Improve SMEs experience from Innovation Support Programmes

Project Information

DestinationUX

Grant agreement ID: 853668

DOI

10.3030/853668

Project closed

EC signature date 26 April 2019

Start date 1 September 2019

End date 28 February 2021

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 50 000,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

BUSINESS AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DestinationUX (Improve SMEs experience from Innovation Support Programmes)

Reporting period: 2019-09-01 to 2021-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The problem addressed in the DestinationUX project was related to the low level of satisfaction on behalf of the SMEs stemming from their participation in innovation support programmes. As a result, the project provided with a guide (DOP) on how to improve the participation of SMEs in Innovation Support Programmes both in application and implementation phase. What was really important in DestinationUX was the approach of implementing the project and of defining the steps/measures that have to be taken over, in order to understand the problems and challenges the SMEs have to face during their involvement in innovation support programmes; Design Thinking, the problem solving methodology that puts the end-user at the centre of the solution.

The overall objective of the project was to increase the satisfaction and the participation of SMEs in existing and future innovation support programmes, exploiting the experience, tools, capacity and knowledge of the partners, through the creation of a tailor-made toolbox based on the SMEs' experience from participating in those programmes, which helped innovation agencies to:
- map SMEs journey when participating in an innovation support programme
- identify the level of satisfaction per stage
- find the gaps/ issues to improve the process

Specific objectives:
- Creation of a peer learning group in order to strengthen the competences in designing and implementing user-friendly programmes that support SMEsinnovation, through the application of Twinning+ methodology.
- Evaluation of good practices related to user-friendly programme design and evaluation.
- Create a handbook and a toolbox on how to design user friendly innovation programmes for SMEs and improve the existing ones.
- Establishment of a sustainable partnership among the partners to engage in more frequent peer learning activities. A MoU was undersigned by the partners in the final phase of the project, as a first step of an EU based network of partners aiming to foster, enforce and develop more efficient and user-friendly programmes for SMEs.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project was initiated with the Kick-off meeting, during which the partners set the framework for the implementation of the envisaged activities. The partners were to collect good practices of business support actions and innovation programmes, as well as to select the innovation programme that will operate as a pilot action.
During the 1st Peer Learning workshop the partners had the opportunity to present their practices and the programmes they aim to work with during the pilot actions. They exchanged ideas and experiences. Furthermore, they discussed on the Design Thinking approach they would follow and the tools that would be included in the final DOP/ toolbox.
The 2nd Peer Learning workshop was planned to take place shortly after the first one, but due to the outburst of the COVID-19 pandemia, the partners organised a brief online meeting to discuss the organisation of the pilot actions and the approach of the Design Thinking methodology to be applied. Hence, the 2nd Peer Learning workshop was organised online later in the year and its aim was to set up the final DOP and discuss on the problems that have occured during the implementation of the pilot actions.
Inbetween the two Peer Learning workshops each partner implemented its pilot action. The Design Thinking approach selected was implemented on the base of 4 stages; Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver. Why applying the Design Thinking methodology? In recent years, notable policy and business experts have been discussing the value of Design and Design Thinking as an approach in improving the way government delivers services in one form or another for/with the citizens. Innovation Agencies, as public institutions face the same challenges with the public sector everywhere; they are faced with fewer resources to meet growing expectations from businesses. The aim of the project was to create a Handbook on how to design and/or redesign user-friendly innovation support programmes. The method and tools to elaborate and develop this handbook were based on Service Design. As a result, the pilot actions aimed at testing this handbook in existing innovation support programmes and evaluate the results of this process. Consequently, the partners managed to influence 3 innovation support programmes and inspire the respective managing authorities to improve certain procedures and tools for the benefit of the end-users; the SMEs. The cooperation with the managing authorities was fruitful, although not easy, expecially when considering the difficulties of BREXIT and COVID-19 pandemia.
The final DOP/ handbook was presented in an international online meeting, with respect to the restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemia and was published in the websited of the partners:
- https://kepa.e-kepa.gr/european-programs/destinationux/?lang=en
- https://www.interregeurope.eu/design4innovation/news/news-article/6818/helping-businesses-achieve-best-results-from-support/
- https://www.pdr-online.com/

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

DestinationUX contributed to the qualitative improvement of the provision of innovation support programmes for SMEs. The project had an effect on the following fields of delivery:
- perparing the ground for user-centred innovation support programmes for SMEs by handing out the results through various networks in order to outreach innovation agencies, intermediary organisations, policy makers and SMEs in the majority of EU member-states.
- Building capacities and skills: the development of a Design Options Paper and the hands-on experience on user-centred Design tools for innovation programmes through the pilot set the basis for building skills of hte innovation agencies staff.

Impacts achieved:
- At least 8 people - including partners' staff, local innovation agencies andintermediary organisation have participated in peer learning activities, significantly improving their knowledge as well as their capacity to design and implement/ manage local/regional support programmes.The target quantity was about 30 people overall, taking into consideration the multiplier effect given by the involvement of high-level executives of project partners, who will spread the acquired skills in their territories too.
- Support on innovation opportunities to SMEs was investigated and developed by peer learning activities of hte particiating regional innovation agencies. Partners helped to redesign and implement innovation support programmes based on these new approaches set out in the DOP inthe current programming period up to 2020.
- A group of at least 30 SMEs engaged in the improvement of 3 existing innovation support programmes and contributed to become user-friendly and more efficient.
- The quality management in the partner innovation agencies enhanced efficiency of service delivery and customer satisfaction and accelerate the learning process: 8 staff members directly, 30 staff members indirectly were involved in the development of the Design Options Paper. They will also use it, in the future, as a handbook in their daily activities.

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