We often talk about why it is so important to foster open innovation within the EU and we discuss the steps to do that. Beyond doubt, a strong EU open innovation ecosystem is vital for the community’s advancement. However, it is also elemental to use the already existing and successful examples as models to build upon in the future.
The goal of this article is to introduce you to some of the best practical examples of EU open innovation in action. We will examine projects in diverse areas to highlight how open innovation can be used in different industries to create substantial, meaningful, and sustainable results. Let us dive in and explore in-depth open innovation in the EU:
Open Innovations in Automated Transportation
The first example we will present is that of open innovations at work in transportation. Transportation is a key issue in the European Union. Not only is the community focused on improving the pan-European infrastructure but it also looks to develop new and improved means of transportation.
The CityMobil2 project is a part of these attempts. It is funded by the 7th Framework Programme. Its goal is to advance an automated transport system using the existing EU road infrastructure. The system will deliver on-demand mobility services to areas with low demand for traditional transportation.
Over its four-year duration, this project aims to prove that automated transport systems are viable solutions for remote urban areas and small towns. A total of 45 partners have worked together to secure the necessary technology and expertise.
What is more, the CityMobil2 project inspired two enterprises to team up and create the EasyMile joint venture and initiate the first-of-its-kind automated industrial-scale road transport vehicle. The project also featured the EasyMile EZ-10 self-driving electric car. It can transport both passengers and freight.
Another important outcome of so many stakeholders coming together within the CityMobil2 project is the in-depth study of the environmental, cultural, and socio-economic impact of developing automated transportation. The results will be key in evolving the EU infrastructure and transportation politics.
Open Innovations in Health: The AMCARE Project
The 7th Framework Programme for Research also funds the AMCARE project, which is another example of how open innovation operates within the EU . The AMCARE project is an interdisciplinary endeavour that brings together stem cell biologists, experts in drug delivery, clinicians, and research scientists and companies to find new ways for treating acute heart disease. It will accomplish this goal by combining different methods to achieve minimal invasive surgical procedures.
Participants in the project claim it is truly co-creative in the sense of bringing open innovation to the heart of healthcare. Not only does it generate first-class research value, but it also carries substantial enhancements in the areas of cardiac treatment. In fact, the AMCARE project has been so successful that some of the participants have already initiated another endeavour to advance the treatment of other diseases.
Open Innovation in Industry: The E4Water Project
We all know that the world is facing a severe water crisis. The European Union is no exception. What is more, the industry is one of the major water users in Europe. That is why it is essential to address the ways, in which the use of water in the industry can improve.
This is where the E4Water initiative comes into place. The project aims to bring different stakeholders together and make them reassess industrial water usage in the EU and find new ways to optimize it. The concept of open innovation plays a key part here, combining the efforts of different stakeholders like industrial enterprises, research scientists, end users, environmental protectors, and more.
E4Water is one of the EU open innovation signature projects. The participants have worked together to create successful solutions for making industrial water management more efficient and environmentally friendly as well as less costly.
The most impressive part is that more than 200 stakeholders partook in this great effort. The project stressed heavily on workshops that helped generate the necessary knowledge and spread the results afterwards. Some of the participants in these workshops included:
- Private sector representatives
- Public authorities
- Technology centres
- Universities
- End-users
- European Technology Platforms
Conclusion
To conclude, the European Union is taking serious steps to foster the growth of the Open Innovations Network. In the rest of the articles on our blog, you can find more information about how exactly the EU Commission supports the spread of disruptive knowledge in all areas of the community.
The need for growing innovations within the EU has been exacerbated in recent years, as it became obvious that the alliance is lagging behind competitors from other parts of the world. China and the US significantly surpass the EU in terms of technology and disruptive projects.
That is why the EU Commission has taken decisive steps to build a resilient, forward-looking strategy to develop the EU Open Innovations Network and grow a strong foundation for stakeholders to collaborate. After all, innovation requires joint effort, so strong partnerships need to be forged not only within the EU itself but with external stakeholders, too.