IMCESA2019 · Innovation Management Capacity Enhancement of SMEs in Saxony-Anhalt for the period 2019

The general objective of the described actions 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.The specific action will deliver services designed to ""Enhance the Innovation management capacity of SMEs"" by providing indepth support services to SMEs. Furthermore, beneficiaries of the SME Instrument under Horizon 2020 will receive specific targeted assistance to support coaching assignments addressing specific innovation weaknesses.To achieve the above mentioned objectives bottlenecks to the creation of economic impact in companies benefiting from grants by Horizon2020's SME instrument will be identified and these bottlenecks with the help of capable coaches addressed. This service to beneficiaries of the SME instrument in the context of a giving project is called 'Key account management'. In addition the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation processes will be increased 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. This service, provided independently from a specific innovation project and focussing on a company's innovation management system, is called 'Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs'.Direct impact from the two actions will be a significantly enhanced growth and profitability of SMEs receiving the services as compared to a control group. Innovation processes will be conducted more efficient and more effectively.Indirect impact will arise from the introduction of high quality innovation management capacity assessment and support services in the region of Saxony-Anhalt.""