As the previous contract period, the main objective of this project was twofold: on the one hand, to offer services aimed at enhancing the innovation management capacities of SMEs (EIMC services). On the other hand, to support the SME Instrument beneficiaries with the KAM and coaching services, both under the 2017-2018 contract period. These services were addressed to SMEs based in the Brussels-Capital Region and holding significant innovation activities and a high potential for internationalisation. The purpose of the action was contributing to the overarching European purpose of a smart growth, achieved by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation.
For the 2017-2018 period, hub.brussels acted on behalf of the Brussels-based consortium as the service provider of the innovation services dedicated to selected players headquartered in the region, which fulfilled the criteria set for such kind of services.
The success of this action – and therefore the impact generated - is achieved under a qualitative and quantitative points of view.
In terms of QUALITY for the SME-I beneficiaries:
- When granted the 50K for their phase 1 SME-I, the companies immediately had a professional and entitled interlocutor (that’s to say the KAM – Key Accpount Manager) to rely on for needs analysis, identifaction of the most suitable coach, advice on the project deployment and its next steps. This has proven to be very appreciated by the companies.
- Actually, in a very short timeframe, the KAM has been able to assess the main needs of each SME-I beneficiary assigned and identify THE coach that was going help them boost their growth beyond their current boundaries. This has been a sometimes burdensome task for the KAM, but has yielded very good results.
- The feedback on the coaching service has been very positive so far: thanks to the fact that the needs’ analysis was correctly executed and the right coach found, the companies benefited from real-added value for their business
- The KAM’s availability during the coaching process and for the submission of the report at the end of the SME-I phase 1 FS period, has also proven to be efficient for the companies.
In terms of QUALITY for the EIMC services (although premature to assess the long-term impact of services delivered during 2017-2018) :
The benefit to have an objective/external view on:
• where the company stands now and where it wants to be in the future
• Identify the company’s strength and weaknesses in terms of innovation management
• Establish how innovation-oriented the company is
• Bring the company’s innovation capabilities to the next level
• Take decisions based on facts and priority areas for improvement
• Challenge the company’s vision and objectives
• Start-up companies used the services in order to structure their innovation processes.
In terms of QUANTITY:
hub.brussels overachieved the target of completed the KAM service for the SME Instrument beneficiary expected to be granted under the 2017-2018 contract period, with an ovearll of 7 successful cases out of the 2 set as an objective. Several Seals of Excellence in the Brussels Capital Region were as well supported towards other options, including where possible COSME services or discussion with hub.brussels financial experts for further actions (investors/assessment of financial needs) and meeting with NCP-team for signposting to regional funding agency.
For the EIMC services, hub.brussels successfully fulfilled the number of cases opened under the 2017-2018 contract period, and keeping the balance with the SME-I KAM services. Therefore, 12 clients benefitting from these services.
In other terms, since the number of SMEs beneficiaries from WP1 was overachieved (7 achieved versus 2 targeted), the number of WP2 beneficiaries has been adjusted. The total number of beneficiaries WP1 and WP2 was 19 achieved (7 KAM and 12 EIMC) instead of 18 targeted (2 KAM and 16 EIMC).
hub.brussels deployed the action in line with the IS-Implementation Strategy and notably by applying the funnel approach. This approach was adopted both for the communication (general / universal awareness raising on a panoply of supports and channels down to targeted communication to a very precise community of players) and for the identification and above-all selection of companies entitled to access these services.
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The overall purpose of the project is twofold:
1) provide Brussels-based SME with services aimed at enhancing their innovation management capacities
2) provide support to the SME Instrument beneficiaries in order to get them through Phase 1 or Phase 2 projects with the KAM and coach respective help and roles
This double objective intends to contribute to the overarching European purpose of a smart growth, achieved by increasing the efficiency and the effectiveness of investment in research, development and innovation.
The first group of services is intended for SMEs established in the Brussels Capital Region, holding significant innovation activities and with a high potential for internationalisation. These services are focused at increasing the innovation management capacities of these enterprises.
The second group of services is intended for SMEs which have submitted an SME Instrument proposal and have been retained for funding (successful proposers)
For both groups of services, the action is run within the framework of comprehensive service package distributed across these 2 groups of SMEs targeted by this action and in line with the rules set for such packages
This is a progress report, covering the first activity period (2017).
