Actions in support of innovation in SMES

Project Information

INNOVACTION 2020-21

Grant agreement ID: 879528

DOI

10.3030/879528

Project closed

EC signature date 31 January 2020

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 31 December 2021

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 146 575,00

EU contribution

€ 146 575,00

Coordinated by

INSTITUTO VALENCIANO DE LA COMPETITIVIDAD EMPRESARIAL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INNOVACTION 2020-21 (Actions in support of innovation in SMES)

Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2021-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The project aims to establish services enhancing the innovation management capacity (EIMC) of SME's of the Enterprise Europe Network.

Lack of innovation management capacity is recognised as an important barrier to creating economic impact (competitiveness, growth and jobs) from innovation activities in SMEs.

Horizon 2020’s SME-instrument foresees offering mentoring and coaching services to beneficiaries to address the need of SMEs of consulting service offers enhancing the innovation management capacity.

Moreover, in a survey undertaken in 2011 for DG Enterprise and Industry, SME´s and SME support organisations considered the inability to manage innovation processes efficiently and effectively as the second most important barrier to SME innovation (after 'lack of financial resources').The two partners of the consortium for the present project, IVACE and INFO MURCIA have both more than 30 years’ experience in providing services of Enhancing innovation capacity to SMEs in their regions.

More recently as members of EEN-SEIMED Network they have both been leading in their Region the provision of COSME services in order to help small business to make the most of the European marketplace. Specifically services provided are supporting:

• Technology transfer
• Access to finance
• Advice on EU law and standards
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
• Research funding
• Access to international business
* Scaleup

The Enterprise Europe Network SEIMED is therefore a suitable structure to introduce services “Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs” and make available to SMEs higher quality innovation support services where these are absent or unaffordable on local markets.

Both range of services, COSME and H2020, reinforce one another while delivering a suit of taylor made services targeted to unlock growth in our SMEs and thus new jobs and welfare in the EU.

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

"In spite of the COVID-19 crisis, both regions involved in the action have had to some extent positive results in the H2020 SME Instrument and EIC Pilot Programmes. We delivered 29 services of coaching and EIMC.
With regard to SMEi beneficiaries, we produced the Needs Assessment, supporting the coach selection, validating the coaching plan and facilitating interaction between the SME, the Coach and the European Commission until the final assessment.
With reference to the EIMC service we are certain that is actually a very valuable ""entry service"" to get to know deeply pre-selected companies and define tailor made action plans to boost innovation and competitiveness.
We are making efforts to continue improving the service through tailor-made trainings to our innovation advisors involved in the action"

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)

The KAM services, assessing the gaps and needs of each innovation project and introducing appropriate coaching experts, are backing the company to accelerate the commercialization of innovations and bring good returns on investment to our regions and Europe. With respect to the EIMC services, mainly focused on mature or more established companies, have worked to make SMEs management teams understand the great significance to manage innovation as a vector for future growth. Introducing Innovation from the very start of the definition of a Business Strategy and to getting to manage innovative ideas and project portfolio in an efficient manner. The innovation advisors have agreed with the SMEs to define concrete actions to enhance innovation capacities. In our opinion guiding the company through the innovation ecosystem and helping them identify the right advice, potential collaborators and suitable programs has had an impact on business performance. Moreover, the innovation advisor gathers first-hand information on the real needs of the companies and feedback on the impact of actual policies to share with policy makers and continuously improve programs and services offered to SMEs.

EIC Workshop

Thematic expertise