The project wants to identify and design new programmes aimed at supporting the adoption of Open Innovation practices by SMEs, strengthening the collaboration between SMEs and innovative start-ups. In particular, the project will try to understand if and how Open Innovation (OI) tools used with increasing frequency and effectiveness by large companies to get closer to the start-ups world (e.g. collaborations with incubators and accelerators, running of call for ideas, B2B meetings) could be usefully implemented also by SMEs, or if other kinds of initiatives, still to be designed, could be more appropriate for these businesses. The project team will try to identify which role European innovation agencies could play in facilitating the adoption of OI practices by smaller companies. Project partners will be involved in peer-learning activities, using the Twinning+ methodology. Through joint workshops and desk researches, existing programmes consistent with the project challenge will be peer-reviewed. On the basis of good practices and strength points derived from this analysis, project partners will try to identify improvements and new tools, testing their own hypotheses with pilot initiatives whenever possible. The result of the group activities will be a Design Option Paper, a document containing recommendations about the most suitable actions to be implemented by innovation agencies for designing effective SME innovation support programmes. In accordance with the Work Programme, the project aims at strengthening the innovation support capacity of European innovation agencies. Peer-learning activities will help not only the agencies directly involved in Twinning+ in reviewing their service offerings, but also all the subjects interested in promoting the use of OI tools by SMEs. In fact, the DPO will be a useful public guide containing practical suggestions for delivering effective initiatives in this field, addressing all the elements of the Service Delivery System

GALATEA is not just one of Neptune’s satellites or a marine nymph in Greek mythology, it is also the continuation of the ‘NEPTUNE, INNOSUP-1, the Blue Growth Accelerator’ which has successfully proven both its concept and method by achieving significant results in terms of SMEs supported, cross sectoral and cross border projects implemented and new value chains created. GALATEA aims at promoting cross-border and cross-sectoral collaborations between innovation actors, notably SMEs, in 4 key domains of Blue Growth with great potential of development and uptake of innovative solutions by businesses: Smart port, Smart ship, Smart shipyard, maritime surveillance. The construction of new value chains by the integration of technologies and know-how from ICT and aerospace communities is essential for the modernisation of those key economic sectors to be more efficient, greener and safer and to enhance their competitiveness at a global level. The EC has established ‘Blue Growth’ as the long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the maritime sectors and as a means for achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. This strategy focuses on both emerging and traditional maritime activities including those addressed by GALATEA. GALATEA brings together a strong network of clusters from 9 regions, representing ICT, aerospace and maritime industries, experienced in promoting and implementing cascade funding schemes. They cover 3 sea basins: Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. GALATEA will implement an open innovation environment to facilitate the emergence of ideas based on the identification of customer’s needs and will provide direct support for SMEs developing innovative projects addressing identified challenges, through targeted financial mechanisms and services. GALATEA will act directly on the industrial competitiveness of those sectors, with positive and sustainable impacts on EU growth and jobs in Blue Growth.