Good practice:

Innovation Springboard Service (PTI) for ceramic SME

The Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine (NA) wants innovation become an effective vector for the development of regional companies even for small ones and the main vehicle for creating business and jobs.
In artistic ceramic sector, innovation is not in the real DNA of companies. Actors of this sector consider themselves as traditional and think that innovation is not for them. But they are wrong. Indeed, innovation could be applied to this sector for example to reduce production cost and time or to faster develop new products.
That is why to promote innovation for these companies, NA launched the dedicated network “Innovez en Nouvelle-Aquitaine», led by Agence de développement et d’innovation, the regional agency dedicated to innovation.
One of different available services concerns the first step to innovation which is the most difficult one. This network launches the PTI: Innovation springboard service. PTI is a financial tool to help companies in the implementation of an innovative collaborative project for the first time with an external skills center (RTD, laboratory, company).
Several services can be eligible: Technological pre-studies, Characterization, Functional model, Scientific and technical feasibility studies, Market studies, State of the art, Design Studies, Filing of 1st French Patent.
The amount of PTI is 10 000 € (maximum) funded up to 50% by Region Nouvelle Aquitaine and 50% by BPI France. A monthly committee select projects.

In 2019, the annual budget for PTI was 600 000€, 50% from the Region Nouvelle Aquitaine & 50% from BPI France.

Biopythos, a traditional ceramic company, manufactures egg ceramic containers for wine aging. The shaping of this product is a technical challenge. The PTI was used to develop the egg: improve the mineral composition by integrating the technical requirement for wine aging. It worked with Porcelaines JL Coquet to carry out the different phases of the project. Finally, it manages to prove the concept of developing big porcelain eggs for wine and allowing them to double the number of sells in 2020.

PTI program can be adopted by other regions to inspire innovation in small companies of traditional sectors, very resistant to change. It could open the door to new technologies, to new products development and to an increasing of turnover.
This program is a good way for companies to better understand the innovation ecosystem (laboratories and innovative companies) and the collaborative working.
Moreover, this first project experience for company introduces it in the project world and shows that a foot in the door can lead to others projects, either regional, or national or European projects.