Knowledge relevant to the project's objective was transferred by 'twinning+' methodology. The sharing and cooperation on the Design Options Paper (DOP) composition took place via four workshops.
The main output of the efforts is the DOP. This deliverable has to be considered as compilation of 22 good practices (GPs) in the area of work with exploitation potential of projects and a set of recommendations on how to approach this area effectively.
Six GPs refer to the project proposal preparation stage and address objective number one, “simplifying the process of applying for funding and evaluation process for the SMEs”, and object number two, “developing an efficient method to select SME projects with the highest potential to utilise their innovation”.
Four practices refer to the project evaluation stage, again addressing objectives number one and two. Specifically, they describe the evaluation process applied in the Eurostars programme managed by Eureka. It also offers a number of methods to speed up the project proposal control and evaluation process in order to decrease the time between proposal submission and reception of the support or grant.
Four GPs refer to the project realization phase, addressing objective number three: “improving and increasing the effectiveness of the existing project interim and ex-post monitoring methodology and related supporting services”. These GPs describe different approaches to project monitoring from the perspective of exploitation of results (personalized close-up and online large scale overview) including methods to help projects to achieve the results they planned.
Seven practices refer to the ex-post stage, as well as to objective number three. They cover a range of aftercare services including support for projects to find further funding or to scale-up, ex-post monitoring of results, and tools to map results and impact in order to better shape programmes and future calls.
In addition, there is one miscellaneous practice from the recommendations of the Taftie SELECT working group.
Other RFOs may use the DOP to further this project’s work and improve their evaluation and project monitoring systems. For this purpose, an online tool called Checklist was prepared for external parties to be able to select the best practices for them to study in detail.
Currently running dissemination activities (active since June 2021) mainly concern the final project’s outcome, that is, the DOP sharing online via social media, local research and innovation portals and informative email to mailing lists, and at events of Networks, consortia and communities the partners are part of. The main dissemination materials are a digital leaflet together with the Executive summary of the DOP linked to the publicly accessible project website containing all the further details.
