EEN Lazio and Sardegna general aim is to help SMEs to understand the innovation demand of the market and define their own needs. A correct innovation management includes all activities that lead to profitable growth from innovation.
ELSE SIM project carried out services for enhancing the innovation capacity of SMEs integrating those innovation-related services with traditional activities, usually provided under the Enterprise Europe Network umbrella.
The main objectives have been (1) supporting all SMEs located in ELSE regions and funded under the SME Instrument Phase 1 and 2, FTI and FET Open, with a qualified Kam-Coach support in order to assess their innovation management performance and capabilities (WP1), (2) identifing promising SMEs capable of growth and successful internationalization located in ELSE regions , carrying out an in depth analysis of their innovation management, highlighting the gaps between their innovation capabilities and their innovation goals, through the service Enhancing Innovation Management Capacities of SMEs (EIMC).
From one side, it has been critical to support companies in understanding the market demand to address a right market strategy, from the other side it has been crucial to address companies in adapting and revising their internal business models or innovation strategy according to the market.
It is interesting to report, according to some companies, that catching funds is important for the development of a company, but it is the internal strategy and business model that leads to success. This validates and reinforces the strategic work provided by H2020 KAM / EIMC services, which also represent one of the main access point to EEN ecosystem. In detail, the problems/issues addressed were:
1: Regarding KAM services, importance of speeding up the bureaucratic procedures needed to sign the coach’s contract. This is particularly true for Phase 1 projects, where the time available is reduced compared to a Phase 2 project. As a consequence, it is necessary to start the coaching activities as soon as possible in order to positively affect the realization of feasibility studies and the elaboration of the end-of-project report, that in many cases represents the basis for the resulting Phase 2 proposal.
2: Concerning the EIMC services, the main issue encountered by the Consortium has been to create the conditions to attract as many companies as possible, having high innovation and internationalization potential. To achieve the goal, the consortium effort has been oriented to a broad communication, aiming at extending the visibility and the reputation of the Network in Lazio and Sardegna regions, throughout several communication supporting tools.
3: Concerning the EIMC tools, some partners already experimented the new Imp3rove tool “Digital Innovation Quotient” (DIQ). They reported that the DIQ is less efficient and detailed regarding the company profile description. Many of the questions (parameters) adopted in the assessment had as answer “Not Applicable”. Probably, this happened because:
- Italian SMEs have poor digitalisation awareness;
- Digitalisation needs a more complex managing structure, not always owned by the companies that the consortium met: probably, the questionnaire could better fit companies having a bigger structure.
The tool should be improved taking into account SMEs with a simpler organizational structure and it should also include some more details about company profile and economic results and performances. The partners are committed to diversify the assessment tools, by making an in-depth client intake to evaluate the digital skills of the clients and choose the best instruments fitting their clients’ needs.
Finally, this project supports an important societal issue, as it provides companies with innovative instruments to better evaluate their internal company assets. The result is a general improvement of company's business strategy and innovation capaciti
