Improving innovation and competitiveness in Mauritius

Setting up innovation policy and improving competitiveness of scientific industries in Mauritius.

This project was a follow-up activity of the Biopolymer Workshop ‘Setting-up of a bio-based industry in Mauritius’ organised by CBBR in May 2013. The need to establish an innovation policy was recommended as a top priority for Mauritius. The main aim of the ANIS Workshop is to provide a neutral screening of the current status of the entire Mauritian Innovation System and its main determinants for the emergence of “Knowledge- Based Industries” (ex: Agricultural Biotech, Ocean Industry, Life Industry…). A sufficient understanding of these determinants and how they can be addressed in the future for further improvements is very important in order to assure long-term competitiveness and innovation capability of all the key stakeholders and actors of the Mauritian innovation system. 

Partners: VDI/VDE-IT, Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research (CBBR)
Client: The World Bank Group
Date: 2014

Final publication:

World Bank Group. (June, 2015). Mauritius, a systematic country diagnostic.

Establishing a biopolymer Center of Excellence at JKUAT

Establishing a biopolymer Center of Excellence at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)

Development of strategy and action plan to harness the power of biopolymers to improve human wellbeing and enhance global competitiveness.

Project was conducted in cooperation with COMESA, Nairobi Kenya, involved the development of a strategy and action plan involving mentors, collaborative teams to select areas of engagement, biopolymer workshops, consultation and finalization of specific actions and budgets. A strategy was developed titled: “Harnessing the power of biopolymers to improve human wellbeing and enhance global competitiveness”. The biopolymer workshops were implemented. Experts from Anteja’s global network helped to enable the formation of ABCe.

 

Client: JKUAT

Date: 2013

 

Project’s website reference

Analysing horticulture products’ value chains in Azerbaijan

As part of the IFC’s Azerbaijan Investment Climate Project, the project aimed to improve the business and investment environment in Azerbaijan’s high potential agribusiness sub-sectors.

The overall objective of the project was to contribute to the improvement of the business and investment environment in Azerbaijan’s high potential agribusiness sub-sectors in a manner that enhances development, competitiveness, employment and business opportunities in these sub-sectors. The approach involved  assessing present performance and revealing key binding constraints present along the value chains that prevent growth and further development of these sub-sectors. The project contributed to the overall objectives of the Azerbaijan Investment Climate Project (AZIC II), which broadly aims at supporting the diversification of the Azerbaijan economy and improvement of the regulatory framework, focusing on areas of strategic importance for both the government and the private sector.

Services provided:

  • Rapid analysis of the horticultural sector in Azerbaijan in order to assess the horticulture products or product groups and select two to three high-potential ones for a detailed exploration in the following stages of the project. Pomegranate, tomato and hazelnuts have been selected as the most promising products.
  • Value chain analysis of selected products: the main objective was to assess how well pomegranate, tomato and hazelnuts value chains perform in order to identify segments and activities where poor performance or inefficiencies severely undermine the competitiveness of the entire value chain.
  • Identification of key binding constraints, ranking the constraints and in-depth analysis of the binding constraints.
  • Recommendations for specific actions (first and high priority actions for short and mid-term period) to remove the identified binding (sector-specific) obstacles and enhance the value chains’ ability to improve performance, productivity and investment.

Client: The World Bank Group, IFC

Date: 2013 -2014

Assessing agribusiness value chains in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The project formed part of the IFC’s Bosnia Investment Climate Project and its objective was to contribute to the competitiveness of most promising agribusiness value chains (fruits & vegetables, meat, dairy).

The project contributed to the overall objective of the Bosnia Investment Climate Project, implemented by the IFC. The main goal was to increase the competitiveness of Bosnia and Herzegovina by assisting the authorities at all four levels in the country to reduce the administrative burden for business, increase exports in key export sectors, attract more FDI, and finally, to achieve investment climate reform and assure Bosnia and Herzegovina a successful process for joining the EU. The overall objective was to improve competitiveness of the three most promising agribusiness value chains (fruits & vegetables, meat and dairy) and entities by assessing their present competitiveness and determining the main barriers and constraints which prevent those agribusiness sectors from being more competitive in the international market.

Services provided:

  • Rapid analysis of the agribusiness sector as a whole in order to validate the selection of the three priority agribusiness value chains – fruits & vegetables, meat and dairy – as the most competitive agribusiness sectors.
  • Initial Sector Competitiveness Appraisal and Comparison in order to identify latent competitive advantages that can be turned into a manifest competitive advantage.
  • Detailed industry-level competitive analysis in order to:
    • assess the performance gaps and potential throughout the VC for each of the priority sectors
    • identify policy and regulatory constraints determining the performance gaps and prevent each value chain from reaching its full potential in terms of productivity increases, exports, investments and job creation.
  • Ranking the constraints within value chains
  • Identifying the value chains with strongest competitiveness potential in both entities and in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole.
  • Detailed assessment of the three value chains and recommendations for specific actions for the most competitive value chain per entity.

Client: The World Bank Group, IFC

Date: 2012 – 2013

Project’s final publication:

World Bank Group. (April, 2015). Bosnia and Herzegovina Partnership: Country Program Snapshot.

 

Center of Excellence PoliMat

A centre specialized in polymer materials and technologies.

The PoliMaT Centre of Excellence is specialized in polymer materials and technologies with 85 researchers and professional staff with HQ in Ljubljana, Slovenia. PoliMaT was founded as a joint initiative of main science and research institutes and industry in the fields of polymer materials and technology in Slovenia for the purpose of undertaking innovation, development and research projects on polymers in order to facilitate technological breakthroughs and the transition to a low carbon society.

Services provided:

  • management of the center of excellence
  • advice on governance structure, evaluation and monitoring mechanisms
  • assessment of the trends, end markets and opportunities
  • assessment of new materials innovation system, identification of global best practice
  • setting up a strategy framework and formulation of recommendations for future actions of the center
  • development of international innovation network: Global Biopolymer Network.

Date: 2011 – 2013

PoliMat’s website

iCon, improving competitiveness of Slovenian and Italian companies

Strengthening the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises at the border area between Slovenia and Italy through innovation and collaborative entrepreneurship.

The iCon project was aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the border area between Slovenia and Italy. The main purpose of the project was the integration of SMEs, business support organizations and other business actors by the transfer of knowledge and technology, promotion of innovation and development of common services. This led to the improvement of the cooperation and performance of the SMEs in the border area, increasing the awareness and interest for investing in the border area.

 Services provided:

  • capacity-building and training for innovation and business support organizations to train them on tools and approaches for innovation and technology policy , clustering and cross-border networking
  • strategic advice for establishment of regional network of clusters and other networks
  • strategy and action plan preparation; guidelines for iCON Business Networks
  • revision of 8 network strategy papers and actions in order to ascertain if they support the successful and sustainable development of the networks
  • set up monitoring concept of iCON Business Networks
  • guidelines for sustainable development of iCON networks.

Project’s website

Date: 2011 – 2014

CluStrat, improving cluster competitiveness in Central Europe

The CluStrat project strived to develop a joint strategy on how to enhance the innovation capacity and competitiveness of clusters in Central Europe.

Maintaining and improving the competitiveness in innovation capacity of clusters in Central Europe, regarding changing and emerging market demands and fostering the inclusion of cross-cutting issues, such as internationalization, technology-transfer and gender equality in innovation processes.

The CluStrat project reinforced the proposition that clusters play an important role in  facilitating innovation and contributing to development of industrial sectors to exploit today ́s emerging markets. The project provided a  policy framework to support the development of emerging industries by enhancing the innovation capacity and competitiveness of the clusters in the Central Europe area. The aim was to develop policies that enable existing clusters in established or emerging branches and technologies to exploit new markets. To achieve this, Key Enabling Technologies (KET) and Emerging Industries (EI) had  to be cross-linked with the established and traditional technologies / industries.

Services provided:

  • mapping of existing clusters and clustering programmes
  • analysis of sectors and research activities and specification of action areas of Smart Specialization Strategy and emerging industries
  • inputs on Slovenian position and future possibilities in national/regional cluster policy development
  • policy advice on cluster role in emerging industries
  • policy advice on strategy, policy tools and mechanisms to support emerging industries
  • review of evaluation reports on pilot actions for Advanced Materials, Smart Ambient/Housing and Zero Energy Building
  • developing action plans for pilot actions in Advanced Materials, Smart Ambient/Housing and Zero Energy Building.

This project was implemented through the Central Europe Programme co-financed by the ERDF, considered as part of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.

Client: Tehnološka agencija Slovenije

Date: 2007 – 2013

Developing national cluster policy and sustainability in Turkey

Setting up a comprehensive clusters’ policy to contribute to achieving a sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Turkey.

This  project was designed to set up a comprehensive Clusters’ policy to contribute to achieving a sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Turkey.

Development of the Clustering Policy Project was launched to form a base for the national clusters’ policy by supporting the competitive sectors in the  country and to contribute to the development of a competitive structure in order to ensure a sustainable increase in export rates.

Services provided:

  • competitiveness assessment of selected clusters, mapping of clusters, value chains, and relationships between stakeholders
  • sector and sub-sector studies (growth potential, opportunities for FDI)
  • analysis of the business environment, existing programs, initiatives
  • policy design, strategy development and elaboration of initiatives aiming at improving competitiveness institutional strengthening (training courses and on-the-job training)
  • organization and implementation of study visits  and promotion missions
  • analysis of existing support mechanisms, policy tools and instruments and the design of new tools
  • analysis of institutions and recommend structural changes
  • designing and conducting stakeholder analysis, training needs assessment, developing the curriculum and delivering training
  • evaluation of pilot clusters
  • direct assistance to SMEs and institutions on developing cluster road maps

The project was financed by the EU funds with a budget of 6 Million Euros within the scope of the EU Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.

Client: European Commission

Date: 2007 – 2009

CEE Cluster network, Central and Eastern European cluster and network area

A project for increasing cooperation between clusters and networks in Central and Eastern Europe.

This project aimed to increase the cooperation between clusters and networks in Central and Eastern Europe. The CEE Cluster Network focuses on linking the eleven partner regions/countries, whose innovation policies focus on cluster and network policy using an INNO-Net. The main objective was to find coherence in the different regional cluster policy implementation methodologies and to shape a common policy by defining common strategic issues, strategies and programmes.

Joint Quality Guidelines were prepared, cross border networks of key innovation and CEE actors were created, common issues and needs of SMEs and governments (within all participating regions) were investigated and presented in a “Cluster Memorandum”  expressing the intention of  coherent innovation policy development. Linkages with existing and planned European innovation programs and initiatives of CEE initiatives were identified and innovation cluster operational programs were designed  for joint trans-regional projects. Regional and national level innovation, cluster initiatives and support programs were analyzed. 

In Slovenia, a capacity building on policy development on the regional level was provided.

Services provided:

  • Analyzing existing innovation and cluster initiatives and programs.
  • Mapping of relationships and linkages among regional stakeholders.
  • Needs identification and identification and assessment of potential for international cooperation.
  • Identification of fields / industrial sectors / clusters with strong potential for collaboration and elaboration of pilot actions.
  • Support in drafting of agreement of CEE Cluster Network partners.

Partners: Upper Austrian Technology and Marketing TMG – Clusterland Upper Austria.

Client: European Commission

Date: 2006 – 2008

Project’s website