During 2015 and 2016, this Consortium has provided individual advisory services over Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla to more than 130 SMEs in order to improve their innovation management capacities. A total of 121 complete cases have been carried out, providing support enhancing innovation management capacities through IMPROVE or IHC tools, and also supporting SMEs on the preparation of their projects under the SME Instrument initiative of the European Commission.
First of all, taking into consideration the Andalusian companies profiles and needs, this Consortium has evaluated the main existing European methodologies, focus to enhance the innovation management capacities into the SMES. As a result of this analysis and in coordination with the Network, the consortium has finally developed two types of services representing the highest valuable to the Andalusian companies: Key Account Management (KAM) and Enhancing Innovation Management Capacities (EIMC).
Taking into account the regional Andalusian Smart Specialization Strategy and the three main pillars of the European Programme ‘Horizon 2020’: Excellent Science, Competitive Industries and Societal Challenges, three type of tools / methodologies have been used during this period: IMP3ROVE and IHC diagnostics for EIMC services; and H2020 ‘CoachCom’ follow up for KAM cases. The main activities carried out during this period (2015-16) have been the following:
• Identification of the different target groups (executed at the beginning of the contract): SME Instrument beneficiaries among other SMEs with significant innovation activities and high potential for internationalization.
• Description of the innovation management tools used in the project's implementation. And more specifically, using the national 166002 standard adapted to the CEN/TS 16555 standards and the IMP3ROVE and IHC Tool: SWOT Analysis; Innovation Management system; Innovation capacities: (Ideas Management, Projects developments, IPR Markets needs and Financial and Non-Financial Indicators) and other specific techniques take into account despite each diagnostic.
• Company visits and calls for interest in order to detect potential companies interested in these types of services.
• Development and assessment of both seven days package services: Enhance SME innovation management capacities (EIMC) and Key Account Management (KAM) over the region covered despite both target groups.
