Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Business INN Moldova (Business INN Moldova)

Teaser

According to the implementation strategy, “because of the current level of development ofinnovation within SMEs in the Republic of Moldova, we believe, however, that there are unlikely tobe significant numbers of SMEs eligible for consultancy and Key Account Manager (KAM)...

Summary

According to the implementation strategy, “because of the current level of development of
innovation within SMEs in the Republic of Moldova, we believe, however, that there are unlikely to
be significant numbers of SMEs eligible for consultancy and Key Account Manager (KAM) support
through the SME Instrument during the next few years, [...] we anticipate that it will realistically
take at least 2--3 years for the Consortium partners to fully develop their capacity for support in this
area, and that more detailed plans related to the KAM role should only be incorporated into the
Workplan for the period from 2017. [..] We do not anticipate this as a significant requirement of the
Consortium for at least 2--3 years. As a result, we have proposed an approach focused on developing
capacity for future support“.

The implementation strategy, as well as the present project, recognizes the need for innovation
management consulting services development, as follows: ”[...]we do recognise a need for clear
planning to develop the necessary capacity. Our approach is designed to ensure, therefore, that all
Consortium members, and especially AITT RM and MTTN reinforce their cooperation with
Horizon 2020 National Contact Points and develop their own relations with European specialists in
innovation projects management, in preparation for more in-depth support to the SME Instrument
(and other relevant Horizon 2020 action) in future.[...] Whilst we expect the Consortium to be in a
position to deliver this activity within the period of the Framework Partnership Agreement, there is
not yet adequate capacity for high quality implementation. For this reason, our early-stage approach
identifies a necessary process of skills and capacity upgrading.”
Taking into consideration that Republic of Moldova had 22 project proposals for SME Instrument
under Horizon 2020, none of them successful and only one proposal received the Seal of
Excellence, we envisage a low number of successful SME Instrument projects for the present
project period.

The objectives of the present project proposal are:
1. To ensure the delivery of “Key Account Management” (KAM) support services for 2 SME
Instrument beneficiaries in Moldova, with the aim of identifying weaknesses in the client
innovation capacities, identify suitable coaches for addressing the identified weaknesses, facilitating
and moderating the coach-client relationship and support client efforts during phase 1 and phase 2
of the SME instrument project;
2. Enhancing innovation management capacity and processes, as defined by the CEN/TS 16555
standard, in client SMEs for 14 companies in Moldova;
3. Developing and testing PRO Business Innovation Moldova partners capacities for consultancy
services required under KAM support for SME Instrument beneficiaries and innovation
management consultancy services in Moldova;
4. Collecting follow-up and impact data for services delivered through the present project, to be
used by PRO Business Innovation Moldova, EEN partners, and other interested third parties
(EASME, EC, IMPROVE Academy).

Work performed

\"In the reporting period the consortium’s activities were the following:
1) Identifying and assessment of suitability of client SMEs for support services of enhancing innovation management capacity and processes.
2) Enhancing innovation management capacity and processes in client SMEs for more business effectiveness and efficiency.
3) Developing PROBIM partners capacities for delivering innovation management improving services, especially by using IMPROVE instrument.
4) Collecting follow up and impact data for services delivered through the present project.
Specifically, BUSINESS-INN-MOLDOVA consortium carried-out the following activities, according to the SGA2, as follows:
In 2017, 2 experts from Business-INN-Consortium participated in the training course with the generic \"\"Introduction to the IMP³rove Approach\"\", which took place in Berlin, Germany from 27 to 28 June 2017. Following the training workshop the participants received certificates attesting the right to provide business support for improvement innovative business management capabilities in enterprises. In the period 26-28 September 2017, these 2 experts attended the “Action Plan training courses Development\"\" and \"\"Introduction to the Digital Innovation Quotient\"\" that took place in Bucharest, Romania.
During 2017-2018 several members of the BUSINESS-INN-MOLDOVA consortium attended online seminars provided by IMPROVE Academy in order to develop the consultancy competencies of the staff involved in delivering EIMC services.
Selection of companies was delivered according to innovation management enhancing services, focused on IMPROVE methodology and following the provisions of EN 16555 innovation management standard.
Selection of the companies as candidates for EIMC services were carried-out according to the SGA2 proposed methodology, as follows.
EEN clients or potential clients with significant innovation activities and existing or potential for business internationalization activities were reviewed and listed in our country.
BUSINESS-INN-MOLDOVA EIMC consultants and stakeholders assessed the suitability of the candidate companies and contacted these companies in order to select the ones which will receive the services, as well as prepared a reserve list of companies.
In the first half of 2017, the selection of enterprises took place, and after attending the training workshop, the staff started field visits to the enterprises. During 2017 it was issued 2 reports by the IMPROVE system for 2 innovative companies. In 2018 have been generated 14 reports.
The project implementation proves that the major impact achieved for the companies served was mainly in terms of: enhancing or building competencies in the field of innovation management processes and innovation activities within the company; basic skills and competencies development for company management or in order to benefit of the SME Instrument and, generally, Horizon 2020 innovation support opportunities.\"

Final results

The project implementation proves that the major impact achieved for the companies served was mainly in terms of: enhancing or building competencies in the field of innovation management processes and innovation activities within the company; basic skills and competencies development for company management or in order to benefit of the SME Instrument and, generally, Horizon 2020 innovation support opportunities.
The cooperation with stakeholders contributed to the Network\'s regional integration and promotion of the information on how to access the services regionally. In the result of the cooperation some enterprises from the regions benefited from EIMC services and other received consultations on H2020 related questions.
In conclusion, we would like to mention that the Work Programme\'s implementation helped meet the needs detailed in the Implementation Strategy, as the main results were obtained. The consortium partners improved their capacities, which will help them to assist enterprises in the next period and to attend more results. The visibility of H2020 programme was ensured being promoted on national level through various events attended by consortium partners.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.een.md.