‘Key account management’ for the SME Instrument beneficiaries and ‘Enhancing SME innovation management capacity’ as new proinnovative services for SMEs in the regions of Southern Poland

Project Information

KAM2SouthPL2

Grant agreement ID: 737550

DOI

10.3030/737550

Project closed

EC signature date 14 February 2017

Start date 1 January 2017

End date 31 December 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 152 835,00

EU contribution

€ 152 835,00

Coordinated by

SWIETOKRZYSKIE CENTRUM INNOWACJI ITRANSFERU TECHNOLOGII SP(ZOO)
Poland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - KAM2SouthPL2 (‘Key account management’ for the SME Instrument beneficiaries and ‘Enhancing SME innovation management capacity’ as new proinnovative services for SMEs in the regions of Southern Poland)

Reporting period: 2017-01-01 to 2018-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The geographical area covered by the Consortium are four Polish regions of Southern part of the country. At the moment of proposal submission for the project, on all calls of the program Horizon 2020 only few companies Poland were beneficiaries of the SME Instrument.
Lack of capacity in innovation management was recognized as an important barrier in the process of creating economic impact on innovation activities in SMEs. The crucial area (skills, innovation and exploiting potential of foreign markets) of the Polish SMEs are chronically underperforming what reflects in Poland’s position (3rd from last, ex aequo with Croatia) on the European Innovation Scoreboard 2017. The project was addressed to the specific challenge and the scope of the topic, as set in the work programme, and has foreseen offering mentoring and coaching services to beneficiaries who needed the support in the innovative development, including elaborating strategy of innovation. This project provided high quality innovation support services for SMEs where these were absent or unaffordable on the local markets. The project aimed to support projects with an European dimension that would lead to radical changes in how business (product, processes, services, marketing etc.) is done.
The general objective of the project was to contribute to smart growth of four Southern regions of Poland by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development, innovation and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of links along the innovation chain and by this – to contribute to the smart growth of the European Union.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Workload in the project was divided into two Work Packages:

WP1 Key Account Management services for the beneficiaries of the SMEs Instrument
The work was performed according to the steps as follows (as planned in DoA):
SME Instrument Phase I:
- Step 1: Assess SME gaps and needs (0.5 day)
- Step 2: Identification and selection of one or more coach(es) (1 day)
- Step 3: Facilitate coach-SME interactions to prepare coaching plan (1 day)\
SME Instrument Phase II:
- Step 4: Facilitate the interaction between the coach(es), the SME and the central management body of the SME Instrument (4 days)
- Step 5: Close coaching case and initiate next steps (0.5 day)
9 KAM services were planned to be realised in 2017-2018 by Consortium members. 10 services were initiated but 3 were completed within 2017 for companies representing smart specialisations of respective regions: ICT, health.

WP2 Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity for innovating SMEs
For each service Partners realised activities within 4 main steps:
- Step 1: Assessment of the current status of the innovation management system in the company
- Step 2: Needs/gaps analysis and action plan development
- Step 3: Action plan implementation
- Step 4: Final report/closing of the project.
111 EIMC services were planned to be realised in 2017-2018 by Consortium members. 98 services were provided but 90 were completed within reporting period. 8 services were started in reporting period but not completed yet. Consortium Partners expect to deliver these services in 2019. Also 3 services started in 2016 were completed in reporting period. The diagnostic tool used for the service delivery were IMP3rove and Innovation Health Check.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Overall 93 SMEs were supported with one of services.
The main impact on clients who got KAM and EIMC services was the improvement of innovation management capacity, better understanding of innovation management, preparation of written innovation management strategy, engagement of employers in realisation of innovative ideas, cooperation with new partners like universities, R&D centres and external experts, preparation of applications to SME Instrument phase I and II. Moreover the improvement of the visibility of the Network and its specialisation in the field of innovation support for companies was observed. The consequence of action taken for companies is already or is expected to be the increase in turnover, creation of new jobs, and more invisible and competitive position on the market.
As the consequence of EIMC services 4 companies prepared application for SME Instrument and 14 clients prepared projects under national calls within Regional Programmes. 1 of them was awarded with Seal of Excellence (and gained financing from National Operational Programme) rest of them was awarded with grants from regional programmes. 4 companies submitted applications to the patent office
9 ASOs in total were reported within COSME project. Also 2 success stories were submitted within COSME project related to successful links with KAM services.