This proposal outlines a programme of innovation agency experimentation supported by randomised control trials (RCTs). It focuses on the example of an innovation support initiative the partners have developed & piloted called “4Manufacturing®”. This initiative aims to support the very current topic of “industrie 4.0”: in particular it tackles the “diffusion” & adoption of industrial digitisation technologies (IDTs) by manufacturing SMEs. 4Manufacturing® appears to be highly promising based on 230 SME engagements and great appetite from regional stakeholders. It is innovative in the way that it provides a means of supporting the deployment of innovation in a manner that is structured (eg. utilising quantitative measures of adoption (attainment levels) around 22 themes). Thereby 4Manufacturing® appears to offer the potential for scale-up and enhanced return on the investment of public monies in this topic. Through this programme, and RCTs in particular, the agencies involved intend to build much more rigorous evidence for the value of this approach, and refine our understanding regarding how to refine & scale the initiative up. The findings will also facilitate the deployment of the same approach in other thematic areas, and/or particular sectors, and other geographies (eg. across the EU). More broadly still, the partners hope, through the programme, to learn how they can be more effective in experimenting the way they deliver innovation support, demonstrating the value of RCTs as a powerful tool for future policy implementation and evaluation. A key part of the programme is the dissemination (utilising the partners’ strong connections and experience disseminating across Europe) of the learnings across the EU to enable other innovation agencies likewise to experiment, using an evidence-based approach, and ultimately deliver more effective innovation support with improved returns on public investment.

TRUESSEC.EU is a CSA on certification and labelling of trustworthiness properties from a multidisciplinary SSH-ICT perspective and with emphasis on human rights. The current complexity of ICT products and services makes it difficult to appraise their trustworthiness. Thus, certification becomes a must to restore transparency and trust. TRUESSEC.EU aims at exploring the situation, the barriers, and the benefits of security and privacy labels; engaging stakeholders in the discussions, and issuing recommendations that may foster the adoption and acceptance of labels. With that aim, TRUESSEC.EU works and results are sustained by three pillars: 1) A StakeHolders' Online Platform (SHOP), where associated cluster projects and stakeholders from industry, academia, governments and civil society will gather, participate in debates, get informed, and provide their opinions and feedback on the topics of the project. 2) A series of Support Analysis and Studies (SUPPA) from multidisciplinary perspectives on issues of trustworthiness certification and assurance, to study the situation of trust-enhancing labels, barriers/incentives to industry adoption and consumer acceptance. Information will be gathered from both public sources and the interactions with stakeholders through SHOP. Four different approaches will be applied: -Socio-cultural -Legal & ethical -Technological -Business 3) A set of Recommendations on European Trust-Enhancing Labels (ETEL) dealing with: methodological aspects of certification and assurance, a catalogue of criteria for labels and certifications, and regulatory aspects to foster their adoption, plus a strategic agenda. These recommendations reflect the conclusions obtained from the support analysis and from the stakeholders. The community of stakeholders will nourish, among others, from: (a) members of the consortium partners that are stakeholder networks themselves (DIGICAT, APWG, KTN, AUI), and (b) H2020 RIAs & IAs from the associated cluster.

The UFO project is based on two main assumptions. First, business opportunities lie in the combination of space data with digital technologies and other sources of data. Embedded Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) into small flying objects (SFOs - drones, small satellites, high altitude platforms) represent a great opportunity to collect additional aerospace data, especially to drive the Artificial Intelligence revolution for various global applications. Second, the value added applications in Europe are mostly driven by SMEs. Thus, the UFO project aims at fostering the development of cross-sectoral industrial value chains between 6 emerging industries (Mobility technologies, Environmental, Blue Growth, Digital, Experience and Cultural and Creative industries), SFOs, embedded KETs and data analysis and exploitation solutions stimulating the development of new products and services by SMEs. To achieve this, the consortium provides a systemic and strategic vision. Clusters, which gather SMEs, large groups, R&D actors, and other innovation entities, are crucial to create links between different value chains, basically the data providers and the information product providers that turn raw data into valuable information. The UFO consortium and associate partner consisting of 8 emerging industry clusters including 5 SFOs, embedded KETs, ICT clusters, representing more than 1000 SMEs throughout 6 different EU countries and sectors. The partners have the capacity to carry such actions as they will foster partnerships between the different links (their members) of value chains and provide them incentives through the launch of call for proposals providing Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) and innovation services provided by clusters. They represent some of Europe’s most dynamic clusters including Gold and Bronze labelled ones with a history of cooperation, a track record of supporting innovation actions for SMEs.