© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

SUPPORTING INNOVATION PROJECTS

19.02.2019, Brussels

Philipp Aiginger-Evangelisti | Programme Manager Impact Innovation

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

WHAT THIS PRESENTATION IS ABOUT

2

0103

02

Implications for SkillsProgramme Design

Funding Innovation Projects

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

WHAT WE DID

3

0103

02

Implications for SkillsProgramme Design

Funding Innovation Projects

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

Renewing the view on „Innovation“:

• Non-technical innovation

• New/Different types of innovation

• Innovation methodology

PROGRAMME DESIGNSTARTING POINT

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

Study – „Opening up our view on innovation“:

• using Open Innovation and Design Thinking in the study

• looking for unusual suspects to open up new perspectives

• focusing on user problem to understand the needs

• thinking outside the (our) box

PROGRAMME DESIGNLOOKING FOR THE SOLUTION

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

PROGRAMME DESIGN – JOURNEY

2015-2016 Q3/2016

First concept

Defining goals & principles

Application form & criteria

Defining the problem & generate Ideas

Study & Benchmarking

Q4/2016

Iteration workshop

03-06/2017

Pilot: Impact Innovation

Budget: € 1 Mio

Applications: 104

Funded: 16

09/2017

Evaluation of the user journey

03-05/2018

Pilot II: Impact Innovation

Budget: € 2,2 Mio

Applications: 93

Funded: 30

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

WHAT THE PROGRAMME IS ABOUT

7

0103

02

Implications for SkillsProgramme Design

Funding Innovation Projects

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at 8

• Funding of innovation projects

• Focus on the project design rather than on

research or market potentials:

• Understanding the problem as core value

• Innovation methodology

• User interaction/co-creation

• Keeping it open

WHAT IS IMPACT INNOVATION ABOUT?

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

INNOVATION PROCESS IN IMPACT INNOVATION

9

Application possible

Funding possible

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

• Target group: SMEs (including startups, associations,

..), Special focus on „innovation newbies“

• Max. project size/funding: €150.000 | € 75.000

• Project duration: max. 12 months

• Bottom-up

FRAMEWORK

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at 11

Keep the process open and focus on the project design (not on the detailed steps)

• which methods are used and ho isinvolved?

• define milestones/key results for the first6 months (not a detailed work plan)

• Estimated costs in total

Ask questions relevant to the innovationprocess

• what is the problem and who is affected?

• what is the overall goal of the project?(not the detailed outcome)

• why isn‘t the problem solved yet?

Be open to new solutions!

APPLICATION

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

Impact

Size of affected group

Relevance of problem

Scalability

Problem-solution fit

Innovation

Differences to existing solutions

SELECTION CRITERIA

Impact Innovation

MethododicalApproach

Appropriate method

Influence of feedback

User Interaction

Right people

Regularly

Early

Methodical Approach& User Interaction

Qualifications

Innovation methods(external possible)

Skills in the specifictopic

Team diversity

Financial capabilities

Capability

Additionality

Funding goals

Effects on methodocialapproach

Early phase in project

New to innovation

Funding goals

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

Type of project: No R&D Innovations with addedvalue, focus on process of problem solving

Application: No detailed work plan till project end milestone and overall budget estimation, focuson problem definition and project design

Applicants: not classic R&D/Innovation companies but micro companies, associations, socialentrepreneurs (80% first timers)

Criteria: no research and development risksfocus on the project design

IMPACT INNOVATION IS DIFFERENT

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

www.benu.at

14

Plan a funeral fromhome

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

• Applicants new to innovation: 81%

• Influence on project design: 69%

• Majority in education (24%) and business model

innovations (20%)

• Understanding the problem as key issue but also

as key message

• Support to design the innovation process is

needed

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

• Impact Evaluation of pilot programme until03/2019

• New call starting 06/2019

• Open call

• More communication and explanation ofinnovation

• Maybe: Experiment about digital supporttools

• PhD Student about evaluation of innovationprojects

• Maybe: Matched Crowdfunding

WHATS UP IN 2019?

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

WHAT ABOUT THE SKILLS?

17

0103

02

Implications for SkillsProgramme Design

Funding Innovation Projects

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at 18

1. External consultants in project context –often first time

2. There is a need for explaining innovationand innovation methods

3. Demand for knowledge aboutskills/consultants before project start

4. Team criteria is especially important in early project stage

CONCLUSION:IMPLICATIONS FOR INNOVATION SKILLS

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at 19

© FFG I Austrian Research Promotion Agency I www.ffg.at

Philipp Aiginger-EvangelistiBusiness Development & Programme Manager

Austrian Research Promotion AgencySensengasse 1, A-1090 Vienna

T +43 (0) 5 77 55 – 1206M +43 (0) 664 88 54 021Philipp.aiginger@ffg.atwww.ffg.at/impactinnovation

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

IMPRINT