ENHANCING THE INNOVATION MANAGEMENT CAPACITY OF FINNISH SMES BY THE ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK IN 2014

ended

Objective of the proposal is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the innovation chain. In proposal actions have planned to identify weaknesses in the innovation capacities of the beneficiary that hinder the realisation of growth opportunities and of the full commercial potential of SME Instrument participants and to identify suitable coaches (based on the assessment above) to address the identified weaknesses and moderating the coach-client relationship, and furthermore to accompany the beneficiary through the SME instrument project. First spesific bjective of the project is to provide Key account management services to beneficiaries of the SME instrument. These services aim to identify bottlenecks to the creation of economic impact in companies benefitting from grants by Horizon2020's SME instrument and address these bottlenecks with the help of capable coaches. Second specific objective is to provide services, which enhance the innovation management capacity of SMEs. This service will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation processes in small and medium sized enterprises with significant innovation activities that could potentially become beneficiaries of European support to research and innovation but would not have effective access to consulting services for innovation management.