Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EENClientInnoJourney (The extended EEN innovation support service for innovative SMEs in Serbia — EEN Client Inno Journey)
Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2021-12-31
Section 1 - Overview of the progress towards the objectives
During the 24 months of the EENClientInnoJourney project implementation, the project partners have not provided KAM services. Having in mind the general objective of the project additional EIMC services have been provided. The target for the KAM and EIMC services in total was 50 cases, but due to COVIC-19 circumstances, the 59 companies were willing to receive EIMC services in order to improve their chance to enhance growth and profitability.
Through the COSME activities have been supported the several companies in their process of applying for the EIC Accelerator calls, but unfortunately, they didn’t get funding. Special attention has been provided to those beneficiaries that already have good marks from the previous calls. Some improvements have been made, but not sufficient to ensure the finance of the projects.
Our client TRAKEN supported through the EIMC service has validated their innovation idea through, the Innovation Action project funded by the European Commission, the “EuRopEAn incubator for trusted and secure data value Chains” and established cooperation for testing their solution in a real environment with SEEPEX, a licensed market operator for an organized electricity market/power exchange. HIB institute has made initial contact with a company from the Netherland which developing VR safety construction training to innovate their services. Moreover, our client Swiftty, SME Instrument beneficiary from 2017, has been supported during their hunting of investors. In the first quarter of 2020, they made a final deal with an investor from the USA. Additionally, all other companies have been supported through the COSME activities.
Due to COVID-19 lockdowns, the regular activities of SMEs have been decreased, but also that was the opportunity for them to identify their innovation management weaknesses in these new circumstances. Each year Serbian innovation companies have been interested to conduct company assessments and improve their innovation management, which could be seen from our previous reports where more cases have been reported than previously targeted in projects. Their interest increased in this project period as well, especially during 2021. Since the COVID-19 restrictions have affected their regular businesses they were looking for new opportunities in addressing factors hindering successful innovation cycles. All interested parties have been supported by the consortium and 9 additional cases have been done. The budget for covering spent hours for these additional cases was taken from the costs reserved for travel.
During the 24 months of the EENClientInnoJourney project implementation, the project partners have not provided KAM services. Having in mind the general objective of the project additional EIMC services have been provided. The target for the KAM and EIMC services in total was 50 cases, but due to COVIC-19 circumstances, the 59 companies were willing to receive EIMC services in order to improve their chance to enhance growth and profitability.
Through the COSME activities have been supported the several companies in their process of applying for the EIC Accelerator calls, but unfortunately, they didn’t get funding. Special attention has been provided to those beneficiaries that already have good marks from the previous calls. Some improvements have been made, but not sufficient to ensure the finance of the projects.
Our client TRAKEN supported through the EIMC service has validated their innovation idea through, the Innovation Action project funded by the European Commission, the “EuRopEAn incubator for trusted and secure data value Chains” and established cooperation for testing their solution in a real environment with SEEPEX, a licensed market operator for an organized electricity market/power exchange. HIB institute has made initial contact with a company from the Netherland which developing VR safety construction training to innovate their services. Moreover, our client Swiftty, SME Instrument beneficiary from 2017, has been supported during their hunting of investors. In the first quarter of 2020, they made a final deal with an investor from the USA. Additionally, all other companies have been supported through the COSME activities.
Due to COVID-19 lockdowns, the regular activities of SMEs have been decreased, but also that was the opportunity for them to identify their innovation management weaknesses in these new circumstances. Each year Serbian innovation companies have been interested to conduct company assessments and improve their innovation management, which could be seen from our previous reports where more cases have been reported than previously targeted in projects. Their interest increased in this project period as well, especially during 2021. Since the COVID-19 restrictions have affected their regular businesses they were looking for new opportunities in addressing factors hindering successful innovation cycles. All interested parties have been supported by the consortium and 9 additional cases have been done. The budget for covering spent hours for these additional cases was taken from the costs reserved for travel.
Neither of the local SMEs has been funded through EIC Accelerator under H2020. One company has been supported through phase 3, and they made a deal with the investor. The investor has not been found through the Enterprise Europe Network channels, but consultations with the client during that period have been made.
Having in mind the general objective of the WP2, 59 high-potential Serbian have been directly supported in improving their innovation management capacities. Each of 59 companies received a 7-days working package from three partners, Innovation Centre of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (ICMF) 18 companies, Business Incubator Novi Sad (BINS) 25 companies and Institute Mihajlo Pupin (IMP) 16 companies. The implementation of the envisaged tasks within EIMC was based on INNOVATE tool (59 companies).
Having in mind the general objective of the WP2, 59 high-potential Serbian have been directly supported in improving their innovation management capacities. Each of 59 companies received a 7-days working package from three partners, Innovation Centre of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (ICMF) 18 companies, Business Incubator Novi Sad (BINS) 25 companies and Institute Mihajlo Pupin (IMP) 16 companies. The implementation of the envisaged tasks within EIMC was based on INNOVATE tool (59 companies).
Direct impact as "significantly enhanced growth and profitability” have been partly made in 8 out of 59 companies (Saint Di (successful software commercialization should enhance profitability in the future); Build4U (there is no direct impact on profitability but the implementation of the proposed action plan will have an indirect impact on improving the performance of the company), Ino Agencija DOO (with the process of introducing post-service support, the company is expected to expand its portfolio of users and thus make higher profits in the future), Moonstruck (the implementation of the project approved by the Innovation Fund has fostered growth and enhance the profitability of the company in the future), Ekohem (increase their profitability by promoting new products at the market), Biosoftis (creating new network with clients and partners), MANUFAKTURA (implementation of the project approved by the Innovation Fund has fostered growth and enhance the profitability), Propter (new product and implementation of the Innovation Fund approved project has influence on their profitability).
Potential impact on job creation or maintenance were made: 24 companies out of 59 have an impact on job creation: Nerovio (maintained jobs); IKOING (maintained jobs); Nebula (maintained jobs); EUROTEHNA doo (maintained jobs); GOŠA WELD TEAM doo (maintained jobs); Privredno društvo za proizvodnju rakije BB KLEKOVAČA DOO BAJINA BAŠTA (impact on new jobs and network maintained); IMW Institut doo (impact on new jobs and network maintained); MANUFAKTURA (maintained jobs); INIT TECHNOLOGIES (maintained jobs); Biosoftis doo (maintained jobs); EKOHEM (maintained jobs); Dexterit (maintained jobs); DDR100IC (maintained jobs); N.K.S. INŽENJERING (maintained jobs); Lukal Aluminium System (maintained jobs); Elektrotehnicki Institut Nikola Tesla (new jobs created); ELIT INOX (maintained jobs); SciEd (maintained jobs); AAA Freight (maintained jobs); ANA LAB (new jobs created); Mainflux Labs (maintained jobs); Synthesis Quatro - SQ(new jobs created); Propter (new jobs created), Moonstruck (new jobs created).
The socio-economic impact and wider societal implications of the action were established by 6 out of 59 companies: Ekostroj doo (reduction of the waste); Dajas doo (Adoption of a new product material, which meets environmental standards in terms of bio-origin and 100% biodegradability); Elektrotehnicki Institut Nikola Tesla (related to energy efficiency in electricity transmission), White lemor (contribution to the circular economy); B-FRESH TECHNOLOGIES (contribution to the circular economy); AEDES COOP (contribution to the circular economy); Institut HiB (contribute to the safety in the construction industry).
Potential impact on job creation or maintenance were made: 24 companies out of 59 have an impact on job creation: Nerovio (maintained jobs); IKOING (maintained jobs); Nebula (maintained jobs); EUROTEHNA doo (maintained jobs); GOŠA WELD TEAM doo (maintained jobs); Privredno društvo za proizvodnju rakije BB KLEKOVAČA DOO BAJINA BAŠTA (impact on new jobs and network maintained); IMW Institut doo (impact on new jobs and network maintained); MANUFAKTURA (maintained jobs); INIT TECHNOLOGIES (maintained jobs); Biosoftis doo (maintained jobs); EKOHEM (maintained jobs); Dexterit (maintained jobs); DDR100IC (maintained jobs); N.K.S. INŽENJERING (maintained jobs); Lukal Aluminium System (maintained jobs); Elektrotehnicki Institut Nikola Tesla (new jobs created); ELIT INOX (maintained jobs); SciEd (maintained jobs); AAA Freight (maintained jobs); ANA LAB (new jobs created); Mainflux Labs (maintained jobs); Synthesis Quatro - SQ(new jobs created); Propter (new jobs created), Moonstruck (new jobs created).
The socio-economic impact and wider societal implications of the action were established by 6 out of 59 companies: Ekostroj doo (reduction of the waste); Dajas doo (Adoption of a new product material, which meets environmental standards in terms of bio-origin and 100% biodegradability); Elektrotehnicki Institut Nikola Tesla (related to energy efficiency in electricity transmission), White lemor (contribution to the circular economy); B-FRESH TECHNOLOGIES (contribution to the circular economy); AEDES COOP (contribution to the circular economy); Institut HiB (contribute to the safety in the construction industry).