The main objective of the project was to continue the strengthening of international competitiveness and growth of innovative and research-oriented SMEs in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania. In particular, the project focused on the following objectives:
• Key Account Management (KAM) for successful applicants of the SME instrument in HORIZON 2020 (H2020)
• a significant improved structural and strategic innovation management in SMEs, expressed by the number of assessed and advised SMEs (EIMC),
• a better access and an increased participation of SMEs in EEN support services and in EU funding programs, expressed by the number of encouraged SMEs participating in EU funded projects.
Related to KAM service the experts gave competent regional support to the three beneficiaries of the SME instrument for a successful implementation of their funded projects. As a main step to reach success the KAMs acted according to the needs and gaps analyses and linked the company to designated experts in order to cope with analysed shortcomings. The initialized process of coaching was closely accompanied by administrative, technical and sometimes mediation support. Regarding the EIMC service the project partners identified regional innovative SMEs which want to widen their international activities, to enter the international market and/or to improve their innovation management capacities. Together with the companies the EIMC experts analyzed the innovation capacities, innovation processes, innovation strategies and internal organization structures as well as their relation to external innovation partners. Different proven tools were applied by the partners – depending on size and structure of the client, respectively know-how of EIMC staff in tool practice.
As a result of these steps the consultants of the project team could identify gaps and weaknesses and discussed and defined measures and work plans to overcome them. In the further course, recommendations were given to support the SMEs in their efforts to improve detected weaknesses and to give them advice to achieve the jointly defined targets.
