SME funding from EU available for Montenegrin companies and introduced them our range of services. We have identified few companies with innovation potential that we considered capable and ready to participate. EIC Accelerator Pilot was presented and procedures were explained. We have decided not to organize info days due to Covid 19 situation, and therefore we have held individual meetings, which in later phase were organized online or even via telephone communication, in particular as the recommendation for direct visit was strictly given by national authorities.
Despite all our activities, we didn’t have any new client to apply for SME support.
During reporting period we have used ,,Innovation Health Check’’- Innovation benchmarking model and assisted 9 SMEs to fill in Innovation questionnaires, while 11 were supported through IMP3rove assessments. The companies covered different technological fields e.g. ICT, printing, electrical, engineering, knitwear production and organic production. This time, we also used the same methodology and approach towards companies ensuring the standardized services were delivered throughout Montenegro. In all cases the general format of the services included several (virtual) visits with SME management staff, a detailed screening of problems goals, activities, an assessment phase for diagnosing areas for further support, and final consulting in the form of an Action Plan for implementation.
During 2020 and 2021, there were national call published and realized by the Ministry of Economy for innovative improvement, and digital business transformation projects, that attracted quite an attraction, we benefited from contacting those clients and offered our H2020 service, pretty compatible to their action plans. Therefore, all their applications were formatted in better way, with different approach, thanks to analysis provided by Innovation Health Check.
