FET programme is the best way to have good applied research outcomes and to understand what is the potential of being an innovation.
The translation of R&D outcomes into innovation is not easy, and there is a misunderstanding of what is innovation. The best definition of innovation is provided by Oslo Manual, saying the following:

"Innovation is an implementation of new or significantly improved product (service), or process, or marketing method or organizational method for company, market or world."

Following this, innovation is a new idea that is implemented and it will have impact, i.e., we make innovation when we try to put a new idea in the real-environment; otherwise, it is an invention.

Innovation is associated with uncertainty about the results of innovative activities. It is not known in advance what will be the result of innovation activities, for example if R&D will result in the successful development of a marketable product or what is the necessary amount of time and resources to implement a new production process, marketing or production method, or how successful these activities will be.

Innovation requires the use of new knowledge or a new use or combination of existing knowledge. New knowledge can be generated by R&D. The use of new knowledge or the combination of existing knowledge requires innovative efforts that can be distinguished from standardized routines.

In my perspective, from FET project we are not expecting to have the final innovative solution but we should drive the projects for it. That's the big difference of FET programme. 

High applied research outcomes will contribute for the ideation activity, where the innovation starts. Many of these R&D outcomes are considered beyond the state-of-the-art and, consequently, the probability of presenting add-value for the market is increased. Making a benchmarking and identifying the type of innovation, the degree of innovation and the time of innovation, from FET projects we can create an Innovation Pipeline driven by R&D outcomes, where the participants will focus based on some prioritization. This will help to take advantage of the R&D outcomes and to help researchers in focusing on the main important R&D outcomes, preparing R&D for an innovative solution. 

Thus, FET programme is the starting point of the innovation's process.