Innovation

In tourism, innovation can involve, for example:

• technology: e.g. using new communication technologies for on-line promotion, reservation and payment of hotel rooms.
   
• materials: e.g. a new lighter weight steel alloy, a more robust gearbox and stronger tires giving a better grip on muddy paths together add up to a mountain bike.
   
• service: e.g. Rain Forest theming of a cafe-restaurant to give "Rain Forest Cafés".
   
• market: e.g. offering school farm trips on the same model as school seaside or skiing trips
     
• personnel management: e.g. inviting farm visitors to pick their own raspberries.
   
• financing: e.g. selling regional produce for a set monthly sum.

Our mission:

• Using "benchmarking" and technology watch to identify examples of good practice and quickly track down tools we can transpose to our product or territory, from anywhere in the world.
   
• Looking, together with the entrepreneur, for ways of strengthening existing or gaining new know-how, production tools and physical facilities. Looking with him for ways of distinguishing him from the competition and giving him a competitive advantage in developing and bringing to market new products or services.
   
• Identifying regional and European financial aid for innovation and technological transfer, enabling companies to sub-contract the product research and development work to a consultant or research centre, or hire in an expert to develop an innovative technology or service.
   
• Identifying, putting together and managing regional development financing dossiers for municipalities and inter-municipal organisations, and private and public associations, e.g. Interreg III, Leader+, Innovative Actions, etc...

Examples of aid packages available in the Walloon Region: