WP 7 - Exploitation and Business Ecosystems

The present deliverable D7.9, presents the preliminary version of the SPARCS Smart City Technology Radar, reporting the initial SPARCS market analysis activities carried out till M27 of the project’s implementation. The information provided in this document aims to support the project’s partners involved in the development of the various SPARCS Key Exploitable Results (as identified in D7.6), in setting efficient plans and strategies for the exploitation of these results by gaining a better understanding of the present market conditions and delving deeper into gaining further insights of the competition at various
market levels.

The overall goal of the activities reported in this document is to offer a thorough methodology for the market analysis efforts carried out in SPARCS, as well as create a link to the project’s exploitation activities. The activities described in the proposed methodology aim at providing a better understanding of how the SPARCS outcomes might be positioned as viable solutions in existing markets, by initially presenting the relevant target markets and their segments of interest. Upon presenting the SPARCS market analysis methodology, D7.9 provides a preliminary analysis for the market segments associated with the SPARCS KERs, by identifying key regulatory framework, their respective sizes, as well as trends and markets dynamics. Each market analysis is supplemented by a PESTEL analysis, informing further on current trends and external factors that can pose a threat to the business value of the SPARCS solutions. The next part of the work includes studying of the market competition landscape, identifying the current market competition, recognising rival commercial products/solutions and evaluating their key features. This analysis is supplemented by a SWOT analysis of the SPARCS KERs towards ensuring a clear differentiation from the competitions while ensuring that SPARCS outcomes are on par with the competition.

The updated versions of this document, namely D7.10 – SPARCs Smart City Technology Radar – updated version 1 and D7.11 – SPARCs Smart City Technology Radar – updated version 2; will report on the updated market intelligence activities till M40 and M60 respectively. The knowledge presented in the current deliverable will be further expanded with new market data and financial information such as costs and operational expenses, profitability and overall investment needs, available regulatory frameworks in the targeted geographic segments, etc.; based on the involved partners research on the targeted markets dynamics and respective competition. All this information will provide input to the definition of the SPARCS Business Innovation Plan due in M60 of the project’s implementation.