FONDEN VAEKSTHUS HOVEDSTADSREGIONEN

Their core work

Væksthus Hovedstadsregionen (Copenhagen Growth House) is a Danish regional innovation agency that helps SMEs strengthen their innovation management capabilities. They deliver hands-on support services including innovation health checks, key account management for SME portfolios, and peer-to-peer learning programmes that connect businesses across Europe. Their core work is bridging the gap between innovation policy instruments (like the EU SME Instrument) and the SMEs that need practical guidance to access and benefit from them.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Early work (2015-2017) centred on foundational innovation management — deploying the IMP3rove methodology, building SME innovation capacities, and designing support service frameworks through projects like INNO DK and Peer 4 Inno Manage. From 2018 onward, the focus shifted toward more applied themes: digitalisation support for SMEs, clean production technologies, and hands-on delivery mechanisms like vouchers, twinning, and decentralised training workshops. The trajectory shows a move from designing innovation support systems to actively delivering sector-specific, practical interventions.

Moving from generic innovation capacity building toward sector-specific digital transformation support for SMEs, suggesting future interest in applied technology adoption programmes.

How they like to work

Predominantly a participant (6 of 7 projects), with one coordinator role on the P2P Digital project. With 40 unique partners across 20 countries, they operate as a well-connected node in the European innovation support network rather than a project leader. Their consistent participation in CSA (Coordination and Support Action) projects suggests they are valued for their operational experience in delivering SME services across borders, making them a reliable implementation partner.

Broad European network spanning 40 partners across 20 countries, reflecting their role in pan-European peer learning and innovation agency networks. Their connections are spread wide rather than concentrated in a single region, typical of an organisation that facilitates cross-border knowledge exchange.

What sets them apart

As a regional growth house, they sit at the intersection of public innovation policy and direct SME service delivery — they understand both the EU programme landscape and the practical needs of small businesses. Their repeated involvement in peer learning networks means they bring a ready-made roster of innovation agency contacts across Europe. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: a non-academic, non-commercial partner with deep operational experience in making innovation support programmes work on the ground.

Highlights from their portfolio

• P2P Digital
  Their only coordinator role — a focused project on digitalisation peer learning with vouchers and twinning, showing their strongest thematic ownership.
• INNO DK
  Largest single funding (EUR 166,565 for the 2017-2018 edition), and a recurring national programme running three iterations, indicating sustained trust from funders.
• KET4CleanProduction
  Their longest project (2018-2021) and a departure into manufacturing/clean production, signalling sector diversification beyond pure innovation management.