Innovation is a critical ingredient of competitiveness and sustainable growth. We have strong references in monitoring, assessing, designing and implementing policies that aim at optimising the impact of innovation on society. Our experts support policy-makers, public bodies and companies in fields such as science, technology and industrial policy, new technologies deployment, skilled human capital or the competitive position of industrial sectors.
Services
Monitoring innovation, industrial value chains & competitiveness
Public authorities, clusters and industry face rapid technological change driven by regulation and the green and digital transitions. To respond, they need clear, evidence-based insight into innovation, value chains and regional connections. Our team delivers system-level analysis of technologies, markets and ecosystems, combining quantitative and qualitative evidence to support strategic and policy decisions, building on IDEA Consult’s strong EU research network and smart specialisation expertise.
- Ecosystem & value-chain analysis: mapping technologies, sectors and actors across regions to identify specialisation, complementarities, gaps, dependencies, bottlenecks, and collaboration dynamics.
- Market & technology intelligence: analysing market potential and the policy/regulatory landscape to support innovation, investment and commercialisation decisions, and to help innovators move from idea generation to marketable products.
- Strategy & policy support: providing evidence for the design and improvement of R&I and industrial strategies, programmes and roadmaps, and supporting policy makers in developing more effective policies and programmes.
- Interregional & cross-sector collaboration: connecting stakeholders across the EU through interactive and participatory mechanisms to enhance cooperation in interregional and intersectoral initiatives.
- Indicators & analytics for decision-making: developing and applying meaningful indicators based on structured and unstructured data (e.g., growth metrics, R&D intensity, network analysis, patent value metrics, etc.) using AI-based tools to identify trends and network dynamics.
Fostering technology deployment in industrial ecosystems
Many innovators and ecosystems struggle to scale promising ideas because of fragmented governance, unclear responsibilities and complex funding. By strengthening partnerships and accelerating the deployment of impactful innovation projects and programmes, we support organisations and regions in aligning stakeholders.
- Ecosystem & partnership development: identifying promising areas for cooperation, structuring partnerships and providing hands-on governance advice, including setting up appropriate structures and supporting active coordination.
- Landmark projects & programmes: generating and implementing high-impact innovation projects and programmes, including activating relevant (public) funding sources to support delivery and scaling.
- Support & funding landscape optimisation: designing improved public support and funding landscapes (including better mixes of instruments) to expedite the deployment of cross-regional solutions.
- Project & process management: supporting proposal preparation and process management to ensure clear roles, smooth coordination and timely delivery.
Research ecosystems and careers
Policy makers, funders and research organisations face growing challenges in attracting, developing and retaining talent, while promoting mobility, intersectoral cooperation and effective knowledge valorisation. They need solid evidence on how policies and programmes influence careers, skills and knowledge flows across sectors and borders
Our focus is on strengthening human capital across the full knowledge value chain — from knowledge creation in science and research, to knowledge transfer through cooperation, and knowledge valorisation through innovation. It builds on recognised expertise in the European Research Area (ERA), including research careers and mobility, university-business cooperation, R&I competences, and societal and economic knowledge valorisation.
- Career & talent analysis: analysing research and innovation careers to understand motives, drivers, barriers and outcomes for talent development and circulation across stages and contexts.
- Policy & programme support on human capital: supporting policy makers, research funders and research-performing organisations in designing and monitoring policies and programmes that effectively strengthen STI talent (regional, national and European levels).
- Indicators, monitoring & observatories: developing and translating complex concepts (e.g., mobility flows and talent circulation) into measurable indicators and designing monitoring frameworks and observatories.
- Competence frameworks & skills foresight: developing competence frameworks, including skills forecasting and gap analysis to anticipate evolving needs in research- and innovation-intensive domains.
- Knowledge valorisation & cooperation models: supporting university-business cooperation, intersectoral cooperation and valorisation approaches that connect research, innovation and societal/economic impact.
Impact & Evaluation
Public authorities and research organisations increasingly need transparent and robust evidence on the economic, technological, social and environmental effects of their interventions. Beyond simple output measures, they require multidimensional assessments that support learning, accountability and strategic decision-making.
Our experts deliver evaluations and impact analyses tailored to policy and organisational needs, combining qualitative and quantitative assessment of effectiveness and efficiency with approaches to quantify multidimensional impacts.
- Evaluations of policies, programmes & organisations: assessing how effectively and efficiently programmes or publicly funded initiatives achieve objectives and deliver value for stakeholders, using mixed-method approaches.
- Economic impact analysis: quantifying effects on jobs, value added and turnover (within organisations and across value chains, regions and society).
- Technological, social & environmental impact assessment: assessing non-economic impacts in a clear and transparent way, aligned with intervention objectives and developed with the client team and key stakeholders.
- Impact tools & modelling: applying methodologies such as an input-output model, technology multipliers and transition curves (and related approaches) to capture multidimensional impacts.
- Clear, communicable results: delivering ready-to-use figures and visual tools tailored to internal learning and external communication needs, ranging from quick scans to in-depth micro-analysis.