Enhancing innovation management capacity of SMEs in the Netherlands in 2019

Project Information

INMANCAP_2019

Grant agreement ID: 831207

DOI

10.3030/831207

Project closed

EC signature date 28 November 2018

Start date 1 January 2019

End date 31 December 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 478 177,50

EU contribution

€ 478 177,50

Coordinated by

MINISTERIE VAN ECONOMISCHE ZAKEN EN KLIMAAT
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INMANCAP_2019 (Enhancing innovation management capacity of SMEs in the Netherlands in 2019)

Reporting period: 2019-01-01 to 2019-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The overall objectives of the project were to deliver services designed to enhance the innovation management capacity of SMEs in the Netherlands in the period of 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019. The services comprised both key account management (KAM) services under the SME Instrument of Horizon 2020 and services to enhance the innovation management capacities (EIMC) of SMEs.
The objective for the KAM services was to develop regional SME innovation management capacity by carrying out an innovation management gap analysis and developing and implementing a coaching action plan for a specific project under the H2020 SME Instrument.
The objectives of the EIMC services were to identify promising SMEs capable of growth and successful internationalisation, to carry out a diagnostic audit to identify gaps in the regional SME innovation management capacity and to develop and implement a tailored action plan to make the innovation system in the company more efficient and effective.

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

KAM services
Between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019 70 new KAM cases have been initiated of which 49 Phase I cases and 19 Phase II cases for the SME Instrument, and 2 cases for Fast Track to Innovation (FTI). The 3 cases resulting from the cut-off-date of 10-10-2018 (Phase 2) and the 9 cases from 7-11-2018 (Phase 1) were transferred to 2019 and are included in these results. The total of 70 cases means a significant increase compared with the 52 cases from 2018.
When we compare the cases that have been realised in 2019 with the planned cases we see that we have exceeded our target with 27%.

EIMC services
EIMC services mostly the segment of Small and Medium sized Enterprises. This segment is defined as enterprises with 2 up to 50 employees, in 2019 in total about 450.000 enterprises. Not all of them are active in the field of innovation or international business.
KVK targeted to start 68 new cases in 2019. We realised to start 56 new cases (82%). As one case was already started in 2017 and 11 cases were already started in 2018, we worked in total on 68 cases in 2019. This section consists of 68 cases (100%). Unfortunately two new-started cases were stopped due to loss of commitment by the entrepreneur or due to changes in management priorities of the companies involved.
In all 68 cases (100%) the Needs & Gaps analysis was made and the results of the Innovation Health Check were discussed with the entrepreneur and/or the management team. In 64 cases (94%) a Plan of Action was made that is or is going to be implemented by the entrepreneur and/or the management team.
We are proud of the 62 cases that have been brought to completion in 2019 which is 86% of our target. 4 of the new-started 2019 cases will be completed in 2020.

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)

For the KAM cases it is too early to indicate the real economic impact as they are still in the process of expanding their business. But we can say that KAM and coaching services are appreciated by all beneficiaries. The evaluation from the Casetracker shows that most of the beneficiaries agree or strongly agree with the view that the coaching changed the way to approach their challenges. In this reporting period 13 coaches came from the Netherlands and 45 from other countries. The majority of coaches confirmed that the needs analysis led the company to take internal actions.

EIMC coaching services are appreciated by all beneficiaries. The evaluation of completed cases in 2018 and 2019 shows a client satisfatory of 8.6 (out of 10) where 8.0 was the target. Most of the beneficiaries say that the coaching and the innovation action plan changed the way to approach their challenges.

knipsel.png