The RespiceSME project aims to reinforce the innovative capacity of Europe’s photonics Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), clusters and national platforms by stimulating targeted collaborations in and beyond photonics. RespiceSME proposes new approaches for stronger innovative effectiveness using a 3-dimensional approach. In the first dimension, RespiceSME will evaluate and stimulate the innovation potential in order to strengthen the innovation capacity of high-tech photonics SMEs. In the second dimension, RespiceSME will enhance the global technological exploitation of photonics innovation capacity by analysing different value chains valuable for high-tech photonics SMEs.

This will allow significant leveraging of non-photonic sectors such as Environment / Energy, Transport, and Manufacturing, thereby, enabling the penetration of new markets and/or new application areas close to markets. The third dimension focuses on creating a bridge over the ‘Valley of Death’ to increase the competitiveness of the European photonics sector by developing Best Practices for enabling photonics SMEs access to European and regional Research Technology Organisations, harnessing educational and training programmes aligned with their specific needs, determining next generation regional innovative smart specialisation strategies and providing access to public and private financial supports.

http://respice-sme.eu/

Photonics are taught at many Universities and academic institutions across Europe. However, many students do not know about the excellent opportunities for studying Photonics or getting a specialization in Photonics, e.g. in the framework of a Bachelor or Master programme.

The RespiceSME consortium compiled a comprehensive overview of relevant Photonics training courses offered in France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom to support students in their search.

• Photonics Training Courses France
• Photonics Training Courses Germany
• Photonics Training Courses Greece
• Photonics Training Courses Ireland
• Photonics Training Courses Italy
• Photonics Training Courses Lithuania
• Photonics Training Courses Netherlands
• Photonics Training Courses Slovakia
• Photonics Training Courses Spain
• Photonics Training Courses Sweden
• Photonics Training Courses United Kingdom

The RespiceSME Value Chain Analysis is a tool for SMEs seeking to expand their business beyond the photonics sector. It helps SMEs to acquire a general understanding of the targeted non-photonics field of application and to assess the innovative potential of their photonics product for this field.
The tool also challenges SMEs to reflect on the larger potential for photonics in the enabled application field and to identify gaps/weaknesses regarding the TRL of their products in the value chain.

With the Value Chain Analysis results’ SMEs are equipped to develop their own, tailor-made strategy for growing their business beyond the photonics-only sector.

Watch the video introduction to the RespiceSME Value Chain Analysis below to get more information about the tool and how to apply it.

Looking for a pilot production line, targeted services related to know-how transfer or research organisations to support your innovation project?

The RespiceSME consortium provides you with a mapping list of European Research Technology Organisations (RTOs). This list primarly covers the photonics sector, but also RTOs from other sectors where photonics penetrate or find end-users such as transport, energy/environment and manufacturing.

The following questionnaire is part of the RespiceSME Innovation Audit. It aims at evaluating the innovation potential of high-tech photonics SMEs. The RespiceSME consortium analyses 7 main areas for innovation practice which have been adopted for the purpose of the project and identified as the most suitable to capture the innovation potential of high-tech photonics SMEs. The 7 main areas are: 1) Ideas creation and creativity, 2) Design and new product development, 3) Competence management, 4) Competitive technology intelligence, 5) Project Management, 6) Knowledge Management, 7) Value Chain analysis.

Innovation audit questionnaire