Project description
Finnish SMEs get a head start on innovation
SMEs have the potential to create massive economic impact, but only with the right amount of innovation management capacity. In this context, the EU-funded FINKAMIE2019 project will seek to make SME innovation systems in Finland more efficient and effective to increase and accelerate economic returns. Specifically, the project will identify the weaknesses in the innovation capacities of the SMEs and propose improvements in terms of innovation management capacity upgrades. Firstly, the project will provide key account management services to beneficiaries of Horizon 2020’s SME Instrument, as well as the Fast Track to Innovation and the Future and Emerging Technologies - Open programmes. The project will identify bottlenecks and help prevent them.
Objective
Lack of innovation management capacity is recognised as an important barrier to creating economic impact (competitiveness, growth and jobs) from innovation activities in SMEs. The general objective of the proposal is to achieve overall long-term capacity building in (Finnish) SME’s, particularly to make the innovation system in the companies more efficient and effective and to increase and accelerate the economic returns from innovation in the SMEs. In proposal actions will be identified weaknesses in the innovation capacities of the SME that hinder the realisation of growth opportunities and of the full commercial potential. Hence, the improvement of this innovation management capacity upgrades the economic performance of the most promising SMEs.
First specific objective of the project is to provide Key account management services to beneficiaries of the SME instrument, FTI (Fast Track to Innovation) and FET-Open (Future and Emerging Technologies Open). These services aim to identify bottlenecks to the creation of economic impact in companies benefitting from grants by these Horizon2020's programs. Based on the needs analysis the Key account management services identify suitable coaches to address the identified bottlenecks and facilitates the coach-client relationship during the coaching project.
Second specific objective is to provide services, which enhance the innovation management capacity of SMEs. This service will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation processes in small and medium sized enterprises with significant innovation activities that could potentially become beneficiaries of European support to research and innovation but would not have effective access to consulting services for innovation management. The service includes an assessment of innovation management capacity and development actions based on the assessment. In assessments and development one area with emphasis is digitalisation.
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
00181 Helsinki
Finland