Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INNODK IV (Innovation Services for Danish SMEs IV 2020-2021)
Período documentado: 2020-01-01 hasta 2021-12-31
The objectives of the InnoDK IV project are to:
• Provide Key Account Management (KAM) services to Danish businesses, which have been awarded grants under the SME Instrument, Future Emerging Technologies or Fast Track to Innovation programmes.
• Provide Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC) services to SMEs in 2020-21.
Companies will be assessed via the Innovation Health Check tools or other approved tools and depending on results, referred on to relevant organisations in the Danish and European innovation eco-system.
In total, under both categories 170 service packages will be carried out. The figure is based on an average of 70 KAM packages coming through EIC programmes, and 100 EIMC cases carried out. If a larger number of grants from EIC are given to Danish participants, the packages will be adjusted accordingly.
The KAM figures are lower than what should be expected based on the experience of the Danish consortium since 2014, which has seen a high and increasing number of cases coming through via the SME Instrument, due to the success Danish companies have in the programme. This is due to the end of the SMEI phase 1, which is assumed to mean a decrease in the number of Danish KAM cases over the period of 2020-21.
• Provide Key Account Management (KAM) services to Danish businesses, which have been awarded grants under the SME Instrument, Future Emerging Technologies or Fast Track to Innovation programmes.
• Provide Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC) services to SMEs in 2020-21.
Companies will be assessed via the Innovation Health Check tools or other approved tools and depending on results, referred on to relevant organisations in the Danish and European innovation eco-system.
In total, under both categories 170 service packages will be carried out. The figure is based on an average of 70 KAM packages coming through EIC programmes, and 100 EIMC cases carried out. If a larger number of grants from EIC are given to Danish participants, the packages will be adjusted accordingly.
The KAM figures are lower than what should be expected based on the experience of the Danish consortium since 2014, which has seen a high and increasing number of cases coming through via the SME Instrument, due to the success Danish companies have in the programme. This is due to the end of the SMEI phase 1, which is assumed to mean a decrease in the number of Danish KAM cases over the period of 2020-21.
The Danish EEN consortium served a total of 37 companies during the course of 2020 as KAMs, which include the following:
• 24 companies, which were offered and accepted coaching and where the coaching progress is completed or at a relatively advanced stage. 5 cases are completed and in the evaluation stage, while the remaining 19 are nearing completion.
• 1 company was offered coaching, but refused to accept a meeting with the KAM or to respond to any contacts regarding coach selection. After discussion with the EASME, this case is now closed from the EEN perspective and no further action will be pursued.
• 1 company was offered and accepted coaching, but the coaching plan was rejected in early January 2021 and is in the process of being updated. This case is currently being followed by the KAM.
• 11 companies are still in the early stages of discussions with the KAM on needs analysis and coach assignment. These include cases recently approved, as well as those with delays caused by the corona pandemic and the Christmas / New Year break.
A total of 25 EIMC cases were carried out during the course of 2020.
• 24 companies, which were offered and accepted coaching and where the coaching progress is completed or at a relatively advanced stage. 5 cases are completed and in the evaluation stage, while the remaining 19 are nearing completion.
• 1 company was offered coaching, but refused to accept a meeting with the KAM or to respond to any contacts regarding coach selection. After discussion with the EASME, this case is now closed from the EEN perspective and no further action will be pursued.
• 1 company was offered and accepted coaching, but the coaching plan was rejected in early January 2021 and is in the process of being updated. This case is currently being followed by the KAM.
• 11 companies are still in the early stages of discussions with the KAM on needs analysis and coach assignment. These include cases recently approved, as well as those with delays caused by the corona pandemic and the Christmas / New Year break.
A total of 25 EIMC cases were carried out during the course of 2020.
A good caseexample from 2020 is that of Fary Lochan:
Fary Lochan is a Danish distillery making high-quality single malt whiskies. Since their establishment in 2009, the company has been selling their alcoholic drinks directly from their distillery, or via selected off-licenses and stores. The lockdown caused by COVID-19 and the ensuing travel restrictions and social distancing, meant that their entire business model had collapsed and was no longer viable in 2020. They needed to find alternative sales channels or models quickly.
They contacted the Enterprise Europe Network and were assessed to fit the bill for Innovation Health Check services. The IHC service helped the company to consider new, innovative sales measures and after some deliberation, they decided to go ahead with using online meeting tools to introduce people to their whisky in an online whisky tasting.
Fary Lochan produced a number of small bottles of whisky in 50ml sizes, with all their different blends of whisky, and organised a testing session, using experts from whisky associations to guide potential clients through the tasting, explaining the different tastes. They needed 100 participants to break even, and hoped for 200 people interested in taking part. But orders kept on coming in, and they kept on having to make new tasting samples to send out. In the end, they had to stop at 730 participants, but only because the online meeting tool could not support more participants.
The event was a huge success and Fary Lochan received their record sales in 2020, reaching out to a new global audience.
As the effects of the corona pandemic are still affecting SMEs, The Danish network will continue to offer the IHC as a means to investigate new markets, business models and sales channels in 2021. There are currently more than a handful new companies in discussion with the Danish EIMC team regarding these services.
Fary Lochan is a Danish distillery making high-quality single malt whiskies. Since their establishment in 2009, the company has been selling their alcoholic drinks directly from their distillery, or via selected off-licenses and stores. The lockdown caused by COVID-19 and the ensuing travel restrictions and social distancing, meant that their entire business model had collapsed and was no longer viable in 2020. They needed to find alternative sales channels or models quickly.
They contacted the Enterprise Europe Network and were assessed to fit the bill for Innovation Health Check services. The IHC service helped the company to consider new, innovative sales measures and after some deliberation, they decided to go ahead with using online meeting tools to introduce people to their whisky in an online whisky tasting.
Fary Lochan produced a number of small bottles of whisky in 50ml sizes, with all their different blends of whisky, and organised a testing session, using experts from whisky associations to guide potential clients through the tasting, explaining the different tastes. They needed 100 participants to break even, and hoped for 200 people interested in taking part. But orders kept on coming in, and they kept on having to make new tasting samples to send out. In the end, they had to stop at 730 participants, but only because the online meeting tool could not support more participants.
The event was a huge success and Fary Lochan received their record sales in 2020, reaching out to a new global audience.
As the effects of the corona pandemic are still affecting SMEs, The Danish network will continue to offer the IHC as a means to investigate new markets, business models and sales channels in 2021. There are currently more than a handful new companies in discussion with the Danish EIMC team regarding these services.