The Technology Transfer Office Circle, launched by the EC in 2011, analyzed the Technology Transfer (TT) in Europe concluding that:“It is anticipated that the next decade will see profound changes in this landscape. Studies have identified the lack of scale as one of the major issues of technology transfer”. So Technology Transfer, is a prevailing topic. Though it’s a concept as old as ancient Greece, Archimedes could be the first Technology Broker in history, the reality is that it is still needed to overcome barriers and face common challenges to improve the Technology Transfer process. TETRAGON will use the Twinning Advanced methodology to enhance SME’s innovation capacity by providing them with better innovation support in Technology Transfer. That is, provide better support to SMEs to improve TT from public research to the market. Due to the expertise of the consortium and the needs identified in their regions this project will be focused on the following models of Technology Transfer: 1) To foster an entrepreneurial environment at universities and research centers in order to increase the creation of spin-offs and to improve the exploitation of technology by existing companies. 2) To foster demand driven collaborative projects, between public researchers and private SMEs. 3) To look for innovative ways of licensing the technology, including open source, open innovation and user innovation. The project will have the support of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) in the Twinning Advanced Methodology. TETRAGON will help to place TT in the core of innovation, to improve the TT measures and the SMEs to grow, and, consequently, foster growth of the European economy. TETRAGON, aims at reaching almost 300 innovation agencies all over Europe, through networks as EURADA, and that 20% of this agencies adopte, at least, one of the new measures defined in the DOP, meanwhile establishing a Twinning Advanced ecosystem where agencies collaborate.

The I4MS Going to Market Alliance (I4MS-Go) will bring the I4MS innovation ecosystem to the market by creating the largest on-line community of stakeholders, users and service providers, for the digital transformation of manufacturing SMEs and Mid-Caps to a profiled audience of 2 million impacts. This will be achieved by the clustering of 11+ I4MS Innovation Actions; the mobilization of 7 M€ of additional public (ESIF) and private Funding though I4MS-Regions, the I4MS Disruptors Awards and I4MS-Accelerate and the implementation of the I4MS-Skills Observatory under the framework of the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition; MADE, recognized by the EC as a best practice example of support to advanced manufacturing at EU level, and active member of EFFRA, will lead the clustering of all I4MS Innovation Actions and the Top-100 European Digital Innovation Hubs, whilst FIWARE FOUNDATION, will lead the liaison with all DSM initiatives. MWC, organizer of the world´s largest event for Digital Industries, and promoter of the Going Digital Initiative, will position I4MS and the Skills Observatory globally as the biggest and most influential ecosystem for Digitisation of manufacturing SMEs. FBOX, coordinator of the FIWARE Accelerator IMPACT Growth and partner of 4 piloting DIH supported by I4MS, will manage the on-line community for newcomers and existing stakeholders of the I4MS ecosystem. The Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN), coordinator of the MONITORIS3 project, the INCOMERA ERA-NET Cofund project and a RIS3 best practice itself, will create the proper liaison with the Smart Specialization Platform and the ERA-LEARN 2020 CSA to leverage further investments following multi-regional collaboration models. I4MS-Go will demonstrate how an EC funded CSA can broader an ecosystem for European manufacturing that helps turn the EU into the “EU of entrepreneurial states and digital industries".

This action shall provide specialized consulting services addressing innovation management capacity to SMEs which possess significant innovation activities. Beneficiaries of the SME instrument will receive support to enhance their nnovation management and advice within the geographicar area of Asturias, Galicia, Cantabria and Castilla y León.

Finishes and coatings are an essential element in the design and production of furniture. They determine both aesthetics and technical characteristics and functional features. They also require the review of legislative conditions related to health, safety at work and the environment.The latest innovations in finishing and coating products allow to reduce the environmental impact of the furniture, achieve greater resistance to scratching and abrasion, and meet current aesthetic requirements. At the same time, the innovations allow innovating in the final product and accessing new markets by presenting different furniture or carpentry elements.The main objective of the project is the transfer of knowledge of furniture finishes and coatings, to achieve an easier learning and a promotion of the final product innovation.Project Objectives:1) Transfer of knowledge of furniture finishes and coatings.2) Comparison of systems, finishing products and regulations between countries.3) Development of content and specific training tools in the field of furniture finishes and coatings. The joint development of the project with the participation of transnational entities has allowed greater scope and more ambitious results. Both the variety of finishing and coating products and the methods of application differ between countries: while in Estonia natural finishes, such as waxes and oils. are applied, in Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy mainly varnishes and coatings are used. The incorporation of necessary skills, knowledge and competencies on finishes and coatings requires a dynamic and fluid interaction between the FP and other actors within the innovation system at the transnational level. FUTUREfacing is based precisely on the joint work of VET providers, companies, social agents and technology centers with specific and complementary knowledge. The project consortium during its duration has developed:3.1) Intellectual products: A manual of finishes and coatings, a virtual varnish simulator and a specific database on finishes and coatings.3.2) Multiplier event: an international conference on finishes and coatings.3.3) Joint training activities for teachers.3.4) Dissemination activities: project web platform, conferences, newsletters, etc. The activities of the project have been addressed both to the students and teachers of FP as well as to the companies of the furniture sector and to the prescribers. Therefore, they have been invited to participate in all initiatives. In the case of joint training activities aimed at teachers, of the five scheduled days, one has been open to the general public. The results of the project are at all agents in the furniture's value chain disposal through its website. The manual has provided updated information about the products, the virtual simulator represents a unique opportunity to acquire or develop key skills in the application of finishes (as demonstrated in the different stays at educational centers) and the database allows to easily locate both products and suppliers.

This action shall provide specialized consulting services addressing innovation management capacity to SMEs with significant innovation activities. Beneficiaries of the SME instrument will receive support to enhance their innovation management and advice about the coaching process. The most innovative SME within the regions of Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León and Galicia will receive and advanced innovation assessment based on the Improve tool and an action plan to fulffill the gaps.