Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INNO EEN-M (Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs through the Enterprise Europe Network in Macedonia (INNO EEN-M))
Reporting period: 2015-01-01 to 2016-12-31
The services from the INNO EEN-M project provided in 2015-2016 have positive impact and contribution to the overall growth of the companies strengthening their innovation and competitiveness. 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 are being exploited for ensuring high level of confidence and trust.
The Macedonian SMEs were supported and innovation management assessments were delivered. The comprehensive assessment of strengths, gaps and needs of the innovation management potential was performed by the team using the IMP³rove tool as an assessment tool. 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. Key Account Management service was not performed as no Macedonian company was granted beneficiary of SME instrument. Still, this service and its value are well promoted to the potential beneficiaries with high potential for internationalization which is envisaged by high number of applications from Macedonian companies for this Instrument.
The INNO EEN-M project activities have been performed in full alignment with the EEN-M Implementation strategy that provides introducing two distinct types of innovation services. The services provided indicate clearly the links between the proposed activities under the Implementation strategy and Work programme and the new services that are not considered as separate actions but as integral part of the overall action strategy. Furthermore, these services added additional value to the Consortium to perform specific expert innovation services which relate to signposting of EICM clients to other COSME services. Introducing and providing the additional COSME services, two of the EICM clients achieved Partnership agreements in 2016, Partnership profiles have been conducted to six of them and one of them will attend a brokerage event in 2017.
Unfortunately, no Key Account Management for the beneficiaries of the SME instrument service was delivered because none SME from Macedonia was granted SME instrument. Still, the team supports the Macedonian SMEs to apply for SME instrument. The new in-depth service packages increased the awareness about the importance of the development of the innovation management capacities within the SMEs.