Project description
Big news for Cyprus’ smallest businesses
The backbone of Europe’s economy, SMEs represent 99 % of all businesses in the EU. In EU Member State Cyprus counts more than 50 000 SMEs, which play an important role in the growth and the development of its economy. In this context, the EU-funded KAM2CY4 project will support the SMEs in Cyprus to enhance their competitiveness, smart growth and profits. These support services will be provided by the Research Promotion Foundation, coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network Cyprus (EEN Cy) and will be integrated by EEN-Cy services. Specifically, the project will identify weaknesses in the innovation capacity of SMEs and coaching needs. It will also conduct diagnostic assessments of SMEs’ innovation management and develop an action plan.
Objective
The project envisages the provision of high quality innovation management capacity assessment and support services to SMEs in Cyprus aiming at the enhancement of competitiveness, smart growth and profitability of SMEs. Moreover, the project aims at creating a better understanding of the fundamental principles of innovation management and their better integration in the value chain of local SMEs.
The services will be provided by the Research Promotion Foundation (RPF), Coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network-Cyprus (EEN-Cy) and will be integrated by EEN-Cy services. RPF has already provided relevant services through preceding projects funded by EC (KAM2CY, KAM2CY2 & ΚΑΜ2CΥ3). The project targets two groups of SMEs with a separate package of services, as described below:
(a) Provision of Key Account Management (KAM) services to SME-beneficiaries of H2020 SME Instrument, FET-Open & FTI:
- identify weaknesses in innovation capacities of beneficiaries hindering the realisation of growth opportunities and full commercial potential;
- identify coaching needs based on a pre-defined matrix (made available by EASME);
- identify suitable coaches to address the identified weaknesses;
- moderate the coach-client relationship;
- in the case of SME Instrument beneficiaries, accompany the beneficiaries through their projects.
(b) Provision of services for Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC) to promising SMEs with potential for growth via innovation:
- diagnostic audit/ assessment of their innovation management;
- root/ cause analysis of the results;
- development of an action plan;
- assistance of the SME in action plan monitoring and implementation.
The project foresees the provision of 3 KAM and 5 EIMC service packages. The average duration of each service package provision will be 3-4 days for KAM Services and 10 days for EIMC Services.
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
1075 Nicosia
Cyprus