Conference article

In this article; I present my experiences stimulating development of new products and services in small companies in the environmental arena. The focus on small companies is justified since many new innovations originate from such companies and they often have special needs compared to larger companies. In the region of Östergötland Sweden; we have developed a model called SIMPLE (Successful implementation of eco-design in small enterprises) to support small companies’ environmental innovations. SIMPLE uses the Triple Helix approach. Triple Helix is often used to describe the interaction between university; government; and industry to promote innovation by building on active participation and interaction between regional actors. In short; the SIMPLE methodology uses coaching; network activities and education; and financial support to encourage development of new ideas. Three cases are presented to illustrate the diversity of innovations that can be supported using the SIMPLE methodology. Observations suggest that individual company’s needs must be the main concern of any methodology and networks can significantly stimulate individuals and organizations to speed up the development process and time to market.

Innovation; Small Companies; Renewable energy; Energy efficiency