The Tandem project stimulates and encourages a sustainable cross-border cooperation between the various stakeholders of the knowledge and industrial sectors. The cross-border regions of West-Flanders and Nord-Pas de Calais have significant social-economic similarities. Both regions dispose of an industrial fabric that is strongly oriented towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and are active in the same industrial sectors. To support the businesses in their innovation potential, the partners create tandems between knowledge institutions, companies and centres of expertise.