The objective of the EST-KAM project is to enhance the innovation management capacity of Estonian SMEs. The action is aimed at two kinds of SMEs - beneficiaries of the SME Instrument of Horizon and SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for...
The objective of the EST-KAM project is to enhance the innovation management capacity of Estonian SMEs. The action is aimed at two kinds of SMEs - beneficiaries of the SME Instrument of Horizon and SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for internationalisation.
For beneficiaries of the SME Instrument, the service package (the Key Account Management service) consists of identifying weaknesses in the innovation capacities of the beneficiary; identifying suitable coaches (based on the assessment in the first step) to address the identified weaknesses and moderating the coach-client relationship; and accompanying the beneficiary through the SME Instrument project.
The service packages outside the scope of the SME Instrument (the “Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SME\'s†service) consist of carrying out a diagnostic audit of the selected SMEs; and developing and implementing a tailored action plan to improve the SME’s capacity to manage innovation processes.
We provided the KAM service to all Estonian SME Instrument beneficiaries and EIMC service to 6 other Estonian SMEs during the 2-year period.
We used the smE-MPOWER tool to identify the coaching needs of Estonian SME Instrument beneficiaries, provided a list of coached to meet the needs, and assisted the SME-coach relationships throughout the coaching service provision. In addition, we supported the SMEs in implementing their projects.
In the EIMC service, we used the Innovation Health Check tool to identify the strengths and weaknesses in innovation management of the participating SMEs. The identified issues were addressed by TEHNOPOL’s experts and external advisors.
SME receiving the services were introduced to the whole list of Enterprise Europe Network services. When relevant, the SMEs were signposted to the Network partner best positioned to complement the coaching and EIMC services with additional support.
As a result of the services provided, the SME beneficiaries have significantly enhanced their innovation management capabilities. There are now much better positioned to launch their products to the market and scale up their activities. Hence, the chances of being successful on the market are substantially better than before the services.
The potential impact of the services is millions of additional revenue and tens of new jobs created by the SMEs receiving the services.
More info: https://enterprise-europe.ee/.