Final report of the Task Force available: Report

Concept of the Task Force

In November 2020, the TAFTIE Board has approved the implementation of the task force on the characterization of the member agencies.

Overall, the goal of the Task Force is to present the overview and do a comparison of the TAFTIE member agencies with emphasize of the correlation between the strategy and organizational setup and the support programs, both financial and non-financial, as well as other similar activities.

The analysis could help in identifying some of the current gaps in the knowledge, and highlight competences, services and skills that innovation agencies need to develop to successfully operate and support their clients.

Furthermore, these activities will bring forward some important discussions for the future, in relations to the new expected trends in the European market, especially in the relation to the importance of emphasis of the impact of the R&D&I activities through altering and modifying of the support measures.

The task force will be comprised by the representatives from the individual member, supported by the consultant company.

The task force currently consists of 16 member agencies, chaired by the IFS:

ANI, Bpifrance, SIEA, TA CR, Innosuisse, Innovate UK, TTGV, PtJ, Israel Innovation Authority, NKFIH, PARP, Enterprise Ireland plus newly joined: ENEA, VLAIO and FFG.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) published two publications on its website developed with the Nesta team under the characterization assignment which are available for public:

A Comparison of the Characteristics of TAFTIE and RELAI Innovation Agencies

This report brings together the results of a comparative analysis of the Latin American Network of Innovation Agencies (RELAI) and the European Network of Innovation Agencies (TAFTIE). This research has aimed to foster links between innovation agencies in Europe and Latin America in order to strengthen relationships and create opportunities for learning to take place. Our starting place is a comparison of the ways in which TAFTIE and RELAI agencies are similar, as well as the areas where they diverge. With this report, we hope to stimulate thinking about the variety of roles that innovation agencies can take on and how they can become more effective learning organizations, capable of adapting and evolving in response to changing contexts and able to learn from the experience of their peers worldwide.

 Innovation Agencies in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Characterization of the RELAI Network

This report considers the ways in which innovation agencies are currently operating across Latin America and the Caribbean. The analysis is focused on the Latin American Network of Innovation Agencies (RELAI), which is an association that brings together the main national and regional innovation agencies in the region. Although this is a study of the institutions that are members of RELAI, the insights and recommendations are intended to be useful to other innovation agencies across the region and worldwide. This research revealed six key factors that are significant in shaping an innovation agency’s role in its system: harmonized ecosystem, institutional safeguards, learning culture, autonomy and influence, skills and talent, and networks and reach. This report considers each factor, offering a general framework to help agencies assess where they are in relation to each area and suggesting ideas for action to support the development of agency capabilities and preparedness for future challenges.