Redefining the face of workplace innovation in European businesses
Project summary
WIN4SMEs aims to enhance workplace innovation in SMEs by fostering skilled workforce, entrepreneurship, and knowledge transfer. This initiative recognises the crucial yet often overlooked role of innovation in SMEs, particularly amid technological advancements, globalization, and demographic shifts. Challenges such as shortage of skilled workers, low VET participation, and misalignment between training and SME needs are addressed by WIN4SMEs. With 20 partners from 9 countries and 70 associated organisations, WIN4SMEs will establish CoVEs on Workplace Innovation in 7 countries, coordinated under one umbrella CoVE. Workplace innovation is essential for SME success, improving employee engagement, satisfaction, and agility, while fostering collaboration for a sustainable future.
The project will develop, test, evaluate, and permanently implement tools and educational programmes on workplace innovation and entrepreneurship across three educational levels: initial vocational training, further education, and higher education (EQF levels 3-6). All project outcomes, including implementation advice, will be shared with associated partners. Additionally, a Ukrainian partner will apply these results through promotional activities and training for young people and SMEs in Ukraine.
Through its comprehensive approach, WIN4SMEs aims to address the multifaceted challenges SMEs face, ensuring their resilience and competitiveness in an ever-evolving landscape.
Goals
- Establishment of a Baltic Sea-wide coordination centre (COVE umbrella) and 7 regional vocational competence centers.
- Foster synergies between workplace and technical innovations.
- Develop modern personnel management and innovative qualifications.
- Attract specialists, managers, and young entrepreneurs to address existing bottlenecks.
- Improve qualifications for SME owners, managers, and skilled workers.
- Reduce drop-out rates in vocational and higher education.
- Implement new measures in dual system education.
- Enhance vocational training attractiveness and accommodate work-life balance.
- Emphasize digital technology in workplace innovation and vocational training.
- Strengthen cooperation between SMEs and universities, promoting innovation and competitiveness.
Partners
- Hanse-Parlament (HP)
- Berufliche Hochschule Hamburg (BHH)
- Berufliche Schule ITECH (ITECH)
- International Business College (IBC)
- The Triangle Region Denmark (TRT)
- Satakunta University (SAMK)
- Satakunta Educational Federation (SEF)
- Satakunta Chamber of Commerce (SCC)
- Lower Silesian Chamber of Craft and SMEs (LSCC)
- Vocational School Complex No. 5 in Wroclaw (VSCW)
- Technical University Wroclaw (TUW)
- Hungarian Association of Craftsmen’s Corporations (IPOSZ)
- Foundation for the Deak Ferenc Secondary School of Economics (FDSS)
- Stichting Platform Beta en Techniek (PBT)
- Stichting NHL Stenden hogeschool (NHLS)
- Business and Hospitality Training Centre (VESK)
- Mykolas Romeris University (MRU)
- Lithuanian Association of Hotels and Restaurants (LAHR)
- Handicraft Chamber of Ukraine (HCU)
