Beyond technology: INNOCAP shows how public organisations must restructure to enable disruptive innovation

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The INNOCAP report highlights how internal capacity, governance and long‑term planning shape real digital transformation.

05 February 2026 - INNOCAP project

The INNOCAP Lessons Learnt Report delivers a clear message: digital transformation in the Northern Periphery and Arctic regions succeeds not because of advanced tools, but because public organisations are structurally prepared to adopt them. While the project explored artificial intelligence, IoT, GIS and digital platforms, the report highlights that technology alone is not enough. Innovation takes root only when institutions strengthen their internal processes, governance models and staff capacity.

Through four pilots in Iceland, Finland, Ireland and Sweden, INNOCAP found that organisations advance faster when they designate internal innovation champions with time and authority to guide experimentation. The report also warns of the recurring “post-project cliff,” stressing the need to integrate maintenance, data management and operational support into long-term budgets from the start.

Policy alignment emerges as another decisive factor. Even well-functioning solutions fail to scale without support from decision makers or integration into existing strategies. Pilots that linked their services to climate plans, digital transformation agendas or regional priorities demonstrated stronger paths to sustainability.

The report further highlights the value of simple governance structures: short, focused check-ins, clear responsibilities and streamlined decision-making helped teams maintain momentum despite limited staff resources. INNOCAP also emphasises planning for replication early in the process, ensuring that templates, datasets and process guides are available for other authorities wishing to adopt similar solutions.

INNOCAP concludes by offering a practical methodology that helps public organisations innovate under real-world constraints. Sustainable digital transformation, it argues, relies on people, culture and long-term commitment rather than technology alone. With organisational readiness, policy alignment and structured support, disruptive innovation becomes both achievable and scalable across the region.

Access the full report and all outputs through the link below: https://www.interreg-npa.eu/projects/innocap/home/outputs-results/

Click here to email Adrián Vázquez at ERNACT for further information

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