The text on this page was automatically translated and hence may differ from the original. No rights can be derived from this translation.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, on the advice of the Innovation Platform, started a pilot project 'innovation vouchers' in September 2004. An innovation voucher (small voucher: €2,500, large voucher: €7,500 with 1/3 matching) is a credit that SME entrepreneurs can use to conduct research at a (public) knowledge institution. The voucher aims to reduce the barriers for SMEs to access available knowledge at knowledge institutions and some large companies with research facilities. Furthermore, the voucher is intended to encourage knowledge institutions to unlock knowledge in a more demand-driven way. Following successful pilot projects in 2004 and 2005, the minister decided at the end of 2005 to implement vouchers on a larger scale. Through an FES contribution, funds are available for issuing 6,000 vouchers annually for both 2006 and 2007.
Dialogic evaluates the voucher system on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. It will be determined whether the main objective of the scheme, namely promoting the use of existing knowledge at knowledge institutions by SMEs for innovation, is being achieved.
For more information, please contact Frank Bongers.