Despite the difficulties that we all faced in 2020 and 2021, all partners promoted EIC during every workshop carried out under COSME activities to the companies focused on innovation activities and to those with the potential to participate in the scheme. STEPRI, TPV and UNIST also contacted directly companies with significant innovation activities in order to inform them about the possibility to apply for funding. The activates were specifically focused to the companies participated in the Proof of Concept fund or the fund for the commercialization of the innovation FIPRO. Despite all the efforts, the pandemic and the lock-down and Zagreb earthquake resulted with the lower interest of the companies for funding – they were more oriented on adapting to new working conditions (e.g. digitalization, accessing new markets). For this reason other partners were not able to provide KAM services. Faced with the same issues and obstacles, the Croatian Consortium provided lower number of EIMC services than was anticipated. Total of 10 EIMC services were completed in year 2020. New clients were reached through direct contact and through signposting COSME clients to EIMC for further support so by the end of the project consortium achieved in reaching all planned KPIs and delivered 35 EIMC services in total. Companies receiving support where from different sectors including information and communication, computer programming, data processing, server services and related activities, manufacture of electrical equipment, consultancy and related activities, manufacture of fabricated metal products, eco-production, online marketing; market research and public opinion polling, human health, manufacturing (aerospace industry, construction, food and beverage).
