In the period 2015-16 consortium partners supported overall 38 SMEs, majority (35) with KAM services and 3 SMEs with services to enhance innovation management capacity in SMEs.
All KAMs present services of Enterprise Europe Network to SME Instrument beneficiaries. SMEs were mostly interested in Individual Advisory Support services to support their own strategies and plans for internationalization and build-up of their own networks and client databases; most support was given in the field of IPR protection (UK, Sweden, Ireland; freedom to operate analysis etc.), information about reliable contacts in foreign countries (e.g. list of architects in Sweden, a list of experts in the fire safety sector, etc.), contacts of stakeholders and legislation in specific fields in Slovenia and abroad (e.g. tunnel operators; fire-safety standardization), revision of business model and key partnerships. Special care was given to invite the beneficiaries to related events being organized by the EEN. We promoted Phase 3 activities organized by EASME, specifically we promoted Overseas trading fairs to SME Instrument beneficiaries from respective field: Bio International Convention (USA), FOE2017 (Japan), IE Expo (China). To our knowledge beneficiaries coming from Slovenia up to now did not participate to the fairs, mostly because theirs products/services being the objective of the projects are underdeveloped for public presentations.
In some of the cases quite significant support was given additionally to KAM services to the SMEs in terms of Individual Advisory Support (EEN’s basic services) with limited success by now. We expect that SME Instrument Phase 2 beneficiaries will be able to demonstrate significantly enhanced growth and profitability once the projects will be finalized. Consortium partners will monitor the progress of SME Instrument beneficiaries and continue to support beneficiaries with EEN services.
SME Instrument is well accepted among Slovenian SMEs due to simple formal procedure and relatively quick evaluation procedures, availability of more cut-off dates during the whole year and wide range of topic. Due to clear goals of Phase I and Phase II projects are easy to understand and consequently the implementation of projects is easier and in-line with companies’ processes. Support of Phase III will be crucial for success of SME Instruments beneficiaries in order to support introduction of products and/or services to the market and also to support needs of growing SMEs for capital, finances and other business support (e.g. talent scouting, IPR, legal counselling on BCC markets etc.).
The importance of SME Instrument was recognized also by Ministry of Economics who will further support this action with the Seal of excellence calls, starting in the beginning of 2017.