The challenge of globalisation includes a change towards more open, networked and international ways of organising innovation processes.
Cutting edge knowledge companies and knowledge producers need input from innovation processes external to themselves. These inputs are to be found in supply chains, at the sites of lead user clients and customers and in the heads of experts located in hotspots around the world.
Nordic companies and knowledge producers need to access such hotspots. Joint Nordic innovation representations and joint innovation initiatives can provide such access.
As a pilot project for joint Nordic innovation projects with Asia, the Nordic Council of Ministers launched in 2009 the programme for Nordic Innovation Projects with Asia. The programme’s first round was open during 2009 and 2012.
Based on the first round of projects the Nordic Council of Minister’s and Nordic Innovation have decided to launch a second round of this global initiative. The second round differs by broadening the geographical scope to cover all countries outside Europe. This means that the programme can support projects, not only in Asia, but also in for example Latin America, North America, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania.