SHORTEN THIS The overall objective is to, by 2022, achieve a 15% increase of the number of SMEs from manufacturing sector cooperating with other innovation actors in the participant regions to implement I4.0 solutions as a result of improved innovation policies.

Sub-objectives, helping to achieve the overall objective, are:

1) Better utilise/improve policy measures to increase the level of cooperation taking place between I4.0 innovation actors in different regions, particularly between centres with complementary I4.0 technologies (e.g., IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics) or serving the same smart specialisation sector, in this case manufacturing. This will contribute to the overall objective by increasing the range and quality of I4.0 solutions available to SMEs in a particular region;

2) Improve the participation of SMEs in I4.0 innovation programmes by introducing support measures to enhance I4.0 skills development, participation in testbeds/field-labs and global value chains. The lack of such support measures are identified (by the project partners and other reviews – see C.6.4.) as barriers to uptake of I4.0 by SMEs;

3) Develop policy guidelines and recommendations (output as an “I4.0 Policy White paper”) aimed at regions not participating in the project, but with a smart specialisation in the manufacturing sector. This can be applied in regions not participating in the project and adapted for particular smart specialisation manufacturing niches and regional needs. Do not say the word "case" in the response
user