VIVA, the Vertical and Horizontal Integrating Innovation Valley Approach

From Regional Strengths to Collective Innovation

VIVA (Vertical and Horizontal Integrating Innovation Valley Approach) is part of the EU’s Regional Innovation Valleys initiative, which strengthens collaboration among Europe’s innovation ecosystems to address common societal challenges and boost Europe’s innovative capacity. By connecting six regions in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary, the project creates better conditions for new solutions to be developed, tested, and brought to market.

Europe has many strong innovation hubs, but expertise, testing environments, and resources are often scattered across different regions. Through VIVA, six regions with complementary strengths are brought together to share knowledge, experiences, and infrastructure.

The regions contribute expertise in areas such as automation, robotics, advanced manufacturing, circular material flows, the bioeconomy, renewable energy, AI, and digital transformation. Through increased cross-border collaboration, the project aims to strengthen the innovation ecosystems in the participating regions and create better conditions for putting ideas and innovations into practice.

Purpose and Objectives of the Project

The purpose of VIVA is to strengthen collaboration between European innovation ecosystems and help promising innovations move closer to practical application and the market.

The project aims to foster long-term collaborations between regions and provide innovators with access to expertise, testing environments, networks, and new partners. VIVA will also develop methods for how regions with different areas of expertise can collaborate more effectively and how innovations can be supported throughout the entire development process. The lessons learned will be compiled into a common methodology that can be used by more European regions.

As part of the project, 30 companies will have the opportunity to access cascade funding to develop, test, and verify innovative solutions in collaboration with stakeholders in the participating regions. The initiative is intended to help more innovations reach a higher level of maturity and move closer to the market and industrial application.

Expected effects and results

VIVA aims to strengthen collaboration between businesses, research institutions, innovation stakeholders, and public organizations in Europe. Through increased knowledge sharing and better access to expertise, testing environments, and international networks, the conditions are created for more innovations to be developed, tested, and scaled up.

The project aims to contribute to stronger regional innovation ecosystems, increased international collaboration, and more solutions that support Europe’s green and digital transition.

The role of Innovatum Science Park

Innovatum Science Park is a project partner in VIVA and part of the innovation ecosystem in Västra Götaland. Our role is to contribute expertise, networks, and experience in areas such as automation, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and circular material flows.

We work to connect businesses, research institutions, and innovation stakeholders, and to help new ideas progress toward practical application. Through workshops, matchmaking, demonstration activities, and knowledge sharing, we create opportunities for businesses to engage in new collaborations, international networks, and business opportunities.

As part of VIVA, we also help identify companies’ needs, disseminate the project’s results, and strengthen the ties between the innovation ecosystem in Västra Götaland and other European innovation regions.