SME Instrument for Innovative Companies from Latvia

Project Information

InnoSME-LV

Grant agreement ID: 643358

DOI

10.3030/643358

Project closed

EC signature date 14 November 2014

Start date 1 July 2014

End date 31 December 2014

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 7 875,00

EU contribution

€ 6 300,00

Coordinated by

LATVIJAS TEHNOLOGISKAIS CENTRS NODIBINAJUMS
Latvia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - InnoSME-LV (SME Instrument for Innovative Companies from Latvia)

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

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The overall objective of the project SME Instrument for Innovative Companies from Latvia “InnoSME-LV” was to contribute to smart growth in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the innovation chain. The offered services was delivered in the geographical area NUTS1 region - Latvia by EEN-Latvia Consortium partner – Latvian Technological Center (EEN-Latvia/LTC).
The successfully fulfilled project differentiate between the case level of the innovation project led by the SME - beneficiary of the SME instrument of the Horizon 2020 and in intervention at the corporate level in the case of high innovation and internationalisation potential SMEs. The nature of barriers and challenges related to each situation is different:
• on the case level they are related to a search of a viable business models of the new offering or process to be developed in the course of the project;
• on the corporate dimension of the SME the challenges are in the organizational practices and culture that can slow down future innovation projects or ability to benefit to full extent from their results.
To achieve this, the following objectives were foreseen:
Objective 1: To support SMEs, as the beneficiaries of the SME Instrument to identify bottlenecks to the creation of economic impact in companies benefitting from grants by Horizon2020's SME instrument and address these bottlenecks with the help of capable coaches.
Objective 2: To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation processes in small and medium sized enterprises with significant innovation activities that could potentially become beneficiaries of European support to research and innovation but would not have effective access to consulting services for innovation management.
Unfortunately none of SMEs from Latvia succeed in Horizon 2020 SME Instrument application for Phase 1 or Phase 2 (objective 1).
Therefore all the efforts were forwarded to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation processes in SME with significant innovation activities (objective 2). In total six seven-day service packages were delivered to SMEs from various industry sectors.

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 project consists of two work packages: WP1 and WP2. The management of these work packages was integrated as a part of EEN-Latvia/LTC management activities, and the services was offered in parallel to usual EEN services. The awareness rising of the SME Instrument and offered services Key account management and Enhancing SME innovation management capacity was achieved by using EEN-Latvia advertisement services: press releases, webpage een.lv innovation.lv EEN-Latvia newsletter, etc.
The project was started from 1 July, 2014 and ended in December, 2014, in total 6(six) month. During the project implementation in total 6(six) cases were performed. Each case took seven days.
The selection of beneficiaries - SMEs was made by consensus between all senior Enterprise Europe Network innovations experts nominated for these in-depth services.
Work package 1 (WP1), included Phase 1 and Phase 2 of key account management (KAM) functions of SME instrument. WP1 was started from the beginning of the project – month 1 (M1) and was active till the end of the project M6..
Service packages not required to deliver KAM services was expected to use in WP2, to help particularly promising SMEs enhance their innovation management capacities. The purpose of this activity was to carry out a diagnostic audit of selected SMEs that are capable for growth and successful internationalisation. This required developing and implementing a new tailored action plan. WP 2 started from M4 as it was planned. At this moment LTC had a more clear vision about number of service packs available for WP2.
The main results of the action, innovation capacity was increased in 6(six) beneficiaries – SMEs. This was achieved by delivery six seven-day specialised service packages to innovative SMEs. It is foreseen that delivered services will help SMEs better prepare H2020 SME Instrument project applications, foster development of new innovative technologies and services, increase competitiveness on the global market.

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 undertaken actions –service packages gave a significant impact for SMEs. The company innovation capacity was raised. Three of the companies, which were coached, started new innovation processes. Two other companies, to be more competitive on the global market, decided to join Horizon 2020 projects.

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