Fostering Sustainable Transformation for Competitive MSMEs

Partnership
Initiative

Background

The World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations - WAITRO, founded in 1970 under the auspices of the United Nations, brings together stakeholders in international science, technology and innovation. It provides a mechanism for its members and partners to connect, share, inspire and leverage their contributions to solve global challenges, and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Some of the entities comprising WAITRO include the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (National Institute of Industrial Technology - INTI), in Argentina, founded in 1957 with the mission of strengthening the competitiveness of industries in Argentina by developing and transferring technology, along with the Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia (Science and Technology Centre of Antioquia - CTA), in Colombia, a private non-profit corporation that since 1990 has been promoting coordination between universities, companies and the government, as well as generating and transferring scientific and technological knowledge, and LEITAT, in Spain, a technology centre founded in 1906 that offers disruptive solutions to meet the technological needs of companies and organisations. These entities have taken on important roles and responsibilities in the organisation and governance of WAITRO.

Through the WAITRO framework, several collaboration agreements have been promoted and many projects have been jointly carried out between these entities, with the aim of working together in the development and transfer of technologies and capacity building, and with a focus on the productivity and competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. This joint work has led them to promote and play a leading role in different processes, platforms and networks, including the 'Latin American and Caribbean Network on SME productivity', joined by the Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Mipymes de República Dominicana (Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs of the Dominican Republic - MICM).

The MICM is currently implementing the 'Digital Republic Program' and the 'Digital 2030 Agenda', with the goal of promoting the inclusion of information and communication technologies in production processes, education, government and citizen services. In response to this challenge, the MICM deemed it appropriate to have the support of INTI, CTA and LEITAT to strengthen certain aspects of these programmes, especially with regard to the development of conceptual, methodological and practical elements to contribute to promoting and increasing the competitiveness of MSMEs in the Dominican Republic, which will be done through the application of digital transformation tools with a focus on responsible production. As a result, this multi-actor and multi-level Triangular Cooperation Partnership was established, made up of highly specialised European, Latin American and Caribbean entities, renowned both in their respective countries and at the regional and international level.

Entities and roles

Beneficiary entities

Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Mipymes (MICM)

Dominican Republic

First provider entities

Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI)

Argentina

Corporación Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia (CTA)

Colombia

Second provider entities

Asociación Acondicionamiento Tarrasense (LEITAT)

Spain

Development challenges

Through this Triangular Cooperation Initiative, the knowledge and expertise of the Partnership member entities in digital transformation and circular economy will be harnessed to boost the competitiveness of MSMEs, focusing on responsible production and care for the environment. The objective is to develop conceptual, methodological and practical elements to be applied in MSME strengthening programmes by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs in the Dominican Republic.

The aim is to achieve inclusive and sustainable development within the framework of SDG 8 and SDG 9, contributing to these by 'achieving higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation', 'promoting development-oriented policies that support productive activities, the creation of decent jobs, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalisation and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises', upgrading infrastructure and converting industries to make them sustainable, using resources more efficiently and promoting the adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes', 'enhancing the technological capabilities of industrial sectors' and 'supporting the development of domestic technologies, research and innovation'.

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative seeks to share the knowledge of the Partnership entities to jointly develop tools for the digital transformation and promotion of the circular economy, responding to the needs of MSMEs to be more competitive, with a focus on responsible production and care for the environment.

Triangular approach

There is strong consensus that MSMEs should take advantage of the opportunities offered by science and technology in order to increase their competitiveness. Modernising and optimising production processes through digital transformation is vital to increase efficiency and improve the quality of products and services. This approach is based on responsible production, for which practices inspired by the circular economy are key, seeking to reduce the waste of resources and promote long-term sustainability. The commitment to digital transformation and responsible production not only promotes competitiveness, but also boosts innovation and creativity and fosters adaptation to changes in the market.

Although the Ministry of Industry, Trade and SMEs of the Dominican Republic - MICM has a long history and many success stories in this area, it is currently facing several challenges within the framework of the 'Digital Republic Program' and the 'Digital 2030 Agenda'; ultimately aiming for public policies that promote the digital transformation, with a focus on responsible production.

In its roadmap towards such public policies, the MICM wishes to learn about and draw on the knowledge and expertise of other key players in the region and in Europe, supported by the interest, availability and commitment of the National Institute of Industrial Technology - INTI (Argentina), the Science and Technology Centre of Antioquia - CTA (Colombia) and LEITAT (Spain).

To respond to these challenges, this Triangular Cooperation Initiative will promote a triangular approach to knowledge sharing along three main lines; each coordinated and led by one of the Partnership member entities, with a clear focus on creating synergies: (a) innovation culture in organisations and continuous improvement processes, led by INTI, (b) digital transformation, led by CTA, and (c) ecological transition and circular economy, led by LEITAT.

All the content covered will be consolidated in a 'Good Practices Guide', to be used by the MICM as a tool to accompany MSMEs on their path towards digital maturity, the improvement of their production processes, decarbonization and the development of their own culture of innovation.

Promoting the digital transformation, with a view to responsible production, will undoubtedly have a strong impact on MSMEs in the Dominican Republic and on the country's economy as a whole. At the same time, the tools developed can be used as a point of reference or inspiration for other countries in the region that also wish to make progress in this area. The participation of all Partnership member entities in regional and global networks and platforms will be key in sharing all the achievements of this Initiative with third parties.

Sectoral approach - Contribution to the 2030 Agenda

Primary SDG

Goal 9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities

Goal 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending

Goal 9.B Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities

Secondary SDG

Goal 8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

Goal 8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

ADELANTE SDG

Goal 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Goal 17.6 Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism

Goal 17.7 Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed

Goal 17.9 Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation

Goal 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships

Territorial approach

Intervention methodology

This Initiative seeks a triangular approach to knowledge sharing through four study visits, complemented by a series of workshops, a seminar and a final congress.

The first three study visits (Spain, Colombia and Argentina, in that order) will provide first-hand, in situ knowledge of the work and impact of each of the Partnership member entities, as well as their strategic partners. In each case, participants will gain in-depth insights into the areas of specialisation: with LEITAT (Spain) in the ecological transition and circular economy, with CTA (Colombia) in the digital transformation, and with INTI (Argentina) in innovation culture in organisations and continuous improvement processes. In all cases, there will be specialised on-site training sessions for all Partnership entities.

In parallel to these visits, a series of virtual workshops will take place, aimed at strengthening the content covered so far, taking an in-depth look at each of the topics and expanding them to include transversal elements, such as the training of decision-makers and the application of management technologies to improve production processes, among others.

The fourth study visit (Dominican Republic) will be aimed at consolidating all the work carried out and aligning all the content with the objectives of the MICM. In particular, work will be carried out with the Services Directorate and the newly created Red Nacional de Centros de Prototipado y Transferencia Tecnológica (National Network of Centres for Prototyping and Technology Transfer), with a focus on capacity building. Work will also be done on the final version of the 'Good Practice Guide'. For the preparation of this guide, a specialised consultancy will take place throughout the Initiative, with the support of two external collaborators.

During this visit, in addition to several internal work and training sessions, there will also be two public events aimed at training for the entire sector and awareness-raising. In terms of open training, a seminar will be held for other MICM officials and representatives of the country's MSMEs, in which the three main pillars of the Initiative will be presented and further developed. A congress will be held for representatives of the Dominican Republic's government authorities in order to bring attention to the issue. It will also be open to other interested parties, where the main approaches, guidelines and contents of the new public policy proposal will be presented and developed, with a view to its final approval and implementation.

Direct beneficiaries (individuals)

According to Rule 9 of the Guidelines for Applicants: all persons participating in the activities of the Initiative.

Approximately 40 direct beneficiaries are participating in this Initiative, all of whom are authorities and technical staff from the Partnership member entities. In addition, more than 150 representatives from MSMEs in the Dominican Republic are expected to participate in the seminar and congress to be held in the country.

Budget

EU contribution: 137,065.00 €

Co-financing - Triangular Cooperation Partnership: 62,641.00 €

Total budget: 199,706.00 €

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