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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - KAM2CentralPoland-2 (Enhancing the innovation management capacity of the SMEs in Central Poland-2)

Teaser

Summary

There were two main objectives the Consortium aimed to achieve by delivering KAM And EIMC services under the project KAM2CentralPoland-2.
The first objective was to ensure that the beneficiaries of the following schemes: SME Instrument (SMEI), Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) and Future and Emerging Technologies Open (FET-Open) received the most appropriate services to enhance the probability of successful exploitation of the innovation project supported by the Instrument with the help of a capable coach. This objective was implemented by the tailor made service of The Key Account Manager (KAM).
A relatively small number of innovation-developing companies in Poland have benefited from H2020 programs such as SMEI, FTI and FET-Open. According to the NCP statistics in the years 2014-2018, 2,969 Polish SMEs applied for grants in H2020 but only 256 SMEs were successful. During the last 5 years, 81 SMEI beneficiaries were offered access to more sophisticated forms of assistance, such as coaching provided by highly specialized international experts. That allowed them to accelerate the process of innovation and quickly deliver their solutions to the international market. Such assistance also helped them to apply for further funding available from public and private sources.
The second objective was to build its own brand of a reliable organization that provided valuable and comprehensive services, which helped to increase the innovation management capacity to the business community, and in particular to innovative SMEs. This objective were implemented by a specially designed activity called Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs (EIMC), addressed to SMEs with a real potential for international growth via product, process, service or business model innovation but lack the knowledge, skills or ability to manage innovation activities.
A lack of capacity for innovation management is recognized as an important barrier which adversely influences the development of SMEs. Most of Polish companies are small, privately owned entities. A majority have advanced their business by introducing new technologies and equipment, but still not a large number of them recognize the need of creating their own products or solutions. These companies usually tap on the low cost of human resources which allows them to compete on local or international markets. Even when welcomed by companies, the innovation process is hard to be initiated. SMEs have limited financial and human resources, and most of them do not know how to identify their strengths and weaknesses. They often struggle with inadequate access to quality consulting and coaching services. These shortcomings were addressed by the EEN-CP consortium providing EIMC services.
Both the KAM and EIMC services were compatible with the general offers of the Consortium partners, which allowed the latter to deliver services targeted at different stages of company development.

Work performed

During the reporting period the consortium rendered a total of 114 services (both KAM and EIMC) out of which 103 were completed and closed and 11 services is still ongoing. The target set out in the proposal was 124 services (42 KAM and 82 EIMC). As it was initially described in the proposal, the nature of both types of services is long-term, and several actors are involved in the service implementation. Therefore, in some cases the final completion of the service might be beyond the consortium partnerâ€™s control.
Both types of services were aimed at improving competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs and facilitating their access to business development opportunities. The project provided companies with complex services to support innovation management by mentoring and coaching schemes. KAM main task was to introduce the concept of the coaching service and highlight its benefits to SMEs in order to convince them to use the service. Other tasks related to KAM service included conducting needs analyses, and selecting coaches who matched the needs of the SMEs. KAM also facilitated coach-SME relationships, and supported the establishment of coaching contracts, as well as the coaching processes as such. EIMC service on the other hand, was designed for companies that have the potential to grow and want to develop innovative products or services but lack the knowledge, skills or ability to manage innovation activities. The main idea behind EIMC service was to assess the current status of the innovation management system in the company. Those tools provide deep analyses of the current and future innovation management performance.
In 2017, the consortium registered 1 no-coaching case. The reason for that was some problems with the registration of the coach selected by the company. Thanks to close cooperation between the EEN partners and the NCPs, resulting in the delivery of joint workshops on how to prepare successful SMEI applications, the SMEsâ€™ attitude towards the coaching changed significantly. Also, the seminars on access to risk finance prepared together with the NCP for EU financial instruments helped the consortium partners identify SMEs suitable for EIMC services.

Final results

By adopting the client journey concept the Network will acted as a true one-stop-shop rendering a variety of services to the SMEs in the region. This approach allowed the consortium to be more effectively integrated into the regional ecosystem - to their clients\' benefit, and to achieve stronger regional positions with increased visibility. Good communication between partners was essential to ensure the highest service quality to Network clients, smart signposting and mutual feedback. From the Network point of view, cooperation between partners and support given by other Network partners to help the client reach an achievement helped enhance synergies among the partners, and fosters consortium and Network cohesion to the benefit of clients. All the companies that received the services during the reporting period were satisfied. The services helped them implement their innovation projects or actions. The coaching services helped to navigate the SME successfully through phases of the SMEI projects or FTI programme. The EIMC services, and particularly the assessment of innovation management in companies, built up an innovation culture and the awareness of innovation potential in companies, as well as assembled knowledge on the implementation of innovations. The service developed sustainable understanding of the holistic approach to innovation management. It provided the participating companies with the knowledge of what should be changed or improved in order to be more innovative and competitive on the European market. Companies in the regions covered by the consortium understood that to be more competitive they need to develop and implement innovation strategies.