Business Innovation Support Network for the Czech Republic – Enhancing the innovation management capacities of SMEs by EEN in 2014

Project Information

BISONet-Enh2014

Grant agreement ID: 643335

DOI

10.3030/643335

Project closed

EC signature date 21 November 2014

Start date 1 May 2014

End date 31 December 2014

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 86 625,00

EU contribution

€ 69 300,00

Coordinated by

TECHNOLOGICKE CENTRUM PRAHA ZSPO
Czechia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BISONet-Enh2014 (Business Innovation Support Network for the Czech Republic – Enhancing the innovation management capacities of SMEs by EEN in 2014)

Reporting period: 2014-05-01 to 2014-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The availability of the services in the area of innovation management in the Czech Republic has been so far very limited. If the services are offered, their quality differs substantially, and sometime the price is so high that especially small companies cannot afford it. The project „BISONet –Enh-2014“ main objective was to introduce the service in the area of innovation management and that was reached. The standardised service was introduced and 26 companies in the Czech Republic benefited from the service.

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 Czech SMEs did not succeed in the first cut-off of SME Instrument programme, therefore no services of Key Account Management were provided by the end of 2014. The work provided focused on establishing standardised system and delivering the service of „Enhancing SME innovation management capacity“ to Czech SMEs. In total 42 companies were offered the service, in 26 companies the analysis using smE-MPOWER was carried out and based on their results corresponding action plans were developed by EEN senior innovation specialists in close cooperation with directors/owners of the SMEs. Due to time constraints only 5 cases were finalised by the end of 2014.

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)

We understand “socio-economic impact” as a goal level change in the assets, capabilities, and opportunities of companies utilizing SME Instrument.
As the Czech SMEs did not succeed in the first cut-off of SME Instrument programme, there were no Key Account Management services provided by the end of 2014. Therefore no measurable socio-economic impacts are to be reported; it is too early to call.
At the end of the service there was always an interview undertaken with the representative of the company who judged the quality of service as well as the short-term impact on the company. From the interviews have been hold so far following impact was mentioned: creation of new jobs (as stated by CEO of one of the interviewed companies); change of company structure, more efficient set-up of processes (better definition of competencies and responsibilities) and optimisation of production processes.

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