For the period 2019, the Basque Node (BASQUE-EEN-4SMES) partners participating in this action, SPRI and Innobasque, proposed to deliver 20 new “service packages” to SMEs in the Basque Country: 19 KAM services plus 1 EIMC services. In addition, there were some cases that continued from the previous periods.
Eventually, there were only 7 new cases (6 Phase 1 and 1 Phase 2), a number much lower than expected. In total, during 2019, the two Basque partners offered KAM services to 27 cases (26 SMEs), 15 were completed and 12 will end in the following period.
Most of the projects are in line with the Basque RIS3 strategic priorities: Advanced manufacturing, Energy and Biosciences-health.
The tool used for the need analysis is the smE-POWER. All the companies accepted to work with a business coach. For Phase 1, all the companies decided to work only with one coach, due to the limited number of Coaching days. In Phase 2, some of the companies (HWS Concrete Towers, Satlantis, Fresmak, Smiley, Graphenea, and Gogoa), decided to work with two or more coaches.
Besides informing about the Coaching services, the KAM presents the COSME services and activities to the SME and as a result, some of the beneficiaries start an active collaboration with our Consortium. All the beneficiaries were duly informed about the initiatives related to the EIC Business Acceleration Services. Some SMEs participated in these events with excellent results. They were also informed about the Innovation Radar.
During the period, the Basque KAMs participated in the Networking activities organised by EASME and in other initiatives relevant for the project.
Regarding the Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity services, SPRI planned to complete the 4 actions pending from the previous periods and to deliver one new EIMC services package. Unfortunately, the planned EIMC services could not be delivered.
Although the methodology was presented to over 60 different companies, no SME showed interest in the service. It is very difficult to find companies interested in it, as there is regional support for more advanced innovation management tools. Besides, the pending cases declined to finish the service and to implement the innovation roadmap.
