With the “Impact Innovation” program, FFG broke new ground in several ways:
- Focusing on the development of innovative ideas and solutions through intensive interaction between all relevant actors (individuals, organizations benefiting from the solution, solution beneficiaries).
- The program addresses innovations that are not necessarily research-based (this also corresponds to the extension of the concept of innovation according to Oslo Manual 2018 and the European Innovation Scoreboard 2018).
- An important criterion for funding the program is the impact of the innovation on the largest possible groups of people (customers, users, etc.).
- ”Impact Innovation” appeals to new applicants: just under 65% of applications were submitted by organizations that have never submitted applications to the FFG.
The program has three objectives:
- Broadening the innovation base through a broader understanding of innovation (in new areas without R&D and non-technical ones)
- Broadening access to FFG funding for actors who have not been addressed by FFG instruments so far
- More successful innovation projects through an early involvement of relevant actors, a structured and methodically guided approach along an innovation process, orientation towards problem solving and learning experiences on the problem in the course of project implementation.
