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Innovative SMBs play an important role in the societal transitions of tomorrow. Therefore, the Province of Utrecht, Municipality of Utrecht, and ROM Utrecht Region are collaborating to accelerate scalable innovations in practice. Within the program Opportunities for the West III (KvW3), they do this through four voucher schemes focused on digital healthcare technology, circular economy, educational technology, and energy transition. With these vouchers, SMBs receive financial support for advisory and pilot projects that assist in the development and implementation of their innovation.
On behalf of the Province of Utrecht and Municipality of Utrecht, Dialogic conducted a midterm evaluation of these schemes. The evaluation focused on the extent to which these vouchers contribute to stimulating and accelerating scalable innovations. The evaluation shows that especially the pilot vouchers are effective: they help companies to further develop existing innovations, reduce risks, and strengthen partnerships with collaborators. The advisory vouchers, in their current form, provide little added value.
The ultimate societal and economic impact is still to be proven further, as many projects are ongoing or have only recently been completed. However, it is clear that the pilot vouchers serve an important catalyst function for innovative SMBs in the Utrecht region.
