For companies
Scouting for innovation opportunities
For companies that want to innovate in a certain area, Innova Connect offers the possibility to actively identify opportunities that contribute to the success of the intended innovation. These opportunities may consist of contacts with researchers or other partners that are necessary for the intended innovation, and/or of presenting current subsidy schemes.
>> Reference projects:
East West Seed
As of 2015, Innova Connect has been active for the tropical vegetable seed company East West Seed. The emphasis is on looking for possible European cooperation partners for research and development and identifying opportunities in the field of research and innovation funding.
For companies
Innovation inspiration session
Ideas for new services and products can often only arise when you dare to let go of the existing and give room to the imagination. Innova Connect supports this process by organizing innovation inspiration sessions for your company or organization. The (latent) needs of your customers are central to the innovation inspiration sessions. The inspiration we offer is based among others on current scientific literature.
>> Reference projects:
Pop Vriend Seeds
Pop Vriend Seeds is a vegetable seed company with specializations in, among others, spinach and beans. In 2015, Innova Connect critically examined Pop Vriend Seeds’ innovation strategy. The emphasis was on better utilization of knowledge that is developed outside the company. In a number of follow-up sessions, opportunities to renew the most important products in the portfolio were discussed in more detail. In addition, contacts were established with researchers from various knowledge institutions. These contacts have led to various research projects, which are very valuable to the company.
For companies
Desk research
Sometimes as a company you want to know in a short time what science says about a certain subject, or what the state of the art is in a certain area. This can be part of a market survey or of the decision-making process for new R&D investments. To this end, Innova Connect offers quick scans and desk studies based on scientific literature and other relevant sources.
>> Reference projects:
Quick scans sustainability aspects
As of 2016, Innova Connect has conducted several desk studies for an innovative supplier in horticulture. In these desk studies, the environmental impact of horticulture with and without the customer’s product was compared. Scientific literature formed the main basis for the studies.
For companies
Tailored support
Innovation can be erratic and unpredictable. As a company, you enter unknown territory. In that unexplored area, questions sometimes arise that do not fit into a well-defined format. Or you need supervision or support to get the most out of your research or innovation projects. Also in such situations, Innova Connect offers advice and support.
>> Reference projects:
Program management Better Plants for New Demands
Clemens Stolk carries out program management for the research program Better Plants for New Demands – which includes about 50 public-private research projects in the field of plant breeding. From 2014 to 2016, this was commissioned by TKI Propagation Materials, the executive body of the Topsector policy for the plant propagation material industry. As of 2017, the research program has its own supervisory committee to which Clemens reports. The secretariat of this committee is held by Plantum. The emphasis in this assignment is on increasing the impact of the projects.
