Driving E-Bio Innovation: eRural’s Expert Hubs Empowering SME Growth

The eRural project has established two international expert hubs – BioHub and DigiHub – to support SMEs in developing their e-business operations.

Hub focus areas

The hubs consist of experts from project partner organizations with strong competence in bioproducts and digitalization. BioHub experts provide advice and expertise related to bioproduct development, including identifying new product opportunities, defining product characteristics, and planning product testing. The project also enables small-scale product testing to support product development and market launch.

DigiHub expertise can be utilized, for example, in selecting suitable ERP, CRM, or e-commerce platforms, as well as in planning and implementing the use of artificial intelligence in business operations.

Hub’s activities in practice

Hub experts provide support to SMEs through local business support organizations. This support follows a project-developed methodology that is used to create a tailored business development roadmap for each SME.

At the beginning of the process, the business support organization interviews the SME. As a result of the interview and the discussion surrounding it, a roadmap is drawn up for the SME, covering a wide range of development measures related to business and management, digital expertise, bioproducts, and networking.

If special expertise is needed to draw up the roadmap, the business support organization can turn to hub experts if the SME so wishes. A representative of the business support organization forwards the SME’s specific questions or information needs to the hubs, based on which the most suitable expert is selected from the hubs to support the business support organization and the SME. SMEs always receive answers in their own language. For more challenging questions, answers are sought through interaction between the hub expert, the business support organization, and the SME.

Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and Järvi-Pohjanmaa Business Services JPYP as leaders of international expert networks

The Finnish eRural resilience project partner, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK), leads the Piloting and Evaluating Solutions work package and coordinates the activities of the BioHub, contributing strong and diverse expertise in the bioeconomy.

“The role of bio-hub leader suits us perfectly,” says Karita Luokkanen-Rabetino, senior RDI expert and the leader of the BioHub at SEAMK. “We have extensive expertise in natural resources, the bioeconomy, and the food industry, as well as a modern food industry laboratory, which provides a diverse pool of expertise and product testing opportunities,” Luokkanen-Rabetino continues.

To date, the BioHub has received consultation and testing requests, particularly regarding the properties of bioproducts. In addition, SEAMK experts hold seminars for project partners to increase their expertise in bioproducts.

Järvi-Pohjanmaan Yrityspalvelu JPYP manages the DigiHub. “The DigiHub has helped SMEs in a wide range of practical digitalization issues. For example, we have mapped domestic appointment booking systems and compiled customized comparisons of the best options for companies. In addition, we have provided support in selecting CRM systems and identified suitable solutions for warehouse management. We collect a customer satisfaction survey from each company that has received help through the digital hub so that we can evaluate the usefulness of the support and continuously develop our activities,” says Liisa Kuoppala, leader of the DigiHub at JPYP.

Comprehensive experience in addressing SME needs and responding to their development challenges is essential for both hubs. This experience will be used to define sustainable operating models and core activities for the hubs after the eRural project ends.

• JPYP is an entrepreneurship development company that supports businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Järvi-Pohjanmaa region at all stages of their lifecycle, from establishment to ownership transfer.
• SEAMK is a multidisciplinary institution of higher education and an efficient actor in education and research, development and innovation (RDI) in the region of South Ostrobothnia in West Finland. Areas in RDI include Food Safety and Technology, Intelligent Industry, Digitalization in the Social and Health Care Sector, Growth Entrepreneurship and Business Transfers, and Circular Economy and Sustainable Development. The eRural project provides SEAMK with an excellent opportunity to utilize and further develop its expertise in bio business for rural SMEs. Additionally, networking and collaborating with active players in the Baltic Sea region fosters valuable connections and creates significant opportunities for future cooperation.

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