ABOUT IMPULS

Impuls (Innovation in Manufacturers of Products Used in Life Sciences) is a European project part-financed by the Interreg France-Channel-England Programme, to help small and medium businesses (SMEs) from South-East England and North-Western France to collaborate, internationalise and access opportunities on both sides of the Channel.

The project started in June 2021 and ended on January 2023 and was supported by four partners : two Kent City Council (lead partner), South-East Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA) on the British side. On the French side, the partners are Eurasanté and Biotech Santé Bretagne (BSB).

The project set up different actions to promote SMEs’ international development:

1) Training & Information webinars with experts: Market access, regulations, international marketing & communication…
2) Collaboration & Matchmaking platform for French and British SMEs: Pitch & Match sessions, networking
3) International Communication support: Promotional video production for SMEs, Interactive map of French and British companies
4) Free/ reduced rate access to key International tradeshows : physical and digital attendance fees, IMPULS pavilion at Medica 2022.

LEARNINGS FROM IMPULS

Following the end of IMPULS, the partners have considered the learnings and legacy of the project and questioned SMEs on the benefits and challenges they experienced.

Benefits from taking part to IMPULS for companies:

- Establishing international connection with relevant contacts
- Gaining new leads
- Exposure to international network and markets
- Network with existing and new collaborators
- Gaining new knowledge
- International exposure and social media exposure
- Development of new projects

Challenges faced by companies in their internationalisation process:

- Identification of new clients and broadening the existing client base
- Lack of networking opportunities focused on a specific market
- Establishment of credible relationships in various markets and in various regions
- Familiarisation with the regulations in force in different countries

Discover all the learnings of the project on the legacy pages : https://www.kentinternationalbusiness.co.uk/impuls-project/