What is an “Innovation Desk”?

The Innovation Desk for SME’s shall be a physical place where creativity and innovation in the fields of Metal Techniques/Building and constructions are promoted. Special attention will be given to ICT applications and simulations in the mentioned sectors. Innovation can be implemented not only at technological level but also at process level (management etc.). The Innovation Desk is potentially an instrument that can make the technical education more attractive for students in a way that students can get in contact with the latest technical developments available on the market and, by closely collaborating with SME’s and Higher Education institutions (TU Delft in the Dutch case), find easily their way on the job market. It’s consequently a way to reduce the distance between education and businesses. But the Innovation Desk is also attractive for SME’s because of the possibility offered to businesses to get updated information about the technologies actually existing on the market. Other aspects related to ICT and technology (such as patents, industrial secrets etc.) needs also to be taken into account when dealing with innovative business ideas. 

Link to education and training

Students of both MBO (intermediate vocational schooling) and HBO (high vocational education) can participate in the experiments/tests and work on the prototypes.

Opportunities:

1)      The project can build up on the experience made with the Poyo project and become its follow-up

2)      Only for NL: collaboration with the existing company incubator “DNAMO” and TU Delft

3)      At the end of the project it will be investigated if the idea of the Innovation Desk can take the form of a two-folded business formula (education + enterprises) able to become financially self-sustainable and potentially applicable also in other EU regions. 

How does it work?

Small/starting companies of the Metal sector (with applications in the Automotive/Aircraft/Shipyard) will be able to approach the Desk and get a range of services, such as:

a) information about existing technologies, patents, modern management tools;

b) evaluation of the technical/economic feasibility of their business ideas;

c) a physical space where it will be possible to test, experiment and simulate  their proposals under the guidance of teachers/experts and furthermore to develop prototypes.

d) workshops/seminars about how to implement (technically/financially) innovative business ideas.  

• Schools, craftsman associations, Chambers of Commerce, companies