The overall concept of the project consisted of supporting innovation in SMEs and fostering the smart reindustrialization of Europe by enabling the emergence of new cross-border and cross-sectoral value chains resulting from the translation of advanced technologies among selected sectors with strong synergies. These new value chains were created from the interaction of the following sectors: aerospace, agro-food, health & medical devices, and ICT. The development of the new value chains was facilitated by setting up geographical poles of activity in different regions across Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland and Poland, comprising Cluster/ SME intermediaries, which help create an appropriate innovation ecosystems, and RTD centres, which are able to assess the potential and viability of the proposed new value chains for SMEs innovative services or products. Besides, a third kind of entity, the innovation facilitators operated at a cross-cluster level, organizing funding rounds to complement with private funds EU public support and establishing networks for collaboration. ACTTiVAte undertook 2 kinds of activities to optimize the benefits to SMEs: a) direct funding of SMEs’ innovative projects; and b) activities aimed at creating a favourable environment for the innovation in SMEs, such as brokerage events, mentoring, coaching, mobility and exchange programs among other initiatives.

Development of methodologies for cross- sectoral technology transfer, including analysis of dynamics for technology transfer in the involved regions/sectors. Building a Cluster Collaboration Platform to facilitate collaboration among ACTTiVAte’s clusters. Preparation and publication of the calls for the SMEs’ projects. Evaluation and ranking of the submitted SMEs’ projects, as well as reporting and payments to the SMEs.