DITECFER PARTNER OF "E-BOOST" PROJECT

The “E-BOOST – ElectromoBility for the recOvery and internatiOnalisation of Small enTerprises”  project is one of the two Euroclusters dedicated to the EU Industrial Ecosystem Mobility-Transport-Automotive, co-funded by the SMP-Single Market Programme of the EU and aimed at developing the SMEs of the electromobility value chain.

The project answers to the development of sustainable mobility in the framework of the European strategy to accelerate the digital and green transition: electricity and green hydrogen both represent sources of energy not yet exploited enough in all transport modes. The European Green Deal and the EU initiative “Fit for 55” encourage the deployment of clean hydrogen, fuel cells and alternative fuels such as electricity to decarbonize the transport sector.

The SMEs involved in the electromobility sector need therefore to be supported to be more competitive, to take advantage of new market opportunities, also in third countries (USA and Canada are the target countries of the project), to develop the skills necessary for the transformation.

The project partners are: the Automotive and Mobility cluster CAAR (Spain); the cluster for Sustainable Solutions CARA (France); DITECFER (Italy); the cluster for Logistics ZNIK (Poland); the cluster for Logistics LIH (Germany); the cluster for Automotive RAI NL (The Netherlands).

The E-BOOST project will launch 3 types of small open calls for funding and other opportunities for SMEs:

• Cascade funding: 7 calls for proposals will grant 15 projects. From innovation products and process to services, submit your proposals for a grant up to 40k€

The overall aim of the Open Calls is to identify product innovations in order to reduce dependency on critical inputs and technologies in the E- BOOST value chains, to introduce new-to-firm products or services, and to engage actors from regions with different levels of economic development.

Target groups: High-profile SMEs addressing unmet needs in electromobility from all mobility sectors: automotive, industrial vehicles, active mobility, railway, maritime, etc. Even the youngest companies, still unexperienced but with high potential, will be considered in the process. A pool of experts will then form the basis for the experts’ panel that will evaluate individually the proposals based on these criteria: excellence, impact and implementation.

• Mentoring programme: for clusters or SMEs that need advice and good practices exchanges

Mentoring programmes for clusters and SMEs based on the skills gaps identified will be designed and capacity building planned so that markets are prepared for new electromobility solutions.

The training will be implemented by:

E-Boost your cluster mentoring programme: A 6-months clusters managers mentoring programme whose goal is to develop cluster management practices and provide inspiration for up-skilling and attracting talents, create new business ideas as well as cooperation opportunities.

SMEs mentoring programme: A 6-months SMEs mentoring program implemented by clusters with the project technical support whose goal is to support strategic management, up-skilling of the workforce, talent management and business development.

• Ecosystem Animation Activities: for SMEs that need to travel accross Europe to meet partners or participation to innovation and business events

Developing projects is key in order to succeed in deploying SMEs’ solutions at the international level. This will be achieved by boosting SMEs networking through the organisation and implementation of events (matchmaking, B2B events, study visits, webinars, workshops, participation to international exhibitions…).

• Internationalization: for SMEs that need to internationalize their activities

Based on the E-BOOST clusters links in both Canada and the United States of America, the consortium will fuel these connexions within the project activities dedicated to the establishment of cooperation and business agreements. Moreover, North American territory represents a major electromobility market for the deployment of SMEs’ businesses. Transports stakeholders from this zone have a head start on other world countries regarding the development of electromobility infrastructure thanks to innovative technologies in terms of hydrogen or electric mobility.

Website: https://eboostproject.com
LinkedIn: E-BOOST-project
Twitter: @EBOOST_project
ECCP Profile: E-BOOST Eurocluster