Mobilizing Advanced Partnerships for Digital Innovation and Transformation
The MAPIT project (Mobilizing Advanced Partnerships for Digital Innovation and Transformation) aims to enhance the digital innovation capacity of SMEs and research entities in widening countries within and outside of EU, such as Estonia, Hungary and Turkey, by fostering partnerships and integrating them into the European Research and Innovation (R&I) network.
MAPIT addresses the challenge of limited participation and integration of SMEs and research institutions from widening countries into Horizon Europe and broader European R&I networks. These entities often struggle with establishing sustainable international R&I partnerships and accessing resources.
Objective
The objective of the project is twofold:
- Roadmapping: The development of a Conversational AI Tool, fine-tuned with information from various sources, to facilitate the discovery and formation of complementary R&I partnerships. The tool will help research entities and SMEs to build sustainable international R&I portfolios.
- Future Studies: The development of an upskilling program for International R&I Managers and Administrators within research entities, enriched by transformative visits and short-term secondments. The program will advance human resources within R&I clusters, ensuring sustainable internationalization.
These objectives work synergistically to empower the participating research entities, promoting best practices, joint initiatives, and cross-border collaboration. Additionally, the project emphasizes sustainability by establishing Innovation Centers as key players in the clusters, responsible for maintaining training programs, mentorship networks, and ensuring the continuous flow of funds toward R&I activities.
Duration and partners
Duration: September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2026 (24 months)
Partners:
- Izmir Institute of Technology (Coordinator), Turkey
- Stichting Hogeschool Utrecht, Netherlands
- WEGLOBAL DANISMANLIK ANONIM SIRKETI, Turkey
- HÉTFA KUTATOINTEZET KFT, Hungary
- Karatay University, Turkey
- Middle East Technical University, Turkey
- Anadolu Teknoloji Araştırma Parkı San. ve Tic. A.Ş, Turkey
- FinEst Centre for Smart Cities, Estonia
- Institute for Future Research, Turkey
Funding
Funding source: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, European Research Executive Agency, grant agreement No. 101158945
Budget: total budget is 1 159 062.50 EUR (TalTech’s part is 150 000 EUR).
Sustainability and responsibility
MAPIT ensures sustainability by establishing Innovation Centers that will continue to support R&I activities, provide ongoing training, and secure funding beyond the project’s duration. These centers will serve as key hubs for maintaining and expanding the project’s impact.
The role of FinEst Centre for Smart Cities
The FinEst Centre for Smart Cities plays a critical role in the MAPIT project by acting as a model of successful cross-border collaboration and digital innovation. It contributes expertise in building human-centric smart cities, and its success provides a blueprint for establishing Innovation Centres within MAPIT.
