Three partners – ATI Küste GmbH, Steinbeis Forschungszentrum Technologiemanagement Nordost and Technologiepark Warnemünde GmbH – worked on both work packages KAM and EIMC. The fourth partner – IHK zu Rostock as the coordinator of EEN M-V consortium – overtook formally the activities of the coordinator also for KAMINO.
Based on the results of the innovation audits, each EIMC client got individually advice aligned to their demands. Clients wishing to apply for the H2020 SME instrument were very closely accompanied due to the complexity of the application and the formal registration requirements. The main focus of the advisory activities was given to SME-support instruments on European, national or Federal state level, in particular for very young SMEs. Furthermore, access to finance was an issue raised by almost every client. Also, consultations related to the protection of IPR or to the improvement of marketing and sales activities were done.
Besides, two KAM-cases were accompanied: ”Bertha G” (phase 1 project) and “willpower” (phase 2 project) of the Gensoric GmbH. Both cases were very tightly accompanied by SFZ. While in phase 1 due to external and time reasons no coaching was possible, in phase 2 Gensoric identified with the support of SFZ even two suitable coaches. For more details please refer to the WP1 reporting.
In WP 2 (EIMC consultancies) 23 regional SME were assessed by P02 (ATI), P03 (SFZ) and P04 (TPW). Regional EEN seminars and workshops as well as direct contacts were used as instruments for identifying of suitable companies. Sometimes, requests from SMEs to other topics were used for the acquisition.
The three partners used the following tools for the assessments:
- ATI-Go-Inno-Tool
- smE-MPOWER Business
Based on the specific of the Federal State economy of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania –with its low concentration of small to very small companies– the identification of enterprises with innovation potential is connected with high efforts by the partners compared with other German regions. Long ways are necessary to visit the companies and to open up their mind for more innovation and internationalization. The fact that the main work force of companies in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania is largely tightly bound to day to day business activities complicated client support actions.
In summary, the project activities that had already been carried out had a positive effect on the companies and their ability and competence in the field of innovation management. The participants could work out solutions in all 23 cases and to influence the work of the respective partners positively. The complementary integration of EEN services to achieve the SME objectives and their active linkage were often decisive for the sustained success of the consultations.
