Enhancing Innovation Management Capacities and Key Account Management (KAM) services for Greek SMEs

Project Information

Enhancement SGA2

Grant agreement ID: 743829

DOI

10.3030/743829

Project closed

EC signature date 21 June 2017

Start date 1 January 2017

End date 31 December 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 136 377,09

EU contribution

€ 136 376,89

Coordinated by

ETHNIKO KENTRO TEKMIRIOSIS KAI ILEKTRONIKOU PERIECHOMENOU
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Enhancement SGA2 (Enhancing Innovation Management Capacities and Key Account Management (KAM) services for Greek SMEs)

Reporting period: 2017-01-01 to 2018-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The Enterprise Europe Network-Hellas is a well-placed, highly-skilled and experienced network of experts and organisations that works in close proximity to Greek SMEs. It has advanced its support to innovative companies by providing complementary services for the enhancement of their innovation management capacity. The project supported Greek beneficiaries of the SME Instrument as well as SMEs with potential for international growth to raise their competitiveness and profitability. Its services addressed all stages of the innovation management system, including the innovation process from idea generation/management to innovation results, leadership, innovation culture, innovation strategy, economic return/impact of the innovation, and other enabling factors, such as collaboration with R&D partners, clients and suppliers.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Qualified senior innovation experts provided comprehensive services tailor-made to every company’s needs. Referring to the ‘Key Account Management (KAM)’ services for the Greek beneficiaries of the SME Instrument (both Phase I and Phase II), the Enterprise Europe Network experts, as Key Account Managers, supported SMEs to identify weaknesses in their innovation capacity, sourced appropriate coaches, implemented their projects and exploited the results for sustainable growth and international presence. KAMs also moderated the coach-client relation, monitored client satisfaction throughout the process and established links with standard Network services. EIMC services were used to help SMEs with significant innovation activities and with a clear export orientation and internationalisation potential. The suitable SMEs received diagnostic audits on their innovation management capacity as defined by the relevant European standards. A tailored action plan to improve the company’s capacity to manage innovation was subsequently prepared.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Good practices and experiences have been shared among the beneficiaries through training and consortium meetings. All EEN-Hellas partners were advised on the results of the innovation management services and their input was taken into account for designing/improving the services provided. Also, links and synergies with the services provided in the context of the operation of the National Contact Points for ‘Innovation in SMEs’ and ‘Access to Risk Finance’ were ensured. The activities on KAM and EIMC services to SMEs by the Consortium enhanced the growth and profitability of SMEs receiving the services; supported the development strategy of SMEs through designing, launching and implementing major innovation projects; increased the competitiveness and profitability of innovative companies through benchmarking with other European companies and identifying innovation weaknesses and action plans tailored to their own features and needs; created synergies with standard Network services and national/European funding instruments which are expected to financially support entrepreneurial endeavors, by highlighting and signposting SMEs with high innovation and internationalization potential; and provided feedback to the Network by sharing best practices, re-using knowledge and enhancing the quality of the services provided throughout the relevant Coaching/KAM/SME communities.

The results of the services have already been - and will be - further disseminated through the Enterprise Europe Network-Hellas.

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