BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS: An explorative study into the barriers experienced when accessing and managing national government incentives for circular innovation

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2020-07-07
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en
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The purpose of this research was to understand the process of accessing and managing national government incentives for circular innovation and the barriers that managers of SMEs experience in the process of obtaining these. This explorative research was carried out through a multiple case study, in which managers of Dutch SMEs operating in the manufacturing industry were interviewed. Additionally, experts from an intermediary that assists SMEs with the obtainment of government incentives and experts from a valley organisation specialized in the CE were researched. This resulted in a description of the process of obtaining government incentives and an understanding of the barriers that match the two moments, accessing and managing government incentives. Accessing government incentives exists of the steps obtaining information, go/no-go decision (by intermediary), administrative requirements, submit application and go/no-go decision (by government). Managing government incentives exists of the steps managing the government incentive and finishing the government incentive project. Government incentives for circular innovation are similar to government incentives for regular innovation. The experienced barriers when accessing government incentives are: the managers expectations regarding chance, the managers expectations regarding eligibility, the lack of information, the lack of knowledge and capabilities within the organization, the lack of need for the incentive and the administrative burden. The only barrier experienced when managing government incentives is the administrative burden. Furthermore, this research highlights the importance of the intermediary in the process. The types of intermediaries that SMEs use are: branch organisations, a commercial organisation, an individual such as a product designer, a university/research institution or a valley organisation. The intermediary influences the relationship between some of the experienced barriers and the access to government incentives in several ways. The barriers influenced by the use of an intermediary are: the managers expectations regarding chance and eligibility, the information available and the administrative burden
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen