The "ReInnovate" project intends to help SMEs develop their research skills and absorb new knowledge and innovations, as well as implement these skills in small research projects.
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Many SMEs often have only limited resources for their own research. This is where the EU project "ReInnovate" comes in, with its launch at the Institute for Work and Technology (IAT/Westphalian University of Applied Sciences) in Germany. This project should help SMEs develop their research skills and absorb new knowledge and innovations from external sources such as research and education institutes, as well as allow them to conduct small-scale research projects.
The "ReInnovate" partners have conducted a needs analysis and developed a programme for the practical development of entrepreneurial skills for SME employees. Information and communication technology (ICT) tools will be used to provide flexible learning pathways for employees. The new research skills should help SMEs find and use the required knowledge to develop innovative ideas, and become more competitive and more innovative in a business sense.
The modules and tools developed in this project are to be piloted in various European companies and later transferred to other sectors and vocational training programmes. In addition, cooperation models between companies are to be designed. "ReInnovate" project partners comprise SME organisations and their representatives, as well as education and research institutes from five European countries.