As it is stated strategic aim of the Horizon 2020 related activities is to reinforce scientific research and innovative capacity of companies and research institutions in EU (and participating countries as Bosnia and Herzegovina). Activities were focusing to in-depth services with the objective of improvement of the innovation management capacity of the local SMEs (mainly, but not necessarily focused on Sarajevo, Mostar and Tuzla region). This instrument will help to target SMEs within a clear innovation (management) support, including the application of methodologies for innovation management as defined by IMP3rove. IMP3rove methodology was introduced to members of the consortium as an available tool, to address specific challenges and the topic as set out in the work program and the call. Promising SMEs with innovation potential and/or innovation activities were the target group. There are three guiding lines that are the innovation of products, processes and/or organizational structure aiming at raising the companies’ income and competitiveness.
This document reports the period January 2019 to December 2019, on EIMC and KAM activities of the BITNET-INNOSUP consortium activities. In this period, we have met all our targets as foreseen in the application, meaning 10 completed assessments of EIMC. As KAM services are aiming solely the beneficiaries of the SMEs Instrument, due to the unfortunate fact that no companies from BH were successful with the SME Instrument Phase 1, there are no companies in BH whatsoever, to be consulted with KAM services.
Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity for innovating SMEs were conducted in full capacity as planned in 2019, meaning the target was 100% achieved, or total of 10 companies were assessed. Out of that UNSA has conducted 6 assessments, while INTERA and BIT conducted 2 each.
While in the previous reporting period there was a predominant presence of ICT sector, this year the dispersion of the companies in different areas and different industries, and the presence of the creativity sector is heavy. Perhaps this can be concluded as one of the trends in the market overall.
Since those companies come in a variety of industries and sizes, their innovations differ greatly. Overall, radical innovations are rare, while the companies relay on the incremental innovation strategies. The companies also polarize, from those who base their strategy on innovations and trying to innovate in every possible manner, up to those who understand the importance of the innovation, but they are extremely cautious about it. Interestingly to notice is that the second ones are mostly managed by the Generation X (those born mainly in ‘70s) and this generation is known as very difficult in taking up the new approaches and changing the regular way of business.
