Overall objective of this proposed project is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union, by supporting and developing the capability of European SMEs to turn their investments in research, development and innovation into growth and commercial success. Specifically, the project will contribute to identify and remove bottlenecks and weaknesses in the innovation capacities of SMEs hindering their current growth opportunities, and to enhance the SME’s innovation management capacities for more effectiveness and efficiency in future innovation projects. This will be achieved by the delivery of dedicated services packages to two different target groups: 1) SMEs in Bavaria that are beneficiaries of the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot or any potential successor programme under Horizon Europe, receiving “Key Account Management” (KAM) services. 2) Other internationally oriented SMEs in Bavaria with strong ambitions in innovation and growth, receiving “Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity” (EIMC) services. For implementation, KAM case tracker and need analysis will be used for delivering KAM services, and IMP³rove or Innovation Health Check methodology will be used for delivering EIMC services. For both services, the underlying understanding of Innovation Management System follows the specifications provided by the European Committee for Standardisation in CEN/TS 16555-1, and comprises a company’s complete innovation process from idea generation to generation of profit. It includes both internal enabling factors like leadership, management skills, financial situation, market knowledge etc, as well as practices and skills for external cooperation with third parties like suppliers, R&D partners, potential clients, and investors.

Overall objective of this proposed project is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation (both private or public), and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the value chain. Specifically, this proposal will contribute to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation projects in SMEs in the region of Bavaria. This will be achieved by the delivery of well-defined services packages to the SMEs, targeting specifically the enhancement of their innovation management capacity and the removal of potential innovation gaps and bottlenecks.Target groups of the service packages will be 1) SME beneficiaries in Bavaria participating in Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument (“Key Account Management” KAM) 2) Other internationally oriented SMEs in Bavaria with strong ambitions in innovation and growth (“Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity” EIMC). 'Innovation management’, as addressed by this project comprises a company’s complete innovation process from idea generation to innovation result. It includes internal enabling factors like leadership, management skills, financial situation, market knowledge etc, as well as external cooperation with third parties like suppliers, R&D partners, potential clients, and investors. This understanding of innovation management follows the specifications of innovation management systems provided by the European Committee for Standardisation in CEN/TS 16555-1.For implementation, KAM case tracker and IMP³rove assessment will be used for delivering KAM services and IMP³rove as well as IHC tool will be used for delivering EIMC services, respectively.

<< Objectives >>The labor market particularly in the crafts sector has changed in the recent years and training companies are increasingly facing challenges such as integrating migrants, school/ university drop-outs, underachievers, making use of digital tools in apprenticeship and many more. The project will develop an innovative blended learning training course for in-company tutors/ VET trainers in dual education to enhance their skills for successfully coping with the special needs of apprentices of today.<< Implementation >>Activities foreseen are: 1) Needs analysis and definition of a comprehensive blended learning curriculum, covering the competence areas in which in-company tutors need to improve their skills; 2) Set-up and development of blended learning platform, learning content & media, assessment tools. 3) Pilot training with min. 100 participants; 4) Evaluation by direct target group (tutors/ trainers) and indirect target (apprentices) and optimisation of the blended learning curriculum and course<< Results >>Key results will be a blended learning curriculum and a fully developed blended training course for in-company tutors and VET trainers, based on identified labor market needs. In the pilot trainings 100 VET trainers/ tutors will be trained in DE, AT, IT and SI. After evaluation and further optimisation, the blended learning course will be permanently implemented by the project partners and promoted to VET providers across the EU.All results will be available in DE, EN, IT and SI language.

Overall objective of this proposed project is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation (both private or public), and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the value chain. Specifically, this proposal will contribute to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation projects in SMEs in the region of Bavaria. This will be achieved by the delivery of well-defined services packages to the SMEs, targeting specifically the enhancement of their innovation management capacity and the removal of potential innovation gaps and bottlenecks. Target groups of the service packages will be 1. SME beneficiaries in Bavaria participating in Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument (“Key Account Management” KAM) 2. Other internationally oriented SMEs in Bavaria with strong ambitions in innovation and growth (“Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity” EIMC) ‘Innovation management’, as addressed by this project comprises a company’s complete innovation process from idea generation to innovation result. It includes internal enabling factors like leadership, management skills, financial situation, market knowledge etc, as well as external cooperation with third parties like suppliers, R&D partners, potential clients, and investors. This understanding of innovation management follows the specifications of innovation management systems provided by the European Committee for Standardisation in CEN/TS 16555-1. For implementation, KAM case tracker and IMP³rove assessment will be used for delivering KAM services and EIMC services, respectively.

For SMEs, the lack of innovation management capacity is one important barrier to creating economic benefit from innovation projects. The proposed support action project aims at improving the ability of SMEs in the region of Bavaria to perform innovation activities more effective and efficient. This will be achieved by the delivery of well-defined service packages to the SMEs, targeting specifically the enhancement of their innovation management capacity and the removal of potential innovation gaps and bottlenecks. Target groups of the service packages will be: 1. SME beneficiaries in Bavaria receiving funding from the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, or having been awarded with a 'Seal of Excellence' ("Key Account Management" KAM) 2. Other SMEs in Bavaria with European or international potential and strong ambitions in innovation and growth ("Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity" EIMC) Receiving the proposed services will increase the ability of the SMEs to generate ideas, to focus on ideas with the highest potential, to translate those ideas into projects, and to bring these projects to an economic success. On the other hand, the services shall increase the ability of SMEs to abandon projects smoothly with minimal losses for the company, in case a project doesn't live up to the original expectations.