Periodic Reporting for period 1 - KAM2CY3 (Key Services for Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity of SMEs in Cyprus through the local member of Enterprise Europe Network – KAM2CY3)
Reporting period: 2017-01-01 to 2018-12-31
The objective of the project was the provision of high-quality innovation management capacity assessment and support services to SMEs in Cyprus aiming at the enhancement of competitiveness, smart growth and profitability of SMEs. Moreover, the project focused on creating a better understanding and implementation of the fundamental principles of innovation management and their better integration in the value chain of local SMEs.
The services were provided by the Research Promotion Foundation (RPF), Coordinator of the “Business Support Centre for Cyprus”, which is the Cypriot member of the Enterprise Europe Network (Enterprise Europe Network Cyprus or EEN-Cy is the new brand name of the local consortium). RPF has already provided relevant services through preceding projects funded by EC (KAM2CY in 2014 and KAM2CY2 in 2015-16).
The project targeted two groups of SMEs with a separate package of services, as described below:
(a) Beneficiaries of H2020 SME Instrument Program
Key Account Management (KAM) services were provided, aiming to:
• identify weaknesses in SMEs’ innovation capacity and bottlenecks in their innovation management approach hindering realisation of growth opportunities;
• identify suitable coaches to address the identified weaknesses through tailor-made coaching activities;
• provide support and accompany the SME throughout the implementation of the SME instrument project, facilitating SME needs for further funding, financing and support;
During the implementation of the project, RPF was informed that SME beneficiaries of FIT and FET Open projects would be also eligible for KAM Services.
(b) Promising SMEs with potential for growth via innovation
Services for enhancing innovation management capacity (EIMC services) were provided as follows:
• diagnostic audit / assessment of the innovation management capacity of each SME involved,
• root/ cause analysis of the audit results,
• development of a tailor-made action plan,
• assistance provision in action plan implementation and monitoring.
The project foresaw the provision of 15 service packages, with initial projection for 5 KAM service packages and 10 EIMC service packages.
The services were provided by the Research Promotion Foundation (RPF), Coordinator of the “Business Support Centre for Cyprus”, which is the Cypriot member of the Enterprise Europe Network (Enterprise Europe Network Cyprus or EEN-Cy is the new brand name of the local consortium). RPF has already provided relevant services through preceding projects funded by EC (KAM2CY in 2014 and KAM2CY2 in 2015-16).
The project targeted two groups of SMEs with a separate package of services, as described below:
(a) Beneficiaries of H2020 SME Instrument Program
Key Account Management (KAM) services were provided, aiming to:
• identify weaknesses in SMEs’ innovation capacity and bottlenecks in their innovation management approach hindering realisation of growth opportunities;
• identify suitable coaches to address the identified weaknesses through tailor-made coaching activities;
• provide support and accompany the SME throughout the implementation of the SME instrument project, facilitating SME needs for further funding, financing and support;
During the implementation of the project, RPF was informed that SME beneficiaries of FIT and FET Open projects would be also eligible for KAM Services.
(b) Promising SMEs with potential for growth via innovation
Services for enhancing innovation management capacity (EIMC services) were provided as follows:
• diagnostic audit / assessment of the innovation management capacity of each SME involved,
• root/ cause analysis of the audit results,
• development of a tailor-made action plan,
• assistance provision in action plan implementation and monitoring.
The project foresaw the provision of 15 service packages, with initial projection for 5 KAM service packages and 10 EIMC service packages.
The project was executed successfully with the provision of seven (7) KAM Service packages (6 completed cases and 1 on going) and eight (8) EIMC service packages (5 completed cases and 3 on going), reaching the target of total fifteen (15) service packages (11 completed and 4 pending completion).
The initial target for the provision of KAM services (WP1) was the delivery of five (5) service packages, depending on the evaluation results of the H2020 SME Instrument proposals. During KAM2CY3 project, RPF completed the provision of KAM services to six (6) SME beneficiaries of the H2020 SME Instrument (SMEI) Phase I and to one (1) SME Beneficiary of a FET Open project, which is still on going.
Within the duration of the project and the context of EIMC services (WP2), the innovation management capacity assessment was conducted for seven (7) companies with the support of the IMP3rove assessment methodology and one (1) using the smE-MPOWER Tool. Communication with a number of SMEs that expressed an interest to receive EIMC services but did not manage to respond within project duration is foreseen to continue within the new project in 2019.
RPF considers that its service provision and implementation strategy were successful and have produced good results overall. Recipients of the service packages were all satisfied with the provided services as well as the opportunities and synergies that their interaction with EEN-Cy produced.
The initial target for the provision of KAM services (WP1) was the delivery of five (5) service packages, depending on the evaluation results of the H2020 SME Instrument proposals. During KAM2CY3 project, RPF completed the provision of KAM services to six (6) SME beneficiaries of the H2020 SME Instrument (SMEI) Phase I and to one (1) SME Beneficiary of a FET Open project, which is still on going.
Within the duration of the project and the context of EIMC services (WP2), the innovation management capacity assessment was conducted for seven (7) companies with the support of the IMP3rove assessment methodology and one (1) using the smE-MPOWER Tool. Communication with a number of SMEs that expressed an interest to receive EIMC services but did not manage to respond within project duration is foreseen to continue within the new project in 2019.
RPF considers that its service provision and implementation strategy were successful and have produced good results overall. Recipients of the service packages were all satisfied with the provided services as well as the opportunities and synergies that their interaction with EEN-Cy produced.
The implementation of the project has helped the involved SMEs to improve and increase their innovation activities and understand better the potential benefits from the enhancement of their innovation capacity. SME Instrument and FET Open beneficiaries were helped with coaching and guidance for their future activities and the feedback received from them was extremely positive. The general feeling is that the coaching helped them to better exploit their innovation results. EIMC services to promising SMEs with potential for growth via innovation provided them with a better understanding of the benefits of innovation and of the current state of their innovation management capacity. The resulting discussion, report and action plans caused the SME’s to improve their innovation management, get more involved with innovation activities and gradually improve their processes and procedures. Additionally, a number of SME’s were interested in participating in SMEI Phase II, and advisory and support services were provided to them by the SME NCP, who is also member of the project’s implementation team.
Moreover, synergies emerging from the rest of the services provided by the EEN-Cy were exploited in order to enhance impact on the SMEs. Clients receiving KAM and EIMC services as well as a number of SMEI participants receiving a “Seal of Excellence” were introduced and directed towards the wide range of services provided through the Enterprise Europe Network such as partnering activities (participation in brokerage events, profile creation and dissemination), provision of support in relation to their participation in national Research and Innovation funding Programs and the H2020, including SME Instrument calls as well as other innovation and business opportunities. At least 3 SMEI participants receiving Seal of excellence and 5 EIMC beneficiaries participated in National R & I Funding schemes, and 4 have already secured national funding.
Moreover, synergies emerging from the rest of the services provided by the EEN-Cy were exploited in order to enhance impact on the SMEs. Clients receiving KAM and EIMC services as well as a number of SMEI participants receiving a “Seal of Excellence” were introduced and directed towards the wide range of services provided through the Enterprise Europe Network such as partnering activities (participation in brokerage events, profile creation and dissemination), provision of support in relation to their participation in national Research and Innovation funding Programs and the H2020, including SME Instrument calls as well as other innovation and business opportunities. At least 3 SMEI participants receiving Seal of excellence and 5 EIMC beneficiaries participated in National R & I Funding schemes, and 4 have already secured national funding.