Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CESEAND InnoAses2 (Enhance innovation management capacities in Andalusian SMEs. CESEAND InnoAses 2015-16.)

Teaser

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) play a crucial role in reaching the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Whereas they are considered as critical engines for growth and job creation, their competitiveness is affected by a limited exploitation of international...

Summary

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) play a crucial role in reaching the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Whereas they are considered as critical engines for growth and job creation, their competitiveness is affected by a limited exploitation of international opportunities and innovation prospects in the Single Market and beyond.
The European Commission has placed a firm wager on an ‘industrial renaissance’ in which SMEs are to play a leading role. Within this context, the role of the new Community instruments have assigned to the Enterprise Europe Network partners, as a European-wide network of entities integrated into regional innovation systems, is that of being the lever and driving force for innovation management capacities in SMEs and, in the near future, as the organisation directly responsible for the provision of advanced services.
According to this call, this project has achieved the following objectives:
• To enhance the innovation capacities of SMEs in Andalusia in order to make them more competitive through the provision of advanced services.
• To drive forward non-technological catalysts for innovation in SMEs.
• To develop on behalf of the entities which comprise the Enterprise Europe Network new ways and tools to provide services to SMEs that contribute to enhancing their competitive capacities.
• To provide support to beneficiaries of SME Instrument, accompanying them in their transition through Phases 1 and 2.
• To identify future potential applicants to successfully take part in SME Instrument.
• To develop methodologies that can be enhanced through their integration into the Andalusian Innovation Ecosystem.

Work performed

During 2015 and 2016, this Consortium has provided individual advisory services over Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla to more than 130 SMEs in order to improve their innovation management capacities. A total of 121 complete cases have been carried out, providing support enhancing innovation management capacities through IMPROVE or IHC tools, and also supporting SMEs on the preparation of their projects under the SME Instrument initiative of the European Commission.
First of all, taking into consideration the Andalusian companies profiles and needs, this Consortium has evaluated the main existing European methodologies, focus to enhance the innovation management capacities into the SMES. As a result of this analysis and in coordination with the Network, the consortium has finally developed two types of services representing the highest valuable to the Andalusian companies: Key Account Management (KAM) and Enhancing Innovation Management Capacities (EIMC).
Taking into account the regional Andalusian Smart Specialization Strategy and the three main pillars of the European Programme ‘Horizon 2020’: Excellent Science, Competitive Industries and Societal Challenges, three type of tools / methodologies have been used during this period: IMP3ROVE and IHC diagnostics for EIMC services; and H2020 ‘CoachCom’ follow up for KAM cases. The main activities carried out during this period (2015-16) have been the following:
• Identification of the different target groups (executed at the beginning of the contract): SME Instrument beneficiaries among other SMEs with significant innovation activities and high potential for internationalization.
• Description of the innovation management tools used in the project\'s implementation. And more specifically, using the national 166002 standard adapted to the CEN/TS 16555 standards and the IMP3ROVE and IHC Tool: SWOT Analysis; Innovation Management system; Innovation capacities: (Ideas Management, Projects developments, IPR Markets needs and Financial and Non-Financial Indicators) and other specific techniques take into account despite each diagnostic.
• Company visits and calls for interest in order to detect potential companies interested in these types of services.
• Development and assessment of both seven days package services: Enhance SME innovation management capacities (EIMC) and Key Account Management (KAM) over the region covered despite both target groups.

Final results

Some of the following capacities and know-how have been transferred to participating SMEs through this action:
• Provision of tools to gain an understanding of their organisation\'s context, especially the innovation ecosystem in order to turn it into a business ally.
• Raise awareness to establish the leadership and the commitment of the SME\'s management in innovation process and techniques to implement successfully an innovation plan.
• Enable SMEs to identify and encourage internal and external factors that support innovation as an enhancement of the business and develop the innovation management process.
• Set up A balanced scorecard that allows innovation management to be piloted and enhanced.
• Implementation of An exhaustive analysis, including recommendations and improvement proposals, for its possible successful participation in SME Instrument.
• A tailored made proposal of services managed by Enterprise Europe Network, which contributes to enhance SME’S business plan\'s development.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.ceseand.net.