Background
Troms County Municipality, through FORREGION Troms in the Development and Innovation section, requires external assistance for research mobilization in the business sector. The purpose is to strengthen the link between companies and relevant research and development environments, and to contribute to more businesses in Troms initiating research and innovation projects.
FORREGION stands for research-based innovation in the regions and is a grant scheme aimed at companies with little or no experience with research and development work. The procurement shall support the scheme's goal of increasing the share of R&D in the business sector through mobilization, closer links between business and R&D environments, and that pilot projects increasingly lead to main projects and other continued research activities.
The procurement is being carried out because the county municipality needs capacity and specialized expertise to work systematically, proactively, and needs-driven with companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises that have little experience with research and development. At the same time, there is a need to make relevant R&D environments, funding schemes, and other instruments more accessible to the business sector in the region.
The assignment shall support the objective of increased research efforts in the business sector, more qualified applications for relevant research funding, and better regional coverage in mobilization work. It is particularly important to mobilize research-imprudent companies in prioritized industries, facilitate more lasting collaborative relationships between the business sector and R&D actors, and contribute to the continuation of promising initiatives from the early idea phase and pilot project to larger development and research projects.
Description of the assignment
The contracting authority shall procure assistance from a total of five competence broker teams for research mobilization in Troms. The resources shall collectively cover the thematic areas of seafood, space activities/space, AI and technology development, and Circular Troms, with two of the sub-contracts being related to seafood. Each sub-contract shall be handled by a competence broker team with relevant and complementary expertise in the relevant focus area.
The target group for the assignment is small and medium-sized enterprises belonging to Troms county, or which have significant activity in Troms. Competence brokerage shall be a free service to the target group. The assignment assumes that the competence brokers act independently and neutrally, and that they do not represent business actors who may be in competition with the companies receiving assistance. Competence brokers shall sign a confidentiality agreement.
The delivery includes proactive contact with companies, needs analysis, mapping of relevant R&D partners, linking companies and research environments, and guidance in the development of R&D projects and applications for research funding. The follow-up shall be adapted to the individual company's needs and maturity, and may include assistance from early idea clarification and pilot project to further mobilization towards main projects and other relevant schemes. The competence broker shall act as an advisor and guide in application processes, but shall not write applications on behalf of the companies or act in competition with private actors.
The competence broker teams shall be able to identify companies' needs for research and innovation, help find relevant research expertise, and guide companies towards appropriate funding sources. This includes FORREGION and other relevant schemes, such as SkatteFUNN, the Research Council of Norway, Innovation Norway, Horizon Europe, and other relevant instruments. Where appropriate, competence brokers shall also refer to other actors in the incentive system.
The assignment further includes follow-up of companies that have previously completed pilot projects funded by FORREGION Troms, with the aim of contributing to the further development and implementation of main projects. Competence brokers shall also be able to arrange networking meetings between the business sector and R&D actors to identify common issues, opportunities for research and development, and to strengthen knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Resources with relevant experience in research mobilization in the business sector, a good understanding of regional innovation and R&D environments, knowledge of the relevant business sector in the region, and the ability to work needs-driven are sought. The role requires good collaboration skills, good communication understanding, and the ability to build trust with both companies and research environments. Competence brokers shall further collaborate with other competence brokers in FORREGION, other innovation actors in Troms, and participate in relevant regional and national meetings, including mandatory training and meeting activities organized by the Research Council.
The assignment also involves reporting to the contracting authority through established digital reporting solutions and templates. The reporting shall, among other things, provide an overview of brokering activities carried out, resource utilization, contact with R&D institutions, projects brokered to relevant schemes, pilot projects, networking meetings, and other relevant results and activities.
Contracting authority: Troms Fylkeskommune
Delivery location: Troms/Romsa/Tromssa
Estimated value: 9,000,000 NOK
Also published on TED (EU threshold)
