Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EURACTE-INNOV III (EURACTE-INNOV III 2020-21)
Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2021-12-31
The project EURACTE INNOV III proposed by the consortium Enterprise Europe Network EURACTE aimed at the establishment, promotion and implementation of two support services aiming at enhancing the innovation management capacity and projects of SMEs based in Hauts-de-France region, thus generating growth and competitiveness among local actors :
• The first service targets successful applicants under the European Innovation Council scheme, i.e. EIC Accelerator, FTI and FET beneficiaries. The aim of this service is to detect weaknesses in the projects, help the SMEs to identify a coach who is competent in the particular field in order to efficiently accompany the SME in finding solutions to the identified challenges, and follow up and facilitate the SME – coach relationship in order to maximise the probability of the project to access the targeted market successfully.
• The second support service, “Enhancing SME innovation management capacity” aims at helping regional SMEs with potential for international growth to consolidate their innovation strategy and management, in order to generate more structured innovation projects and increase their chances of success on the European market. The overall objective is to allow the SMEs to reach the required capacities to access to funding under Horizon 2020 program.
• The first service targets successful applicants under the European Innovation Council scheme, i.e. EIC Accelerator, FTI and FET beneficiaries. The aim of this service is to detect weaknesses in the projects, help the SMEs to identify a coach who is competent in the particular field in order to efficiently accompany the SME in finding solutions to the identified challenges, and follow up and facilitate the SME – coach relationship in order to maximise the probability of the project to access the targeted market successfully.
• The second support service, “Enhancing SME innovation management capacity” aims at helping regional SMEs with potential for international growth to consolidate their innovation strategy and management, in order to generate more structured innovation projects and increase their chances of success on the European market. The overall objective is to allow the SMEs to reach the required capacities to access to funding under Horizon 2020 program.
Regarding the KAM service, 0 support packs have been deployed over an objective of 5 planned in the work program. The reason is none of the companies in our region was laureate the past 2 years.
Regarding the EIMC service, the consortium has supported 10 companies during the contractual period over an objective of 27 planned in the work program. The clients, working in a wide variety of industrial and business services sectors have benefited from that service which allowed them to better structure their innovation process, to better transform their innovation projects into commercial success and to increase their competitiveness. This number of assessments is less than expected because the Covid 19 crisis change some strategic priorities for companies and a lack of available human resources. Nevertheless the companies mentored continue theirs innovation project and find new innovative solutions to keep theirs clients.
Regarding the EIMC service, the consortium has supported 10 companies during the contractual period over an objective of 27 planned in the work program. The clients, working in a wide variety of industrial and business services sectors have benefited from that service which allowed them to better structure their innovation process, to better transform their innovation projects into commercial success and to increase their competitiveness. This number of assessments is less than expected because the Covid 19 crisis change some strategic priorities for companies and a lack of available human resources. Nevertheless the companies mentored continue theirs innovation project and find new innovative solutions to keep theirs clients.
The beneficiaries from the EIMC service were able to identify areas for improvement in their innovation culture and process, to identify areas for progress to innovate more effectively, to adapt and differentiate themselves from competitors and to ensure the sustainability of their activity.
The implementation of the EIMC services was carried out in close cooperation with the EEN consortium EURACTE business advisers for the identification of the target SMEs and for providing complementary support services to the companies benefiting from the services (IPR, search for partners, regulatory support, etc.). The EURACTE consortium reinforced efforts to provide high added-value expertise and tailor-made information to regional companies about EIC scheme, namely EIC Accelerator calls, in order to increase the number of regional applicants and beneficiaries.
The implementation of the EIMC services was carried out in close cooperation with the EEN consortium EURACTE business advisers for the identification of the target SMEs and for providing complementary support services to the companies benefiting from the services (IPR, search for partners, regulatory support, etc.). The EURACTE consortium reinforced efforts to provide high added-value expertise and tailor-made information to regional companies about EIC scheme, namely EIC Accelerator calls, in order to increase the number of regional applicants and beneficiaries.