To this aim, in 2015 the 4 experts involved in the project participated in the training “Introduction to Imp3rove Approach”, 2 of them participated in training related to Action Plan Development and 1 of them participated in the Business Model Innovation training.
All innovation experts, also involved in the COSME EEN service delivery, have actively disseminated the enhancing innovation management capacities service opportunities among SMEs in Macro Region 1 of Romania, via events and through direct contact. By these two means the Consortium recruited potential beneficiaries and selected the suitable ones upon intake assessment interviews.
The Consortium supported fully 12 companies in the 2015-2016 period in corroboration with increased international competitiveness supported through COSME advisory and partnering services.
As a result, the 12 beneficiaries have defined and implemented new processes into their business for structuring their innovation projects and improving their innovation life cycles in order to exploit to the full the knowledge and resources within the company and turn them into value for their existent / future customers. In particular, the support provided helped companies to define clearer targets for their innovation projects to shorten the time-to-market / time-to-profit, to better structure idea generation to fulfill the changing needs of their customers, and to improve their business models. Furthermore 3 more SMEs reached the phase of action plan development and shall implement the proposed action in 2017. Though reluctance of SMEs in South West region was higher than envisaged, other 6 SMEs from South West Region have committed to engage in the process in early 2017, and similarly 7 other SMEs from West Region devoted to undergo the assessment in 2017.
Thus, even the process of raising awareness of the innovation management concept as a whole and the Imp3rove Instrument in particular took considerable time, the results obtained reflect a first success in acquainting the innovative SMEs with the tools and benefits in generating business value and sustaining growth. The experience gathered in the 2015-2016 also brought to the attention of SMEs the gaps in innovation coaching and mentoring available in the regional landscape which the Consortium sought to fill in directly or via signposting. The Imp3rove instrument though complex, has been highly appreciated by the beneficiaries which later agreed to share their experiences to other innovators within the events organized by the Consortium.
TThe EIMC beneficiaries appreciated highly the support in analyzing the report and defining actions to improve the current state. During action plan implementation, 85 % of the EIMC beneficiaries reported that input of the Innovation Consultant was essential. They also acknowledged support contributed greatly to going through the process much faster than it would have gone without the support.
