Establishing services enhancing the innovation management capacity of South West France SMEs

Project Information

MAGIC SWF SMEs II

Grant agreement ID: 672664

DOI

10.3030/672664

Project closed

EC signature date 23 September 2015

Start date 1 January 2015

End date 31 December 2016

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 246 670,94

EU contribution

€ 246 670,94

Coordinated by

CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE ET D'INDUSTRIE DE REGION OCCITANIE
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MAGIC SWF SMEs II (Establishing services enhancing the innovation management capacity of South West France SMEs)

Reporting period: 2015-01-01 to 2016-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The objectives of this project were to make the innovation system in small and medium size companies more efficient by providing the following services:
- Key Account Management (KAM) services to beneficiaries of the SME Instrument of Horizon 2020
- Enhancing Innovation management capacity (EIMC) in highly innovative SMEs having a high potential for internationalization.

5 partners of the consortium have been delivering the services planned and in total 61 services have been implemented through the 2015-2016 period: 60 SMES have started their innovation management development journey of which 14 were beneficiaries of the SME Instrument (to be noted that 1 SME has been awarded phase 1 and phase 2).

For the beneficiaries of the SME Instrument to whom KAM service packages have been delivered: 14 Needs & Gaps analysis have been conducted and 13 coaches were assigned. Some KAM services are still on-going.
Nearly all SMEs supported were already clients of the Enterprise Europe Network. The Network advisers even supported some SMEs in their SME Instrument application and the KAM service has strengthened the relationship between the SME manager and the Network.

For the beneficiaries of the EIMC service packages: 46 packages have been conducted using 2 tools (IMP3rove, Check’Innov), compliant with CEN/TS18555-1 standard. The satisfactory surveys conducted for each beneficiary of a service package show a high level of satisfaction at the end of the service. Some EIMC services are still on-going.

The companies which benefitted from the services have gained increased awareness of the importance of innovation capacity building activities and the innovation support (including assessment and coaching) offered by the European union via the Enterprise Europe Network.

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

In total 61 services have been implemented through the 2015-2016 period and 60 SMES have started their innovation management development journey.

** KAM service:
14 SMEs served (representing 15 cases as 1 SME won phase 1 and phase 2)
- 10 SMEs for a phase 1 project
- 5 SMEs for a phase 2 project
Coaching activities realised:
- 9 business coaching activities
- 2 cooperation coaching activities
- 2 organisation coaching activities


** EIMC service:
- the service has been promoted to 79 SMEs
- 46 SMEs accepted the service
Main topics addressed in action plans
- Technical, competitive and strategic watch
- Innovation strategy
- Key performance indicators
- Financing innovation
- Company partners’ network
- Design
Types of innovation identified: Incremental innovation is far the most represented type of innovation

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)

Partners increased their skills in terms of diagnostic tools (IMP3rove, Check'Innov, SME-Mpower) and in terms of implementation of methologies for innovation management (Business Model Canvas, Blue Ocean strategy, Design Thinking...)

Beneficiaries of the service were able to build or strengthen their strategy in order to increase their SME competitivity.

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