SYSTEMEU
EU project: SYSTEMEU: A Paradigm Shift in the European Innovation Landscape
SYSTEMEU is a new initiative reshaping Europe's innovation ecosystems by making open innovation processes accessible to all. The initiative aims to promote digitalisation in the key areas of healthcare, energy and mobility, while also strengthening cross-border cooperation between five European regions.
A new approach to innovation for Europe
Traditional innovation models tend to focus on technological advances or economic efficiency, often neglecting social justice and environmental sustainability. SYSTEMEU takes a different approach: a systemic method that aims to bring about lasting structural change by taking into account all aspects of a problem and its solution, including technology, society, the environment and the economy.
Building cross-border innovation ecosystems
SYSTEMEU promotes networked, inclusive innovation ecosystems that enable new forms of cooperation at the European level. These ecosystems consist of networks of companies, research institutions, public bodies and civil society organisations that collaborate to generate innovation. Such cross-border alliances are crucial for closing innovation gaps between regions at different stages of development.
In line with the New European Innovation Agenda
The focus is on digitalisation and sustainable solutions in the fields of healthcare, energy and mobility. By taking social prosperity into account during the innovation process, SYSTEMEU aligns with key European and national strategies, including the ‘New European Innovation Agenda’. The project's goal is to establish regenerative innovation ecosystems that facilitate economic growth and social progress.
Unlike mere sustainability, regenerative innovations aim to minimise negative impacts and actively contribute to the regeneration and renewal of resources. While sustainable innovations seek to maintain the status quo and minimise harm, regenerative innovations strive to improve and restore the environment.
SYSTEMEU: Innovation driver for Europe
SYSTEMEU clearly stands out from conventional innovation strategies. While traditional approaches often focus on individual technological solutions, SYSTEMEU focuses on systemic innovations: comprehensive, holistic changes that intelligently integrate technological, social, economic, and institutional elements.
Systemic innovation involves promoting new ways of thinking and developing structures that achieve sustainable impact through cooperation across sectoral and national boundaries. The strategic focus is on the long-term transformation of Europe towards a regenerative future that is ecologically sustainable, economically competitive and socially just.
SYSTEMEU as a pioneer of a new European innovation strategy
The project brings together 14 leading organisations from Germany, Spain, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Portugal, who will work closely together to promote systemic innovation in five European regions: Bavaria (DE), the North-West/Transylvania planning region (RO), Castilla y León (ES), the Canton of Tuzla (BIH) and the Braga region (PT).
The key players within the network are universities, start-up centres, innovation agencies and public institutions. By leveraging regional strengths, facilitating knowledge exchange and developing joint strategies, a scalable innovation model for Europe as a whole is being created.
The project builds on the unique strengths and smart specialisation strategies of the individual regions, developing and networking them further.
SYSTEMEU establishes new benchmarks for European innovation policy, demonstrating how systemic innovations can proactively influence social change.
project aims and fields of work
1. Promoting systemic entrepreneurship:
Developing new innovation strategies that enable sustainable, networked and cross-regional solutions.
2. The targeted use of disruptive technologies:
Integrating advanced technologies in the fields of health, energy and mobility to address major societal issues.
3. Strengthening cross-border cooperation:
Establishing transregional networks of innovation actors to promote joint solutions and synergies.
4. Closing innovation gaps:
Networking regions with different levels of innovation through knowledge exchange, pooling resources, and sharing skills.
5. Qualifying skilled workers for the future:
Develop practical training programmes and provide targeted resources for digital transformation and disruptive innovations.
6. Position Europe as a pioneer for systemic innovation:
Establish SYSTEMEU as a model project for systemic innovation and the promotion of responsible technology – with a regional focus and the potential to be scaled up across Europe.
Target groups
SYSTEMEU brings together everyone involved in shaping innovation in Europe, from start-ups to politicians. The project engages with stakeholders across the entire innovation chain.
- Start-ups and other companies
Supporting the development of disruptive technologies and innovative business models
- Research institutions and universities
Promotion of interdisciplinary cooperation and targeted knowledge and technology transfer
- Government and administrative authorities
Development of forward-looking strategies and political framework conditions to promote innovation.
- Public institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
Integration of social and ecological perspectives into innovation processes
- Investors and financial institutions
Promoting sustainable, impact-oriented investment in transformative innovations
- Skilled workers
Training programmes and continuing education measures for digital transformation
BayFOR as a partner
The Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR) plays a key role in the SYSTEMEU project. It is particularly active in work packages WP1 and WP2, supporting the development of new systemic innovation approaches and the implementation of political measures in Bavaria.
BayFOR's core tasks include:
- contributing to the analysis of regional and national innovation support programmes and political framework conditions;
- participating in the planning and implementation of regional and international workshops for start-ups and SMEs, in which new innovation approaches in the context of digital transformation are tested;
- developing strategies and operational measures for implementing the New European Innovation Agenda;
- Promoting the exploitation and visibility of SYSTEMEU results through targeted EU funding advice and networking between science, industry, and administration. BayFOR supports Bavarian companies and stakeholders in utilising the innovations developed in the project effectively.
Funding period
This project is funded by the European Union from January 2025 to December 2028, as part of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (European Innovation Ecosystems), receiving approximately €7.4 million in funding under Grant Agreement No. 101161224. Of this funding, €3.1 million will be allocated to Bavarian stakeholders.
Consortium
Under the coordination of the Strascheg Centre for Entrepreneurship (SCE), 14 project partners are working together on the project:
Coordination: Strascheg Centre for Entrepreneurship (SCE), Germany
Project partners:
2CABraga (Academic Clinical Centre Braga), Portugal
Bavarian Research Alliance, Germany
CCDR-N (Coordination and Development Commission, Northern Portugal), Portugal
CEiiA (Centre for Technology and Development), Portugal
Cluster of Education C-EDU, Romania
Hochschule München, University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Industrial Automation LLC, Bosnia and Herzegovina
INESC TEC (Institute for Systems Engineering and Informatics, Technology and Science), Portugal
Junta de Castilla y Leon, Consejeria de Industria, Comercio y Empleo (Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment of the Regional Government of Castile and León), Spain
Ministarstvo privrede Tuzlanskog Kantona (Ministry of Economy of the Canton of Tuzla), Bosnia and Herzegovina
MUNICH INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM, Germany
Primaria si Consiliul local Cluj-Napoca (City Council of Cluj-Napoca), Romania
University of Salamanca, Spain
Further information
Contact
Project coordinator
Pavlina Vujovic
Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE)
Email: pavlina.vujovic@no-spam-pleasesce.de
Contact at BayFOR
Natalia García Mozo
Head of Unit SME Advisory Services
Phone: +49 89 9901888-171
Email: mozo@no-spam-pleasebayfor.org
M. Sc. Julia Richter
Scientific Officer SME Advisory Services
Phone: +49 89 9901888-173
Email: richter@no-spam-pleasebayfor.org
Competent Support for Excellent Research in Bavaria, Europe and the World
Competent Support for Excellent Research in Bavaria, Europe and the World
