As part of the project, partners offered Key Account Management (KAM) service for the successful SME Instrument applicants (there were no FET Open or FTI winners from Hungary), supported them in identifying their mentoring needs using the InnoKenn diagnostic tool, facilitated the coach selection and provided further advice and services as appropriate (offering services provided as part of the COSME contract). The INNO-HUN consortium supported 41 KAM clients in 2019 (29 Phase 1 and 12 Phase 2), which is 141% more than planned (17 clients). 30 of these services have been closed in 2019 (23 Phase 1 and 7 Phase 2), while there are 11 open cases. Most of them struggle with lack of staff, but employing more people would endanger the profitable operation of the company itself, which usually results in employees having multiple tasks at the same time. Other crucial challenge is the access-to-finance for these SMEs. Therefore, business coaching was the dominant coaching type which helped them to focus their existing resources and exploit them successfully. Most of the clients are based in the Central Hungarian region, while few successful applicants were served also in other regions (Western Hungary, Central Transdanubia, Northern Great Plain). This service’s delivery highly depends on the successfulness of the SME applicants. Two regional partners had no opportunity to provide the service as there were no winners from that region. Unfortunately, there is no considerable increase in the number of cases compared to the previous project periods. To increase the number of clients, the INNO-HUN consortium implemented awareness raising activity, where information about the available funding and open calls is provided and SMEs are motivated and guided with practical tips regarding the application. 4 Knowledge to Money Club events were organised in 2019 where coaches, NCPs and successful SME applicants gave presentations (147 participants in 2019). Promotion of the service and of successful cases plays an important role in increasing the numbers, therefore partners use various channels and tools for communication, which include flyers, online communication and also events.
To Enhance the Innovation Management Capacity of highly innovative Hungarian companies INNO-HUN partners offered innovation audit service using two methodologies: Innovation Health Check and IMP3rove. Within Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity work package, the innovation experts of the Hungarian consortium assessed a total of 46 SMEs in 2019 (45 cases were closed). 24 clients received IMP3rove and 21 IHC services. 33 clients (73.3%) were also open to COSME services.
