Enhancing the innovation management capacity of Finnish SMEs by the Enterprise Europe Network in 2020-21

ended

Lack of innovation management capacity is recognised as an important barrier to creating economic impact (competitiveness, growth and jobs) from innovation activities in SMEs. The general objective of the proposal is to achieve overall long-term capacity building in (Finnish) SME’s, particularly to make the innovation system in the companies more efficient and effective and to increase and accelerate the economic returns from innovation in the SMEs. In proposal actions will be identified weaknesses in the innovation capacities of the SME that hinder the realisation of growth opportunities and of the full commercial potential. Hence, the improvement of this innovation management capacity upgrades the economic performance of the most promising SMEs. First specific objective of the project is to provide Key account management services to beneficiaries of the EIC Enhanced Pilot: SME instrument, FTI (Fast Track to Innovation) and FET-Open (Future and Emerging Technologies Open). These services aim to identify bottlenecks to the creation of economic impact in companies benefitting from grants by these Horizon2020's programs. Based on the needs analysis the Key account management services identify suitable coaches to address the identified bottlenecks and facilitates the coach-client relationship during the coaching project. 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. The service includes an assessment of innovation management capacity and development actions based on the assessment. In assessments and development one area with emphasis is digitalisation.