PROTOATLANTIC

Development and validation of a program for the prototyping and exploitation
of innovative ideas

The Protoatlantic project aims to develop a model for the prototyping and exploitation of innovative ideas in the maritime sector.
Taking into account the high costs of prototyping activities, this proposal will be narrow to three well defined sectors: Renewable Energy, Marine Robotics and Blue Biotechnologies.
The partnership will identify the product innovation capacity in the maritime sector, willing to address emerging markets in a co-creation paradigm with the local start-up communities, research centres and universities. The action will be based in existing co-working spaces and blue acceleration programs specialized in the marine sector and replicate success stories.
For that purpose, acceleration programs will be implemented, starting from ideation to market access, where a normed and structured process is used to manage product innovation.
The acceleration programs will attract innovative ideas, creating a unique ecosystem that will melt with a methodology that will cover from business model to market validation, including test phases. This circle will be completed with the launch to market of the most innovative and feasible ideas.
The Protoatlantic network will allow to find the best place to build and test the prototype, and to identify the best places for the company to establish and launch its business. Policy makers and business support agencies will be involved, to provide the ecosystem of a legal and long term support.

Reference: EAPA_303/2016
Duration: November 2017 to October 2020
Coordinator: Asociación de Empresas Tecnológicas Innovalia
Funding agency: European Union
Programme: INTERREG Atlantic Area
Topic: Innovation