For both work packages, the network had an initial target of 35 packages, giving an anticipated total of 70 cases. Over the course of 2015-2016, the network provided considerably more services than originally planned. The network has been highly successful in increasing the number of SME applying for the SME Instrument, which is primarily achieved via the strong EEN involvement in the national EU-DK Support mechanism, under the COSME programme, where the EEN is one of the major players. This has resulted in 84 successful SMEI applications, compared with the 35 planned, based on 65 phase 1 and 19 phase 2 applications. It has also resulted in a large number of other H2020 applications from Denmark as a direct result of the COSME services. The two programmes work together in a highly effective manner, both feeding more SME into H2020, but also ensuring that more SME have supplementary services during the process, maximizing their potential.
Examples of successful cases include QuardCard, which demonstrates the cooperation between the COSME and H2020 services and work with internal and external partners. Søren Bjerregaard from NDEU, a senior expert in financing growth in small companies, met Søren Hald Jensen from North Danish SME QuardLock and recognised that the company had great potential under the SME Instrument. He advised them to find a partner to supplement their services and QuardLock teamed up with Frank Sandeløv from fellow Danish SME CardLab to apply for a Phase I project within the “Protection of Urban Soft Targets and Urban Critical Infrastructure 2014/2015”. The purpose was to introduced to develop the most secure credit card ever seen, and on a later stage introduce it to the market. CardLab and QuardLock had a joint vision to bring a disruptive, highly secure smart card to the financial payments market, which is currently facing major increases in fraud levels. Their joint idea QuardCard combines a smart card with all data inside the card, with a biometric fingerprint and a dynamic one-time password, generated by the user’s fingerprint.
The companies were given help and advice on putting the application together, where and how to apply and on improvements to their application. The project was approved and since Copenhagen-based CardLab was now the official contact, Claus Mortensen from ABP, who also worked from the capital city, was allocated as their KAM. After discussions with the two companies, Claus introduced Søren and Frank to Alan Costello, an SME Instrument coach from Ireland with a broad network and insights into the Irish banking industry. Alan facilitated a meeting between CardLab and a large Irish bank, where a cooperation agreement between the two was discussed, but not in the end agreed. CardLab considered however this process really valuable, since it was also important to close doors and focus on the right market approach. The whole process with Alan Costello helped CardLab to gain valuable experience and knowledge on how to deal with potential customers.
At the same time, Claus Mortensen introduced Frank from CardLab to business consultant Hans Christian Andersen from VHHR, host organisation to the Enterprise Europe Network coordination and regional business advisory service for SME in the Capital City Region. Hans Christian has working in the Fintech sector for many years and gave valuable feedback to the business model and the next important steps. Furthermore, Hans Christian introduced Frank to Danish Fintech pundit Henning Jensen who is advising CardLab on how to commercialise the proposed solution. The companies successfully applied to phase II, to bring the product to market. Three different EEN partners were involved in the entire development chain for this process so far, combining skills from both the COSME and H2020 programmes.
