The main activities and benefits foreseen by SMEs which received EIMC services are as follows:
a) Improved internal processes
b) Clarification of company´s goals/targets for next 3 years and steps to be taken to reach them.
c) Improved work with customers (better knowledge of customer needs)
The project team assumes the following impacts on the entire society mainly social impacts (SMEs saved jobs and/or increased the number of employees) and economic impacts (SMEs maintained turnover and/or increased turnover).
Both project partners were active in developing new support tools and programs for Czech SMEs – e.g. for the companies which received the Seal of Excellence - national programme Seal of Excellence GAMA supported by Technology Agency of the Czech Republic and the regional scheme “SME-Instrument Brno” was initiated and then implemented by JIC. TC AV and also JIC were in regular contact with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic to discuss the possibility to introduce nation-wide scheme for Seal of Excellence holders, phase 2 or support for applicants as well. Companies which were selected and offered EIMC services were also offered regular EEN services such as internationalization and/or partnership services etc. if those were relevant for the needs identified during the needs analysis. Relevant EIMC clients were introduced to EIC Accelerator and other programs.
Both partners tried to address low interest in EIC Accelerator programme by individually addressing potential applicants and organising several workshops and seminars in cooperation with EASME, NCPs and other stakeholders (e.g. EEN, national and regional agencies). It proved to work to a certain extent, because about 3 of later SME-Instrument/EIC Accelerator beneficiaries participated in these workshops or advisory meetings before successfully applying for grant (MIWA Technologies, a.s. got financing 12/2021). Especially, the close cooperation with the Czech NCP, TC CAS and JIC proved to work well.
We would like to emphasize that all objectives and indicators have been met, the consortium has clearly demonstrated its professional and project capabilities and has succeeded in meeting the challenging objectives set for it in the project, despite the additional challenges given by Covid-19.