Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs through the Enterprise Europe Network in Macedonia (INNO-EEN 2014)

Project Information

INNO-EEN 2014

Grant agreement ID: 643287

DOI

10.3030/643287

Project closed

EC signature date 5 December 2014

Start date 1 July 2014

End date 31 December 2014

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 3 937,50

EU contribution

€ 3 150,00

Coordinated by

Ss. CYRIL AND METHODIUS UNIVERSITY IN SKOPJE
North Macedonia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INNO-EEN 2014 (Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs through the Enterprise Europe Network in Macedonia (INNO-EEN 2014))

Reporting period: 2014-07-01 to 2014-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The INNO-EEN 2014 project delivered 7-days service packages thus increasing the economic returns from innovation and enhancing the innovation management capacities to the selected four SMEs. The innovation support services brought an added- value to the standard services of the Enterprise Europe Network in Macedonia ensuring synergy with the business, technology transfer and R&D services. The newly innovation support services are now strongly integrated into the existing EEN services and enable creation of linkages with innovation, technology and research related services. The services have positive impact and contribution to the overall growth of the companies strengthening their innovation and competitiveness. The project contributed to the objectives by improving the necessary tools and knowledge of the local EEN for implementation of the specific services in the context of innovation support. The project met the general and strategic objectives of the call by creating baseline for accelerating the economic returns from improved innovation skills, processes, utilization of innovative ideas and quality improvements.
Common practices and Code of Conduct already used within Enterprise Europe Network are being exploited for ensuring high level of confidence and trust.
Four Macedonian SMEs were supported and delivered innovation management assessment. The comprehensive assessments of strengths, gaps and needs of the innovation management potential was performed by the team using the IMP³rove tool as an assessment tool. This tool provided transparency on the companies’ innovation management performances.
Direct consulting support was provided to the companies for facilitating the process of creation and commercialization of new innovations. Additionally, the SMEs training needs related to innovation management was measured.
No company was performed Key Account Management service as no Macedonian company was granted beneficiary of SME instrument.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The INNO-EEN 2014 project delivered 7-day innovation service packages to four innovative SMEs. Through a transparent and clear process the most appropriate and promising SMEs were selected and the team performed comprehensive assessment of strengths, gaps and needs of the innovation management potential and capacities of the SMEs . One team member attended training on IMP³rove tool and the team used this tool as a diagnostic tool for the innovation management capacity assessment. Four final reports on the innovation management service packages were delivered using this tool. The IMP³rove assessment reports showed the companies' performances in the IMP³rove Assessment. The companies had the opportunity to gain in-depth information about the strengths and weakness in their innovation management capacity. After conducting the IMP³rove assessments with four selected companies with significant innovation potential and potential for internationalization, the team developed four jointly agreed Actions plans for each of the company. Each Action plan presents the as-it-state, the desired to-be state and the activities that the company will undertake to achieve the to-be state. All other EEN services and support are accompanied to the Action plans. The team arranged meetings with the companies to jointly agree on implementation of action plans.
Direct consulting support was provided to the companies to find project partners to take part in Horizon 2020 and other EU programmes. Additionally, the presentation on the SME instrument was conducted and the team organized meetings for the company with the NCP for SMEs and Access to finance. The team supported the companies to apply for the SME instrument.
The team provided support for facilitating the process of creation and commercialization of new innovations. The team made available the necessary tools and knowledge for implementation of the specific activities in the context of innovation support. Additionally, the SMEs training needs related to innovation management was measured.
No Key Account Management for the beneficiaries of the SME instrument service was delivered because none SME from Macedonia was granted SME instrument.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The innovation support service made relevant impact in terms of increasing the competitiveness, entering new markets and improvement of the innovation management capacities of the SMEs. This has several effects on organizational and industry level. It helped to the SMEs to clearly identify their position regarding their innovation management capabilities. What is done well and where improvements need to be made. Through the inclusion of more SMEs a momentum is created that on medium and long run will require every SME that wants to internationally and be innovative to evaluate it capabilities and make justified decisions on how to proceed. This will result in increase of the possibility for successful innovation and internationalization of the SMEs. The SMEs are now valuable and subject to intellectual property right and IP assets. The European-added value and provisioning of high quality innovation services on enhancing the innovation management capacities of the SMEs create synergy for maximizing the impact of these services.
The new in-depth service packages increased the awareness about the importance of the development of the innovation management capacities within the SMEs.

IMProve assessment reporting