Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MontEENegro (Enhancing innovation management capacities of SMEs in Montenegro)
Période du rapport: 2020-01-01 au 2021-12-31
During this reporting period EEN Montenegro has provided in-depth services enhancing the innovation capacity of SMEs. This specific activity has offered beneficiaries services to increase innovation capacity and personalized support to help shape innovation potential into international commercial success. The purpose of this process was to assist SMEs to develop their innovation management capabilities to increase their competitiveness and to grow more effectively.
The services were well adopted to COSME services.
The services were well adopted to COSME services.
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.
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.
Although it was pretty tough period, in particular 2020, we succeeded to complete target SMEs amid COVID -19. Even though we expected this programming period to be the boosting in our services, we missed the expected outcomes. Also, one of the issue was that the clients were oriented more towards short-term results and some of they expected Action plan recommendation that might help them to generate concrete project or immediate additional funds during difficult times.
By assessing the current status of the innovation management system in the SMEs and consequently proposing and implementing an action plan to address the main bottlenecks, the SMEs were able to improve their innovation management capacities. With stronger innovation management capacities, the SMEs were able to gain a better market position and to save costs, and in general to change their previous approach to innovation improvement.
By assessing the current status of the innovation management system in the SMEs and consequently proposing and implementing an action plan to address the main bottlenecks, the SMEs were able to improve their innovation management capacities. With stronger innovation management capacities, the SMEs were able to gain a better market position and to save costs, and in general to change their previous approach to innovation improvement.