Establishing services enhancing the innovation management capacity of the Slovak SMEs in the Enterprise Europe Network in 2020-2021

Project Information

H-BISS Slovakia 2021

Grant agreement ID: 879811

DOI

10.3030/879811

Project closed

EC signature date 12 December 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 31 December 2021

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 154 202,50

EU contribution

€ 154 202,50

Coordinated by

BIC BRATISLAVA SPOL SRO
Slovakia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - H-BISS Slovakia 2021 (Establishing services enhancing the innovation management capacity of the Slovak SMEs in the Enterprise Europe Network in 2020-2021)

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

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Main objective of the action is improving the innovation management capacity of two SME target groups: (1) Beneficiaries of the EIC Pilot (i.e. SMEs Instrument, FET Open and FTI) and holders of the Seal of Excellence certificate of the 2019 EIC COVID call by provision of the specialised Key Account Management (KAM) services for selection of world leading coach and implementation of coaching plan, and (2) SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for internationalisation through the targeted Enhancing the innovation management capacity (EIMC) services. The proposed action aimed at implementing 56 service packages in during the period of 2020-2021.

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

The KAM services were provided to the Slovak SMEs benefitting from the Horizon 2020 EIC Pilot, incl. Seal of Excellence holder from the COVID-specific call. Based on the needs assessment performed by standardised tool smEMPOWER the key account manager identified main challenges for coaching, prepared a list of recommended coach, established contact to selected coach, supported communication between SME and coach in preparation of implementation of coaching plan and supported interaction between SME and coach during process of coaching. In 2021, EISMEA launched a pilot for recipients of the Seal of Excellence (SoE) from the EIC Accelerator and thus extended the target group of local SMEs. BIC have provided 4-5 day service packages to SoE holders and supported them in access to finance and/or market.
Most of project activities (85%) were dedicated to targeted EIMC services to high-profile innovative SMEs from the whole region of Slovakia. The certified innovation experts are delivering the EIMC services according to the IMP3rove methodology. The services were implemented in form of standardised service packages consisting of getting acquainted with IMP3rove and the SME, meeting and mobilising the SME, executing the IMP3rove assessment, developing and presenting the recommendations, facilitating the implementation of actions, monitoring and measuring the implementation of actions. Synergies with the traditional EEN services on internationalisation and innovation were implemented during or after delivering the service packages.
Project has supported 79 Slovak companies by provision of specific KAM, SoE and EIMC service packages. The planned results were overachieved by 146%.

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)

During the project, the KAM services were provided to 6 Slovak SMEs – beneficiaries of SME Instrument/EIC Accelerator Pilot/ (3 Phase 1 projects, 2 EIC Accelerator-Phase 2 project and 1 holder of the Seal of Excellence). The coaching sessions supported within the project duration were focused on business aspects of future SME development. 6 Slovak SMEs, holders of SoE, were supported in access to finance in the national ESIF-based funding call.
The EIMC service packages were provided to 67 companies. The service packages resulted in increase of sales, growth or maintaining employment, introduction of new products to the markets, (innovation) management capabilities enhancement.

EEN