Metropolitan University.
Lancaster University has a world class reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching, scholarship and research. The
Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) brings together academic researchers from the University of Lancaster alongside
the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and a growing number
of co-located businesses. With over 450 scientists and £35 million of capital investment, LEC forms one of the largest
centres of its kind in Europe.
Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is a triple-accredited, world-ranked management school, consistently
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comprehensive suite of support for SMEs. LUMS conducts work regionally, nationally and internationally.
University College Dublin (UCD) is Ireland’s largest University. It is a leading research-intensive university that
was awarded over 420 new research contracts totalling €89 million. UCD’s College of Engineering and Architecture
compromises 80 research investigators and their associated research teams working in areas such as: energy,
materials engineering and nano-bio science engineering.
BSK-CiC is a Community Interest Company that is dedicated to supporting SMEs to develop and grow.
BSK-CiC expertise relies in 4 areas: enterprise development, sustainability and the low carbon economy,
coaching innovation for high growth companies and internationalisation and knowledge transfer.
MFG Innovation Agency for ICT and Media Baden-Württemberg has been strengthening Baden-
Württemberg as a business location for IT, media and creative industries since 1995. MFG improves
regional innovation and competitiveness including the promotion of regional, national and international
cooperation.
The HTW Chur is a university of applied sciences in the Canton Grisons in Switzerland. Besides the
educational activities, HTW is mandated by the canton government to act as the SME centre, which is
implemented by the Swiss Institute for Entrepreneurship (SIFE). The mandate includes innovation support
of SMEs and the transfer of technology and knowledge between universities and SMEs.
ISIS is a centre of excellence and applied research within ESSEC Business School in Paris and Singapore.
Created in January 2004 through the combined involvement of companies such as BMW, Bouygues,
CSC and EDF, ISIS aims at generating, stimulating and promoting innovation in the 21st century service
knowledge economy. Its goal is to contribute to sustainable growth and to the competitiveness of
organisations.
TU Delft is a university of technology with a very strong reputation internationally. Its section Technology,
Strategy and Entrepreneurship (TSE) in the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM)
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and strategy, all taken from a business perspective.
13 #RespInnov www.karimnetwork.com 14