EEN Innovation Management Berlin-Brandenburg (InnoManage BB 2020-2021)

Project Information

InnoManage BB 20-21

Grant agreement ID: 880037

DOI

10.3030/880037

Project closed

EC signature date 14 February 2020

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 31 December 2021

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 251 413,75

EU contribution

€ 251 412,75

Coordinated by

BERLIN PARTNER FUR WIRTSCHAFT UND TECHNOLOGIE GMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - InnoManage BB 20-21 (EEN Innovation Management Berlin-Brandenburg (InnoManage BB 2020-2021))

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

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is a key support network that assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their innovation process and development on an international scale. The EU-funded InnoManage BB project provides innovative SMEs in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg with services related to two main specific objectives for the period 2020-2021.
The objectives of the InnoManage BB project are to:
- Provision of Key Account Management (KAM) services to the companies from Berlin-Brandenburg capital region, which have been awarded grants under the EIC Accelerator Pilot, Future Emerging Technologies or Fast Track to Innovation programmes.
- Provision of Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC) services to SMEs in 2020-2021. T The beneficiaries of these services are SMEs with existing, significant innovation activities that have a high potential for internationalisation.

Lack of innovation management capacity is an important barrier to the economic impact of innovation activities in SMEs. The Horizon 2020 work programme "Innovation in SMEs" therefore foresees support services for SMEs through the Enterprise Europe Network adressing this specific problem.
With the KAM services, the InnoManage BB experts provided high quality advice and enabled SMEs to increase their innovation capacity. The experts accompanied their SME clients in this process and supported the company in dealing with the weaknesses identified. The experts of the consortium facilitated the interaction between coach and client and linked the SME with regional, national and international stakeholders. Most companies took advantage of this offer and benefited from their work with the business coaches.
As part of the EIMC service, the network experts conducted an in-depth diagnosis and developed an action plan with the SME to address the weaknesses identified. The results of the analysis were used to provide ongoing and sustainable support to the SME in its process of working on these bottlenecks and improving its ability to increase its business and growth. Suitable SMEs were identified in close cooperation with the host organisations and regional stakeholders.

The InnoManage BB consortium all in all supported 42 clients.

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

During the reporting period Key Account Services were offered to SMEs that have been successful in their applications for funding under the Horizon 2020 EIC Accelerator Pilot. In 2020, this service was also extended to the projects awarded with the “Seals of Excellence”. Through a needs analysis the service helped SME beneficiaries to detect where they will need support to gain maximum value from the grant, to provide guidance in sourcing and selecting coaches for that purpose and to access finance.

Enhancing innovation management capacity service was offered to SMEs which wanted to increase their ability to manage and implement innovation processes successfully. It covered an individual assessment of the status of innovation management in the company, development of an individual action plan for improving it and monitoring of the implementation. Both KAM and EIMC Services are successfully established in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg.

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)

The economic impact of previous cases starts to become visible. Clients are followed up regularly so that we can keep track of the impact of our services. Our clients report that they have improved their internal management, hired new staff and improved their business model.
The KAM and EIMC services are fully integrated in the Enterprise Europe Network’s service portfolio, namely the provision of advisory and partnering services. Synergies were utilised wherever possible.
This includes the combination of different services, e.g. identification of high potential SMEs and projects, signposting to the H2020 SME Instrument or alternative funding opportunities, mentoring during innovation projects, facilitating cooperation with third parties.

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