European Network of Innovation Hubs, thanks to the I3-INSHAPE project, supports SMEs in forming international collaborations and bringing successful innovative products or services to the market, which can contribute to beat inactivity among the European population, foster economic growth and strengthen the European dimension by interregional collaboration.
The INSHAPE European Network of Innovation Hubs for sports and healthy active lifestyle is an important initiative taken by the European interregional S3 (Smart Specialisation Strategy) platform ClusSport in which regions that participate focus on innovation in the field of Sports & Vitality. It aims to make the European society vital by reducing inactivity among the population and shifting the mindset from healthcare to care for health. This is pursued by organizing and stimulating collaborations between regional Innovation Hubs and service providers.
The Regional Hubs
INSHAPE aims to build different Regional Hubs in the EU, which consist of centres of activities in which SMEs and stakeholders can collaborate to provide the latest innovation in the field of sports & vitality and share knowledge for effective solutions to scale up the EU market.
Supporting SMEs is essential in solving the problem of inactivity among the EU population. The power to innovate lies within SMEs because they are of great importance to our economy and society and drive change from the bottom up.
ELIS in INSHAPE
The ELIS Innovation Hub is part of the INSHAPE network.
One of the most important additions that ELIS put to INSHAPE is the use of the Innovation Cycle.
In the ELIS Innovation Hub, innovation and value creation are a combined cycle. Data/AI and the expected impact are the main driving forces. The innovation process starts with locating the societal need/challenge (market need). Innovations are created to meet this market need (innovate) using smart technology and data/AI.
For the I3-INSHAPE project this is a crucial step in the journey, but the INSHAPE European Network of Innovation Hubs goes beyond it. Using an innovation cycle model, INSHAPE focuses on developing, validating, and accelerating SMEs’ innovations
to meet market demand efficiently.
