Keywords: incubation, startups

Main users: Wider community

SelanC is a fully operational and practical program focused on detection, assessment and development of innovative projects (new products, new services, access to new markets, etc) in local industrial SMEs. The name ""SelanC"" is a wordplay with the french verb sélancer meaning to start, to rush, to jump into innovation!

Very often, the innovation process is not organised in SMEs. Our objective is to identify a ""sleeping"" project, i.e. an innovative idea still unexplored, and provide the SME with a skilled project manager whose mission is to assess the feasibility within a 3 month training period. Angers Technopole identifies and selects SMEs with a potential project, and assigns a full time project manager. After 15 weeks, the SME launches an innovative project, and Angers Technopole, as a business support organisation, provides services to develop innovation processes within the company. The trainee graduates with a degree from a professional organisation, and often finds a new job related to innovation.

SelanC is an innovative approach for SMEs, related to open innovation, but also a contribution to social innovation in the region. First, it is an opportunity for the SME to really dedicate time on an innovative project. Angers Technopole provides a methodology and tools to detect, assess and develop innovation in companies that are often far from the innovation process. Those SMEs have almost no experience in innovation management, no access to specific resources, no links with engineering schools or universities. SelanC offers a practical solution, on a real project that can generate business in the short term. SelanC is also a social approach to innovation on the ground. It offers an opportunity for jobseekers to find a new job in SMEs. These project managers are often unemployed skilled individuals, who benefit from a training program on innovation management with Angers Technopole during these 15 weeks. The trainees graduate with a degree from a professional organisation, and often find a new job related to innovation.

In the short term, the company has an answer on the feasibility of its innovative project, and operational answers for the implementation of the project + networking with experts (universities, research labs, technical centres, industrial partners ...). In the medium / long term, the project manager develops new skills on innovative project management. The transfer of know-how and methodology leads to better innovation management in the company. During the last 5 years, 1,800 industrial SMEs have been prospected, 238 SMEs have been visited by Angers Technopole, and 200 projects have been detected. 66 SMEs have been supported by SelanC program and 50% of these projects have become new products or services, or are in development. As a result of SelanC, 17 companies launched innovation programs for a global amount of 4.2 million euros, with 1.8 million euros of support from national or regional innovation funds. 68 project managers graduated, and 70% of them found innovation related work, 1/3 in the company where they worked during the program. 66 research and innovation partnerships have been initiated between the participating SMEs and universities, engineering schools and research centres.

The program focuses on two types of users : - Small and medium industrial companies, first-steppers in innovation processes, located around the city of Angers with an average workforce of 54 people (80% less than 50 employees) 42% in the metallurgy sector, 39% other industries, 19% services. - Unemployed skilled professionals, who need to make a career shift and gain new competencies in innovation management, mostly in order to find a job in our region.