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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INNCAT1718 (Enhancing INNovation management capacity of CATalan small and medium enterprises 2017-2018)

Teaser

Summary

The call for proposals â€œEnhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEsâ€ proposed the offering of assessment, mentoring and coaching services to SMEs with the objective of increasing and accelerating the economic returns from innovation.
Through the project INNCAT1718, ACCIÃ“ (Agency for Business Competitiveness) has offered in the period 2017-18 the following innovation services in the region of Catalonia to 170 SMEs: 32 SMEs received Innovation Management (EIMC) services and 138 SMEs received Key Account Management (KAM) services.
KAM services were offered to the beneficiaries of the SME Instrument (SMEI) calls, offering support in the coach selection with the objective to help the company become more innovative.
EIMC services were offered to SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for internationalization, with the objective to enhance their innovation management capacities.
KAM & EIMC services were offered to 87 successfully closed cases (63 KAM and 24 EIMC). Both KAM and EIMC services will help SMEs improve their innovation projectsâ€™ results.

Work performed

Key Account Management (KAM) services for the beneficiaries of the SME Instrument
Each SME beneficiary of the Horizon 2020 SMEI has mandatory access to a free business innovation coaching service (3-days for Phase 1 beneficiaries and 12-days for Phase 2 beneficiaries) offered by the European Commission. These services are offered additionally to the grants received by the SMEs for their innovation project, with the main objective to help them overcome the challenge of bringing a new product or service to the market and, thus, bridge the so called innovation valley of death.
It is the role of the KAM to help the SME make the most of the coaching service, offering them a short list of suitable coaches to collaborate with and supporting them through all process.
In the period 2017-18 Catalan SMEs have had an excellent participation in the SMEI programme. 102 Catalan SMEs were awarded, a 4,89% of the total SMEs awarded in the programme. 73 SMEs were successful in Ph1, 28 in Ph2 and 1 in both.
All (100%) Catalan beneficiaries of the SMEI have been contacted and received KAM services. Furthermore, SMEs beneficiaries from previous SMEI cut-off received services too (cases started within project INNCAT 15-16).
In total, KAM services have been offered to 138 SMEs (84 in 2017 and 92 in 2018).
KAM services offered by ACCIÃ“ followed an easy 4-step process where 1) the company was contacted by the KAM to exchange general information. Once the company accepted receiving the service, a business innovation need analysis was performed using an open-source tool developed under the European Project sME-mPOWER; 2) The result of the analysis was used by the KAM to select at least 3 suitable coaches from the European Commission Database; 3) the company selected the coach and started the business coaching sessions; 4) the service was closed and KAM gathered feedback for improving forthcoming services.
In the sum, 63 cases were completed (31 in 2017 and 32 in 2018).
Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity for innovating SMEs
To help improve innovation management capacities in SMEs, ACCIÃ“ offered to Catalan SME assessment services using IMP3rove and Innovation Health Check (IHC), two tools that demonstrate compliance to the innovation management standard CEN/TS 16555-1. The services were offered by highly qualified senior staff trained in using IMP3rove and IHC and with experience delivering EIMC to SMEs.
The EIMC service for SMEs followed a 4-step process where selected SME with willingness to grow 1) received an assessment in Innovation Management capacity using the IMP3rove or IHC methodology; 2) based on the assessment needs/gap analysis results, an action plan was presented to the company; 3) the SME decided to implement the action plan and; 4) the case is closed and feedback was provided to ACCIÃ“.
Once the service has finished, companies should be in a better position to manage its internal innovation processes in such a way that they were not only aligned with, but fully integrated into the company\'s overall business development and growth strategy.
ACCIÃ“ delivered EIMC services to 32 SMEs (17 started the EIMC process during the period 2017-2018).
On the other hand, during the period 2017-2018, 24 services were closed (5 that started in 2015, 10 in 2016 and 9 in 2017). Therefore, 8 will continue being open during 2019.

Final results

Key Account Management (KAM) services for the beneficiaries of the SME Instrument
KAM main activity is to facilitate coaching services for SMEI beneficiaries. Nevertheless, to achieve the objective of fostering the impact of SMEI projects, links with COSME activities and phase 3 services are of key importance.
42 SMEs that received KAM services in 2017-2018 registered as EEN clients. Main COSME services that have been requested by SMEI beneficiaries are: advisory services for SMEI phase 2 proposals; IPR services; financial services (SMEIs interested in financial products, not grants); participation in brokerage events; partner search.
Phase 3 services are offered to SMEI beneficiaries by COCOOM consortium. Nevertheless, KAM involvement in the promotion of these activities is key due to the trust relationship generated between KAM and SMEs. ACCIÃ“â€™s KAM team answered all questions raised by SMEs regarding phase 3 services.
Some impacts achieved by companies that received services are: THE SOCIAL COIN has been awarded with NTT Data Open Business Contest 2017; AEINNOVA has been awarded with the IoT Solutions World Congress Awards and ACCIÃ“ investorsâ€™ forum award; WORLDSENSING was selected by EASME to pitch at WebSummit Lisbon; CIVICITY implemented its city voting platform in 5 new cities; etc.
Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity for innovating SMEs
Regarding the EIMC services, out of the 24 EIMC services closed 11 companies (45,8%) did the implementation of some recommended actions thanks to some grants funded by ACCIÃ“ (innovation vouchers, R&D projects or other).
The completed services have had a positive impact on 17 companies (70,8%). Some impacts achieved by companies that received services are: ARCUSIN Increased turnover 7% and EBIT 47%, improved systematisation of the innovation process and explored potential collaborations to enter in new markets; GRAFIX increased EBIT 254% and developed a new business model; MADERSENIA increased EBIT 203% and reformulated the innovation model of the company; etc.
Execution of the Implementation Strategy
INNCAT1718 project has been key for increasing the expected impact of the innovation activities of the CATCIM (COSME) project. It has helped to broaden the base of innovative companies in Catalonia since the majority of the SMEI beneficiaries applied to European innovation funds for the very first time. It has deepened the level of innovation of Catalan companies through a personalised assessment provided by EIMC services. Coaching services helped companies to better define their stakeholderâ€™s collaboration strategy and, thus, has helped to increase the technology transfer. Finally, both EIMC and KAM services helped to increase the European and international dimension of the SMEsâ€™ innovation strategies.