Hidden Innovation Initiatives for SMEs
(HIDDEN)
Start date: Aug 31, 2010,
End date: Feb 27, 2012
PROJECT
FINISHED
Hidden Innovation(HI) determines a form of innovation not reflected in traditional activities, such as R&D, but rather in organisational forms, business models & absorption of existing technologies. HIDDEN´s focus is to ensure synergies & create a transnational public-private network providing a joint strategy on addressing the HI concept in innovation development policies. HIDDEN team believes that uncovering innovation that is hidden by such interventions is a key issue in MED competitiveness. Achievements: State of the art of project implementation since the project startHiDDEN has worked towards its objectives by enhancing the knowledge capacity of all partners towards hidden innovation concept especially focused on MED SMEs by the development of the Position of HI in MED SMEs. Partners have mapped & analyzed the existing requirements, opportunities & barriers regarding soft innovation for each country while a targeted SME database has been developed. All partners have identified Best Practices in the field of HI in order to collect input for the development of the pilot activities. The LP with the contribution of the consortium developed the online HI Platform that hosts on-line tools for assessing soft innovation capacities of SMEs. Moreover, partners have organised several disseminating events that are forecasted within the framework of the project & aim at the diffusion of project's results and tools to specific target groups. Finally, the HI Scoreboard and the evaluation of the pilot activities are being completed by the responsible partners.Latest project activities and outputsHiDDEN's consortium developed the final version of HI Platform, the online tool which intends to offer direct benefits to SMEs by providing them with all the necessary and appropriate tools and methodologies aiming at enhancing the SMEs' innovation score. Moreover, the consortium completed the elaboration of the HI toolbox that addresses issues such as organisational, marketing, business development and operations innovation which will be supported by the development of a series of online training modules in order to enhance innovation capacities of SMEs thus improve their skills in the 4 main types of -soft' innovation. The HI Consulting Center has served a series of SMEs through personal interviews that detected the weaknesses and the needs of each participating company. During the current reporting period, a series of disseminating and training events, were successfully organized in the participating countries, while the outputs of the final phase are being gradually completed.Next key steps for the project4 CB events will take place, where local SMEs will build -soft' innovation capacities & improve their skills. 3 Open Days will be organised, aiming at disseminating the project's outputs. HI Consulting center will complete its operation, whereas the 5th phase that has already been prepared by the responsible partners will be completed during the next period. Finally, the final conference of the project will take place in Ioannina in the 17th of May.
Get Access to the 1st Network for European Cooperation
Log In