Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EEN InnoSupp BG-4 (EEN InnoSupp BG-4)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2020-01-01 do 2021-12-31
The overall objective - to enhance the innovation management capacity of, and accelerate the innovation processes in, BG SMEs - is broken down into the following specific objectives:
ð To support the beneficiaries of the H2020 European Innovation Council (EIC) to efficiently implement their projects and enhance them in fully exploiting their innovation potential. This is to further strengthen the SME growth capacity by teaming it up with the expertise of external coaches on the basis of gap-and-weaknesses analysis and needs assessment;
ð To enhance the innovation management capacity of Bulgarian SMEs by empowering SMEs with innovation self-assessment and strengthened capacity to better manage the innovation life cycle and benefit from the European support for research and innovation.
ð To support the beneficiaries of the H2020 European Innovation Council (EIC) to efficiently implement their projects and enhance them in fully exploiting their innovation potential. This is to further strengthen the SME growth capacity by teaming it up with the expertise of external coaches on the basis of gap-and-weaknesses analysis and needs assessment;
ð To enhance the innovation management capacity of Bulgarian SMEs by empowering SMEs with innovation self-assessment and strengthened capacity to better manage the innovation life cycle and benefit from the European support for research and innovation.
Almost the entire reporting period was marked by the covid crisis, except for the first couple of months. Given the digitalised work mode that is gaining wider and wider scope, almost all of the H2020 Network clients have also received COSME services. The limited onsite meetings and events lead to higher efficiency of the partners (including that under the COSME services) and more synergy in combining various services from the Network portfolio. Regardless of the crisis, all three partners, being experienced in the EEN H2020 services since 2014, managed to follow the client-centric approach by providing a valued mix of expertise and support (both H2020 and COSME) to their clients.
In overall terms the consortium has delivered more H2020 services than by initial estimation (68 service packs delivered vs a plan of about 60), similarly to the performance under COSME. There has been an increase in the demand by the companies – due to the crisis various approaches for ‘a way out’ have been pursued, including innovation management assessment with regards to internal restructuring, shifting to new products and services that respond to unexpected new market demands, seeking international recognition by pro-active participation in EU or national contests and awards, search for international partnerships in new niche areas, etc.
The KAM services, as a general trend for Bulgaria, are quite few due to the low success rate in EIC. Further to that, the KAM services took place primarily in 2020, on the EIC pilot, while in 2021 the EIC embarked on a thoroughly new approach.
The EIMC services have been well delivered by all three partners involved in the EEN H2020 contract, namely PP01 ARC Consulting, PP02 BIA, and PP12 BCCI. The objectives set have been achieved – client companies’ innovation management capacity has been positively impacted and it spells out in improved market position, increased satisfaction by clients and business partners, increased quality of products and services, innovations strategy adopted or improved, increased added value of products, new business models embraced, increased turnover or cost savings, maintaining environmental records.
In overall terms the consortium has delivered more H2020 services than by initial estimation (68 service packs delivered vs a plan of about 60), similarly to the performance under COSME. There has been an increase in the demand by the companies – due to the crisis various approaches for ‘a way out’ have been pursued, including innovation management assessment with regards to internal restructuring, shifting to new products and services that respond to unexpected new market demands, seeking international recognition by pro-active participation in EU or national contests and awards, search for international partnerships in new niche areas, etc.
The KAM services, as a general trend for Bulgaria, are quite few due to the low success rate in EIC. Further to that, the KAM services took place primarily in 2020, on the EIC pilot, while in 2021 the EIC embarked on a thoroughly new approach.
The EIMC services have been well delivered by all three partners involved in the EEN H2020 contract, namely PP01 ARC Consulting, PP02 BIA, and PP12 BCCI. The objectives set have been achieved – client companies’ innovation management capacity has been positively impacted and it spells out in improved market position, increased satisfaction by clients and business partners, increased quality of products and services, innovations strategy adopted or improved, increased added value of products, new business models embraced, increased turnover or cost savings, maintaining environmental records.
• WP1 KAM. In practice, the number of the KAM service packs is highly dependent on the success rate of the Bulgarian companies when applying to the SME Instrument (Phase I and II), FTI and FET, restructured lateron into the EIC pilot. The BG partners provided KAM and coaching support to 4 companies successfully contracted under the EIC pilot in 2019. For 3 of them the KAM/coach support closed within 2020 – EnduroSat (FTI), Bee Smart Technologies (SME-I Phase 1) and Transmetrics (SME-I Phase 2). The case of Interconsult Bulgaria (FTI) was completed in 2021. These companies were service-delivered by two of the three partners as the KAM allocation was based on previous interaction with them and the respective network partners. As a whole the reporting period was not as active in this WP as the KAM services were no longer in place in 2021 by default.
• WP2 EIMC. The partners opened 68 EIMC service packs. 64 of them were completed within the reporting period, while another 4 that started in 2021 are still in progress and shall shift to the next period’s consulting services. These 4 have not been closed yet due to COVID-related slow-down. The 64 closed cases are 19% above plan (54 cases by plan). Their allocation at partner level is as follows: ARC with 32 successfully completed service packs (about 39% above the planned number of 23) and 3 ongoing ones that will evolve into advisory services in 2022; BIA has 24 closed, being above initial estimate (18 by plan) by 33% and with 1 service pack pending; BCCI closed 8 packs, which is nearly 60% of the plan (14 packs).
• WP2 EIMC. The partners opened 68 EIMC service packs. 64 of them were completed within the reporting period, while another 4 that started in 2021 are still in progress and shall shift to the next period’s consulting services. These 4 have not been closed yet due to COVID-related slow-down. The 64 closed cases are 19% above plan (54 cases by plan). Their allocation at partner level is as follows: ARC with 32 successfully completed service packs (about 39% above the planned number of 23) and 3 ongoing ones that will evolve into advisory services in 2022; BIA has 24 closed, being above initial estimate (18 by plan) by 33% and with 1 service pack pending; BCCI closed 8 packs, which is nearly 60% of the plan (14 packs).