Innovation redefined

The Dutch-German-Belgian border triangle is known as a high-tech region in the heart of Europe. Well known universities and an impressive industrial landscape provide numerous impulses and pioneering innovations for the challenges of international markets. As a result, this region enjoys a high reputation on an international level.

To further strengthen the potential of this region, the Interreg Meuse-Rhine initiative “STIPP” is aiming at broadening the horizons of stakeholders by strengthening cross-border cooperation. After all, not only can innovative solutions be found more easily together, but new markets can also be developed better through a strong international network.

To achieve this goal, STIPP focuses on promoting cross-border cooperation between SMEs in the Meuse-Rhine region to develop new innovations that contribute to one or more of the strategic topics of “industrial change”, “green transformation” and “healthier citizens”. The initiative will focus on ‘Business & Innovation Development Support’, i.e. raising awareness among companies and scouting potential innovators to bring together SME consortia via matchmaking supported by the regional development agencies LIOF, VLAIO, POM Limburg, Wallonie Entreprendre, NMWP and AGIT to develop high-quality innovation projects. Furthermore, the initiative supports cross-border SME consortia directly in developing and implementing innovative projects and creating synergies between existing offers in the region. The regional development agencies will work together with the Province of Limburg, as Managing Authority for the Interreg Meuse-Rhine Programme in order to support at least 100 SMEs from the area by supporting cross border consortia with 150,000 EUR up to 600,000 EUR of funding. In total, the STIPP initiative, with a total of 14 million EUR of European Regional Development Fund, makes available 10 million EUR of European funding provided in the form of grants for cross-border SME consortia. For the first call of proposals a budget of 2,5 million EUR is foreseen.

On November 21, 2024, the STIPP initiative celebrated their official kick-off together. The high strategic importance of such cross-border activities was also reflected in the guests. In addition to numerous SMEs from the funding area and beyond, many political representatives from the supporting regions followed the consortium's invitation. After all, successful innovations on the market are the driving force behind a thriving economy in our region and the answer to international competitors.

The first call for the promotion of cross-border innovation projects was also ceremoniously opened at the event, bringing the day to a close with subsequent networking among the SMEs. Numerous joint activities for STIPP were already planned among the guests on site.

If you have further questions about the STIPP-initiative and the possibility to benefit by starting an innovation project, please contact your regional development agency or write us: stipp-fm@prvlimburg.nl