InnoBridge is a 5-year project (3+2) funded by the new INTERREG Europe program. It addresses the insufficient exploitation of R&D results in SMEs. Increasing SMEs' competitiveness is at the core of the InnoBridge project. 9 partners from 8 regions in 8 countries (Lower Austria, Castilla y Leon - Spain, Bolzano - South Tyrol, Pannon Novum West - Hungary, Tampere Region - Finland, Alentejo region - Portugal, Malopolska Region and Sofia) have chosen to improve one policy instrument each to enable SMEs to better realise their innovation potential and to act as a catalyst for creating more high-qualified jobs and regional growth.

Project phase 1 (2016-2018) is dedicated to an intensive interregional exchange and learning process on the Innovation Bridge with involvement of regional stakeholders: peer reviews, study visits, capacity building workshops, staff exchanges. This approach facilitates the development of action plans for the improvement of respective policy instruments, which are implemented in phase 2 (2018 - 2020). All instruments are part of RIS3, 7 instruments are dealing with Structural Funds, while Sofia addresses its Fund for Innovations.

From April 26 to April 28 the first InnoBridge interregional learning seminar took place in Sankt Polten, the capital of Lower Austria region, hosted by the lead partner – the Regional Government of Lower Austria. All partners discussed their policy instruments, project work plan, methodology.

The next InnoBridge interregional learning event, including a peer review and a study visit, will take place in Sofia in September.