INNCAT19 · Enhancing INNovation management capacity of CATalan small and medium enterprises 2019

The current proposal fully describes advising services to SMEs with the objective of increasing and accelerating the economic returns from innovation and proves ACCIÓ capacity to successfully deliver them. The services will be provided to two specific groups of enterprises: beneficiaries of the SME instrument, FTI, FET-Open; and SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for internationalisation. ACCIÓ, as the Enterprise Europe Network Catalan node coordinator, is specialised in promoting innovation and internationalisation among SMEs and has implemented several successful programmes over the last 20 years. For instance, since 2014 INNCAT has provided advice services with IMP3rove, Innovation Health Check (IHC) and KAM methodologies. For next year, 2019, INNCAT will close a minimum of 49 KAM and EIMC cases of mentoring to enhance the innovation management capacity of SMEs; it is an increase of 22.5% compared to the services planned per year in the current INNCAT1718 project. The involved staff is fully committed to deliver the foreseen cases using the above mentioned methodologies and have a broad and extensive expertise in innovation, business support and management services. Moreover, 6 of the involved 8 staff members already participate in the implementation of INNCAT1718 for the delivery of KAM and EIMC cases. Therefore, they are fully capable to implement the described services and successfully advise Catalan SMEs in 2019. Additionally, a majority of staff members also offering EEN standard network services will enhance synergies and ensure the principle of the client centric approach.