Desk Study - Futures by Design: Background, scope and evaluation strategy

Overcoming SMEs barriers to growth and innovation is then an important goal in any economy. And, indeed innovation in SMEs is one of the thematic focal points of the EU Horizon 2020 programme. The downsides of an SME-dominated economy are felt most saliently in less prosperous, often rural areas. SMEs typically occupy an even more central position in the economic landscape of such regions as large companies tend to cluster in agglomerated, central areas. Also, given the thinner economic network, knowledge about innovation and market developments is less readily available. Finally, access to financing is further hampered as banks typically favour firms in central locations because control on their investments is typically easier.Futures by design, then, aims at contributing to increased innovation and growth potential for SMEs in less prosperous regions in Europe.