The article presents the vision and approach of the INFIMO (Innovation for Modest Innovator Regions) project, an EU-funded initiative aimed at strengthening innovation ecosystems in regions that lag behind Europe’s innovation leaders. INFIMO acknowledges that innovation capacity is not just a result of technology but requires human capital, inclusive participation, strong networks, and systemic change.
The project is built around three core solutions:
- Women in Tech Initiative: This addresses gender imbalances in deep tech and AI by increasing women's participation. INFIMO highlights that diversity drives innovation, offering fresh perspectives and improving problem-solving capacity.
- Generic Collaboration Model: A flexible framework designed to encourage cooperation across sectors, regions, and stakeholders. It helps build cohesive innovation ecosystems by enabling collaboration between business, academia, public institutions, and civil society.
- Advanced Collaboration Model: Building on the Generic Model, this solution focuses on embedding collaboration practices into regional governance structures. It supports long-term systemic change by aligning local innovation ecosystems with EU priorities and ensuring sustained commitment to innovation.
Together, these three interconnected solutions create a pathway from individual empowerment to collaborative innovation and ultimately to structural transformation. The article emphasizes that INFIMO’s strength lies not in isolated initiatives, but in how these elements are integrated to promote inclusive, human-centered, and sustainable innovation in modest innovator regions.