Periodic Reporting for period 1 - InnoHessen2Europe (Innovating Hessian SMEs towards Europe)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-01-01 bis 2021-12-31
EEN Hessen has implemented the InnoHessen2Europe project in the framework of H2020 ENTREPRISE EUROPE NETWORK SGA4 2020-2021 activities.
The project has two objectives:
1) It aims to support successful implementations of Hessian projects funded by the EIC Accelerator, Fast Track to Innovation and Pathfinder as well as Seal-of-Excellence holders with dedicated Key Account Management (KAM) services.
2) It aims to support innovative SMEs with a high potential for international growth to improve their innovation value chain with specific advisory on Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC).
Enterprises succeeding as growth champions usually draw upon their innovation activities. Thereby, a structured approach along the whole innovation value chain is likely to make a substantial difference for companies’ performance. However, especially small and medium-sized companies lack systematic innovation management. Innovation services delivered by EEN Hessen have supported a balanced business and technology progress of clients consulted, resulting in an increased competitiveness and growth. They strengthen SMEs’ ability to outperform in the European Single Market and outside; thus, contributing to prosperity and development in the European Union.
The project has two objectives:
1) It aims to support successful implementations of Hessian projects funded by the EIC Accelerator, Fast Track to Innovation and Pathfinder as well as Seal-of-Excellence holders with dedicated Key Account Management (KAM) services.
2) It aims to support innovative SMEs with a high potential for international growth to improve their innovation value chain with specific advisory on Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC).
Enterprises succeeding as growth champions usually draw upon their innovation activities. Thereby, a structured approach along the whole innovation value chain is likely to make a substantial difference for companies’ performance. However, especially small and medium-sized companies lack systematic innovation management. Innovation services delivered by EEN Hessen have supported a balanced business and technology progress of clients consulted, resulting in an increased competitiveness and growth. They strengthen SMEs’ ability to outperform in the European Single Market and outside; thus, contributing to prosperity and development in the European Union.
EEN Hessen supported three successful applicants and eight Seal-of-Excellence holders with dedicated Key Account Management (KAM) services. Innovation advisors assessed SMEs’ gaps and challenges, identified suitable coaches, facilitated the interaction between the coaches and the SMEs and responded to further needs, especially regarding access to finance by additional support measures. Furthermore, EEN innovation experts took care of former KAM clients and Hessian companies awarded Seal of Excellence by helping them to approach other sources of funding. Bringing companies together with investors was also facilitated by promoting the use of Business Acceleration Services and EEN services offered in the framework of the COSME project. The overall aim was to enable those companies to conduct their innovation projects successfully and thus to contribute to their commercial growth.
Further Hessian SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for growth and internationalisation were supported in the separate service Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC). EEN Hessen assessed their gaps and needs, developed together with the SMEs suitable action plans, and facilitated their implementation. With these activities, complemented by a wide range of further EEN services, HTAI contributed to increasing the competitiveness of Hessian SMEs and strengthening their ability to operate successfully in the European Single Market and beyond.
The action was conducted by EEN Hessen innovation experts, all senior staff experienced in innovation management. They used the „Innovation Health Check“ by Enterprise Ireland as a CEN/TS 16555-1 tool to assess the innovation management capacity of Hessian clients and to identify needs to be responded to. Twelve Hessian companies were supported comprehensively to improve their innovation management system or to establish first elements of such a system in their companies.
Further Hessian SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for growth and internationalisation were supported in the separate service Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC). EEN Hessen assessed their gaps and needs, developed together with the SMEs suitable action plans, and facilitated their implementation. With these activities, complemented by a wide range of further EEN services, HTAI contributed to increasing the competitiveness of Hessian SMEs and strengthening their ability to operate successfully in the European Single Market and beyond.
The action was conducted by EEN Hessen innovation experts, all senior staff experienced in innovation management. They used the „Innovation Health Check“ by Enterprise Ireland as a CEN/TS 16555-1 tool to assess the innovation management capacity of Hessian clients and to identify needs to be responded to. Twelve Hessian companies were supported comprehensively to improve their innovation management system or to establish first elements of such a system in their companies.
The services helped the clients to define priorities and to tackle challenges in their innovation process. This should support conducting the innovation projects successfully. In the KAM cases the support should result in a smoother project implementation and access to other sources of financing. Further expected results are a higher commitment to a structured innovation management and a stronger involvement of the staff into the innovation process.
The EEN Hessen assisted eleven companies within the KAM process in 2020 and 2021, one of them being beneficiary of Phase 1, two beneficiaries of Phase 2 of the SME Instrument and eight Seal-of-Excellence holders. In line with the client journey concept of the Network, there is a close synergy between the services within the COSME financed EEN project and the KAM process starting from the advisory and application support for EIC Accelerator funding schemes through discussing evaluation results, analysing client’s needs for the project implementation, defining necessary steps for the project and beyond, facilitating the coach-SME interaction, supporting further applications and approaching alternative finance sources.
Within the EIMC process EEN Hessen advised twelve companies in 2020 and 2021. In general, the service has a positive impact especially in terms of improving the company’s position on the market, increasing the added value associated with the product or service, developing the potential to enter new markets, improving the quality of the product or service, and increasing clients’ satisfaction. Finally, the service contributes to improving the innovation strategy and innovation management capacities of the client companies. Following a client-centric approach, the service is interlinked with the COSME activities and anchored within a hub-and-spoke model of EEN Hessen. Most of the clients use the advice on funding schemes and on internationalisation and use EEN’s support in finding international partners and strengthening the regional network.
The EEN Hessen assisted eleven companies within the KAM process in 2020 and 2021, one of them being beneficiary of Phase 1, two beneficiaries of Phase 2 of the SME Instrument and eight Seal-of-Excellence holders. In line with the client journey concept of the Network, there is a close synergy between the services within the COSME financed EEN project and the KAM process starting from the advisory and application support for EIC Accelerator funding schemes through discussing evaluation results, analysing client’s needs for the project implementation, defining necessary steps for the project and beyond, facilitating the coach-SME interaction, supporting further applications and approaching alternative finance sources.
Within the EIMC process EEN Hessen advised twelve companies in 2020 and 2021. In general, the service has a positive impact especially in terms of improving the company’s position on the market, increasing the added value associated with the product or service, developing the potential to enter new markets, improving the quality of the product or service, and increasing clients’ satisfaction. Finally, the service contributes to improving the innovation strategy and innovation management capacities of the client companies. Following a client-centric approach, the service is interlinked with the COSME activities and anchored within a hub-and-spoke model of EEN Hessen. Most of the clients use the advice on funding schemes and on internationalisation and use EEN’s support in finding international partners and strengthening the regional network.