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.
