The Consortium AURASME successfully implemented specific support services to help high potential SMEs to improve Innovation Management Capacity and increase efficiency in SME projects and foster their impact.
However, due to several circumstances, specially turnover, the forecast objectives for EIMC were only partially achieved but partners have already taken measures in order to avoid this problem and improve in the next program. EIMC services require very high qualifications and a specific training to the Check innov tool. All the staff has already been trained and several cases are already ongoing in the actual period.
Concerning the KAM, the Consortium provide the service to all the beneficiaries in our region. Clients are very satisfied with the service. Some events with beneficiaries were organized by the partners in order to raise awareness, share experiences and facilitate the access to potential new beneficiaries.
The Consortium AURASME has the following particularities:
- Strong experience and solid know-how of the staff allow the implementation of these high added value services and an accurate selection of SMEs.
- The tool Checkinnov, developed by the former partner 4 (now P1 CCIR Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) was positively evaluated by the Agency (from the pilot action in 2014), the consortium and many French Enterprise Europe Network partners and clients in terms of efficiency and accuracy. The tool and methodology is also implemented by several Consortia in France and a community of practice was set up.
- Coordination and exchange of experiences within the consortium and the Network and with Stakeholders in innovation in the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The Consortium is also in the process of integrating the EIMC service in several regional support schemes.
- Strong link with Enterprise Europe Network COSME has been set up in particular for the first contact and the promotion of the action: events and communication support... For instance, some beneficiaries of the SME Instrument participated in the brokerage event Green Days in order to find partners.
In the short term, the impact of this action is to raise awareness of companies on innovation management capacity and foster the success of the SME instrument projects. The long term impact for SMEs is still difficult to measure. However, companies have shown a great interest and motivation, and the Consortium will continue to follow this impact in the next program.
