There were two main objectives the Consortium aimed to achieve by delivering KAM And EIMC services under the project KAM2CentralPoland-2.
The first objective was to ensure that the beneficiaries of the following schemes: SME Instrument (SMEI), Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) and Future and Emerging Technologies Open (FET-Open) received the most appropriate services to enhance the probability of successful exploitation of the innovation project supported by the Instrument with the help of a capable coach. This objective was implemented by the tailor made service of The Key Account Manager (KAM).
A relatively small number of innovation-developing companies in Poland have benefited from H2020 programs such as SMEI, FTI and FET-Open. According to the NCP statistics in the years 2014-2018, 2,969 Polish SMEs applied for grants in H2020 but only 256 SMEs were successful. During the last 5 years, 81 SMEI beneficiaries were offered access to more sophisticated forms of assistance, such as coaching provided by highly specialized international experts. That allowed them to accelerate the process of innovation and quickly deliver their solutions to the international market. Such assistance also helped them to apply for further funding available from public and private sources.
The second objective was to build its own brand of a reliable organization that provided valuable and comprehensive services, which helped to increase the innovation management capacity to the business community, and in particular to innovative SMEs. This objective were implemented by a specially designed activity called Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs (EIMC), addressed to SMEs with a real potential for international growth via product, process, service or business model innovation but lack the knowledge, skills or ability to manage innovation activities.
A lack of capacity for innovation management is recognized as an important barrier which adversely influences the development of SMEs. Most of Polish companies are small, privately owned entities. A majority have advanced their business by introducing new technologies and equipment, but still not a large number of them recognize the need of creating their own products or solutions. These companies usually tap on the low cost of human resources which allows them to compete on local or international markets. Even when welcomed by companies, the innovation process is hard to be initiated. SMEs have limited financial and human resources, and most of them do not know how to identify their strengths and weaknesses. They often struggle with inadequate access to quality consulting and coaching services. These shortcomings were addressed by the EEN-CP consortium providing EIMC services.
Both the KAM and EIMC services were compatible with the general offers of the Consortium partners, which allowed the latter to deliver services targeted at different stages of company development.
