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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EEN Northern NL (EEN Northern Netherlands: enhancing the innovation capacity of SME\'s)

Teaser

Summary

In addition to the innovation-related services offered by EEN Northern Netherlands, this H2020 project has provided in-depth services enhancing the innovation capacity of SMEs. Due to several reasons (e.g. a lack of offers, unaffordable market prices or poor quality), consulting service offers enhancing the innovation management capacity of companies are not readily available to SMEs in many European regions, including the Northern Netherlands.
This specific Horizon 2020 activity within the EEN services therefore has offered mentoring and coaching services to beneficiaries with the objective to increase and accelerate economic returns from innovation. EEN Northern NL has addressed this specific challenge with two service packages to implement the following services:

1. Key account management services for H2020 SME instrument beneficiaries (KAM services)
The objective for this particular work package was to ensure that the SME Instrument beneficiaries in the North of the Netherlands receive the most appropriate services and support to underscore the successful and profitable exploitation of their innovation project. Secondly, we wanted to leave the SMEs with a footprint for future sustainable growth.

2. Services to enhance the innovation management capacities of SMEs (EIMC services)
The objective of work package 2 is to provide high quality innovation management capacity assessment and support services in the way that SMEs with high potential are able to conduct innovation processes in a more efficient and effective way.

Work performed

KAM services
We have approached all beneficiaries of the SME Instrument in the North of the Netherlands, but the mere part of the approached organizations, were not highly interested in the KAM services.
The biggest issue we encountered with regards to the KAM services, was the limited number of SME Instrument beneficiaries in the North of the Netherlands: three. Here the synergy with the general EEN services are apparent, by raising the awareness of the opportunities the SME Instrument, it might be possible to raise the number of SME Instrument applicants and hopefully also the number of successful applicants.
Despite the limited number of SME Instrument beneficiaries and the little interest in the KAM services, we managed to reach all SME Instrument beneficiaries and arranged multiple appointments. During these conversations we were able to conduct appropriate discussions about their gaps and needs with regards to strategy and operations and thereby increasing the probability of a successful and profitable project. Two of the three processes are completed, one is still ongoing.

EIMC services
To provide the high quality innovation management capacity, we were dedicated to get familiar with the specific tools and requirements. We joined the Innovation Health Check Training and with the knowledge gained during this training we were able to assess the innovation management capacity accurately and effectively. We have identified needs and gaps and proposed relation action plans where the main challenges/gaps were addressed.

Particularly promising SMEs have been supported by the enhancement of their innovation management capacities. In total the magnificent number of 11 companies went through the EIMC process. These organizations were active in several sectors: Information Technology (IT), electrochemistry, visual intelligence, water technology, marketing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), bio information technology, packaging or greenhouse cultivation industry.

Final results

At this point it is hard to determine the overall impact of the KAM and EIMC services for the North of the Netherlands, since 2015/2016 was the first period for us to implement the Network activities. A large part of this period has been spent on getting familiar with the rules, requirements and tools.

KAM services
Because the two companies involved in a completed process were not interested in a coach, the impact was limited. The impact is limited to the insights gained by the assessment of needs and gaps. These insights led to cost savings and quality improvement. As mentioned earlier, we have supported 3 SME Instrument beneficiaries, including 2 completed case and one still on-going. None of these companies has indicated a quantitative impact, because they felt that the impact of the insights gained by the assessment of needs and gaps was hard to measure.

EIMC services
The EIMC services were experienced as very hands-on and useful. 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 (because the management can work more efficiently and effectively). At the same time, these stronger innovation management capacities will close the gap with regards to innovation capacity and internationalization compared to the national average.
As mentioned earlier, 11 companies went through the Innovation Health Check. The companies have not indicated an increase in jobs, but did mention changing job tasks. They did indicate cost savings, but did not indicate exactly numbers. In these cases it is hard to measure exact numbers on generated impact by the supporting activities of EEN NN.

Implementation Strategy
In the Implementation Strategy we articulated the need for more information about the innovation framework programme. We described that itâ€™s often hard for companies to find the right information about EU innovation support. The national contact point (RVO) is located in The Hague, which is seen as a barrier to contact them (long distance).
Because of the effort invested in gaining familiarity among companies in the North of the Netherlands with the Network and the KAM and EIMC services, we contributed to a better infrastructure of EU innovation support services. Companies in the North of the Netherlands do not have to go to The Hague for one-to-one EU information anymore, and therefore we are convinced that the companies in the North of the Netherlands can find the right information more easily than before.
Secondly, we offered the innovative SMEs support in turning innovative ideas into real actions. With the EIMC services, we supported them, - directly or indirectly â€“ in developing soft skills, knowledge about IP protection and networking and so on. Because we have facilitated appropriate financial support and tailor-made coaching, we have raised awareness about the available innovation support and because we were able to match companies with knowledge institutions or other businesses, we were able to contribute to an improvement of innovation performance of local SMEs.
Last but not least, the coherence and synergy of the COSME activities and this H2020 project was very important. In some cases companies that applied for the IHC turned out not be ready for this, or after a preliminary assessment by our team it turned out that this was not what they needed. If this was the case, they were forwarded to colleagues that would be able to help them. By smart signposting the clients were optimally served and have benefit optimally of the services of the Network.