Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) are drivers of innovation and provide an important impetus for smart and sustainable economic growth in Europe in order to ensure the future viability of our society. However, there are major differences in SME access to KETs within Europe.

The KETGATE project brings together business support organisations and research organisations that help SMEs to gain access to technology in the areas of advanced materials, and photonics and micro- and nano-electronics in transport, health care and the food industry.

For this purpose, a network of smart KET access points will be set up in 8 partners and 19 associated partner intuitions – for the Czech Republic, these will be the Central Bohemian Innovation Centre and the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Built at the research centre level throughout Central Europe, the network will provide SMEs with advice on KET applications.

In pilot projects, jointly developed service models offer selected companies specific applications of KETs through cross-border cooperation. In total, the network of smart access points will support at least 90 SMEs from Central European regions as well as at least 15 transnational pilot cooperation agreements.

Moreover, contractual obligations will be entered into with 20 additional organisations to expand and strengthen the network. The project will thus not only contribute to the competitiveness of SMEs in Central Europe, but also generate significant changes for the entire region by supporting regional Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3).

The project’s webpage: http://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/KETGATE.html