HATTU - Hankkeesta tuotteeksi

HATTU - From Project to Product

Decades of project work have produced a wealth of experience on how to improve projects, especially in terms of output. Often in digital RDI projects, the results remain at the Proof-of-Concept (PoC)/pilot level, although the Central Ostrobothnia region in particular would benefit from taking products and ideas further. Proof of concept is a term used to describe the process of testing the functionality of an idea or concept in practice through a small-scale experiment. The aim of a proof of concept is to prove that an idea or concept is feasible and has the potential to succeed in the marketplace. After the proof of concept, the concept can move on to further development and commercialisation.

The measures and work packages required by the projects are typically implemented as planned, but where there is an opportunity to generate wealth in the area, for example through the commercialisation of project products, this cannot be continued within the project framework. The HATTU project aims to develop a tested open approach that will be adopted by the promoter in future projects and made available to other educational institutions, entrepreneurs and businesses in the regions. The model to be developed will help to promote RDI activities in the Central Ostrobothnia region, so that the region can remain a leading region in Finland and the EU, bringing sustainable development, digitalisation, prosperity and innovation conditions for new businesses and new jobs.

The HATTU project will focus on how to ensure that the outputs of projects at PoC/pilot level can be taken forward to the next stages, such as commercialisation of products. This will better ensure that the investments made in the projects by the donor produce long-term visible results and thus enable the creation of new products, new jobs, and new businesses in the region. In practice, the aim is to establish a policy that better ensures the success of the post-project output by reducing the gap between project piloting and commercialisation. Although productisation takes place after project activities, the idea behind the approach is to highlight areas that should be taken into account already during the life of RDI projects.

The HATTU project will harness the long development and accumulated scientific expertise of research organisations to generate new innovation opportunities, support innovative business, product development and commercialisation from PoC to finished products. In this way, the HATTU project will improve the regional economy of Central Ostrobothnia, provide new business opportunities and develop the local economy. The HATTU project also aims to promote digitalisation by improving products, services and production methods through new digital solutions and operating models. The results of this project will be openly shared with project actors in Central Ostrobothnia.

GOALS

• To identify the post-Proof-of-Concept aspects of projects that are relevant for PoC commercialisation and further development. This means identifying all relevant aspects in order to develop a prototype of an operational model that incorporates all identified aspects and ensures better outcome, output and commercialisation.
• To pilot the developed approach with a PoC stage product resulting from 1-2 RDI projects.
• Fine-tune the approach based on feedback from the pilots.
• Incorporate the approach into future projects of the promoter to ensure output and outcome after future projects.
• Actively communicate the progress and results of the project.

RESULTS

• The mapping of the post-Proof-of-Concept elements of the product is complete and comprehensive - The inventory of all elements relevant to the product commercialisation process is complete and presented to the project stakeholders
• The prototype of the business model has been built and includes all the elements identified in the project. The prototype of the business model has been tested and has shown better performance, output and commercialisation potential than the original Proof-of-Concept
• The approach has been piloted with one PoC product from the University Centre and one PoC product from a company in the region.The piloting has shown that the approach helps the commercialisation of the products generated by the projects and that it works in practice.
• The approach has been fine-tuned and refined on the basis of feedback. The MVP version of the model is ready and can be incorporated into future projects. The approach has been retested and has proven to be effective and useful. Open and public productisation tool based on the MVP published.
• Active dissemination to project stakeholders ensures that the knowledge generated by the project is transferred beyond the promoter to wider business and RDI organisations.