AEC EUROCLUSTER – Podpora malim in srednjim podjetjem za inovacije, internacionalizacijo in prevzem novih tehnologij
Projekt se je z 20.2.2025 končal. AEC EUROCLUSTER projekt je vodil Slovenski gradbeni grozd. V okviru projekta smo podprli z razvojnimi sredstvi 11 podjetij za inovacijske projekte, 5 podjetij za prenos tehnologij, 4 podjetja za usposabljanje ter 19 podjetij za internacionalizacijo. Kaskadno financiranje projektov MSP podjetij je bilo od 2.000 EUR za internacionalizacijo, 5.000 EUR za usposabljanje ter 58.200 EUR za inovacijske projekte ter prenos tehnologij. Povzetek zaključnega poročila je v nadaljevanju.
Context and overall objectives
The last years have revealed the weaknesses and failures of the AEC industries (architecture, engineering, and construction). AEC EUROCLUSTER aims to contribute to their resilient, digital, and low-carbon economic recovery by pursuing the following objectives.
• Network: From value chain to ecosystem: 5 preparedness/business continuity plans were planned to be developed. These plans aimed to show critical disruptions, gaps and interdependencies among AEC sectors and firms
• Innovate & Adopt: From idea to business case and from prototype to product: To build capacity and drive innovation and adoption of new technologies, grants were planned for SMEs in a framework comprising a maximum 12-month implementation period from proposal to market. Grants will cover business process innovation tied to technological adoption, leading to higher sustainability, digitalisation, and support for new-to-firm innovations that directly impact the entire construction sector.
• Train: From training to sparring: To foster the upskilling of clusters, their company members, and entire networks, training for the cluster managers and their members was planned to improve their support services related to digital/green transition and resilience.
• Go International: From local to global: The objective was to boost SME access to global value chains and help companies join forces with international partners. Financial support was provided to SMES for matchmaking and introducing themselves to players in third countries.
Work performed and main achievements
A mapping of the ecosystem (WP2) disclosed potential causes for the disruptions and showed involved actors along the value chains and interlinkages between them. It identified production chain holes, potential cross-sectoral interlinkages, uncovered areas of innovation, and potential collaborations to be activated among stakeholders. To prepare business continuity plans that prepare SMEs for future challenges, experts from the sector at the EU level and subsectors were engaged.
For implementing market-demanded innovation and technology adoption projects (WP3), training (WP4) and internationalisation (WP5) with substantial transformation character, the AEC EUROCLUSTER call package for FSTP (Financial Support to Third Parties) was published on 30.4.2023. One for Project Innovation, Technology Adoption and Training, and one for Go International.
Consortium partners reviewed and approved the SME project proposals according to the predefined methodology. The financial support agreement was sent to the grants beneficiaries (winners of the call for projects). The implementation of SME projects was closely monitored to reach the planned outcomes. SMEs completed the work and prepared the final project reports, which were approved by monitoring partners before the final FSTP was disbursed.
A strategy for cluster training was prepared and implemented in March 2023. In addition to training supported within Training vouchers, BIZUP conducted a webinar series in 2024 for SMEs focusing on green and digital transitions.
The call GO INTERNATIONAL (WP5), published on 30.4.2023, offered FSTP support to SME for target markets and key trade fairs. We received 23 applications, and FSTP Call Go International supported 19 SMEs. Four international missions were organised, and European SMEs were financially assisted with 2,000 Euros FSTP support to participate in business missions, facilitating their path toward internationalisation.
Results and impacts
The 5 RPBC (Resilience Preparedness and Business Continuity) Plans are clustered per subsector (Circularity, biobased/advanced materials and 3D printing, robotics, BIM, workers safety and connected construction site) and identify potential directions for the construction sector in the future.
Project Innovation Call: 45 eligible applications from 11 European countries, 12 SMEs granted to implement innovative ideas, 58.200 EUR of FSTP, EUR 698,400 granted and awarded after the project completion and final report review.
Technology Adoption Call: 16 applications from 8 European countries, 5 SMEs granted to implement adoption ideas, EUR 291,000 granted and awarded after the project completion and final report review.
Based on the analysis of the final impact assessment report of the AEC EUROCLUSTER project, the following key conclusions can be drawn:
• 81.8% of SMEs reported significant benefits from the financial support, demonstrating the project’s effectiveness in fostering innovation and developing digital, green, or circular economy solutions.
• 72.7% of respondents strongly agreed that the innovations developed under the project would have a long-term positive impact on their business, indicating confidence in the sustainability and scalability of their solutions.
• 63.6% of SMEs reported adopting sustainable or eco-friendly practices to a great extent, showing a strong commitment to environmental improvements due to project participation.
Training Call: 6 applications from 5 European countries, 4 SMEs granted to access training services, 67% granted to SMEs from total applicants, EUR 20,000 granted. The following training activities were implemented:
• Heliolith eU, Austria: Optimisation of solid concrete to reduce shrinking and bowing while increasing its heat-storage capacity.
• A-Star d.o.o. Slovenia: training on how to develop a product for the international market, emphasising energy efficiency, humidity control, and sustainability benefits
• The Colony, Germany: software-based skills in architecture and building physics dependence on expensive external consultants
• Navvy GmbH Austria: The training’s objectives are to develop effective strategies for a successful robot launch and to ensure market readiness for the coming year.
A strategy for cluster` training was prepared and implemented to overcome online training limitations. A pre-training LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop with SMEs on 09.02.2023 (with 18 participants) was also implemented, capturing footage for later use in the Cluster-to-Cluster Manager Training. Cluster Innovation Training was implemented virtually (online) by BIZUP on 30/03/2023 with 31 cluster managers from across Europe as participants. The brochure “Driving Sustainability and Innovation: AEC Sectors in the European Context” was developed after the webinars finished and highlights the urgent need for SMEs in the AEC sectors to adopt green and digital practices. The brochure showcases several innovative materials, technologies and processes developed with AEC EUROCLUSTER funding.
The call GO INTERNATIONAL, published on 30.4.2023, offered FSTP support to SME for target markets and key trade fairs. Four international missions were organised, and European SMEs were financially assisted with 2,000 Euros FSTP support each to participate in business missions, facilitating their path toward internationalisation:
• MEXICO. Expo CIHAC 2023 in Mexico City, an SME from Spain, attended this mission.
• Saudi Arabia: THE BIG5 SAUDI in Saudi Arabia, 6 SMEs attended the mission.
• Singapore: SMART HOME CITY INDONESIA, 8 SMEs attended the mission
• Kenya: BUILDEXPO 2024 in Nairobi, 4 SMEs attended the mission.
The Go international support for SMEs resulted in 5 partnership agreements with businesses and organisations in target countries.
AEC eurocluster je eden od 20 evrogrozdov (oz. evropskih grozdov), ki delujejo na konkretnih pobudah v specifičnih industrijskih ekosistemih (v našem primeru v arhitekturi, inženiringu in gradbeništvu), medtem ko 10 evrogrozdov deluje čez-sektorsko, v več industrijskih ekosistemih.
Partnerji projekta AEC EUROCLUSTER
- CCS, CONSTRUCTION CLUSTER OF SLOVENIA (Slovenski gradbeni grozd – GIZ), SLOVENIJA
BIZUP; Furniture & Timber Construction Cluster at Business Upper Austria – OÖ Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH
AVSTRIA
DID; Technological cluster on Interiors and Design, ITALIJA
SECPHO;Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics, ŠPANIJA
TEC: ASOCIATIA CLUSTERULUI “TECHNOLOGY ENABLED CONSTRUCTION-TEC”, ROMUNIJA
BSEC; Black Sea Energy Cluster, BOLGARIJA
Dokumenti AEC Eurocluster
Za možnosti sodelovanja pri prihodnjih razpisi Evrogrozdov nam pišite na vladimir.gumilar@sgg.si.
Aktualne informacije o projektu na LinkedIn profiliu https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/aeceurocluster/
AEC eurocluster_leaflet – zgibanka prenos
