The project aims to establish services enhancing the innovation management capacity (EIMC) of SME's of the Enterprise Europe Network. Lack of innovation management capacity is recognised as an important barrier to creating economic impact (competitiveness, growth and jobs) from innovation activities in SMEs. Horizon 2020’s SME-instrument foresees offering mentoring and coaching services to beneficiaries to address the need of SMEs of consulting service offers enhancing the innovation management capacity. Moreover, in a survey undertaken in 2011 for DG Enterprise and Industry, SME´s and SME support organisations considered the inability to manage innovation processes efficiently and effectively as the second most important barrier to SME innovation (after 'lack of financial resources').The two partners of the consortium for the present project, IVACE and INFO MURCIA have both more than 20 years’ experience in providing services of Enhancing innovation capacity to SMEs in their regions. More recently as members of EEN-SEIMED Network they have both been leading in their Region the provision of services in order to help small business to make the most of the European marketplace. Specifically services provided are supporting: • Technology transfer • Access to finance • Advice on EU law and standards • Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) • Research funding • Going international The Enterprise Europe Network SEIMED is therefore a suitable structure to introduce services “Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs” and make available to SMEs higher quality innovation support services where these are absent or unaffordable on local markets.

The four Regional Development Agencies, ERVET, ADA, KAINUUN ETU, IVACE operating in the North and in the South European Regions (Italy, Turkey, Finland, Spain), dealing with innovation support programmes, implementation of Structural Funds Regional Operative Programmes (ROP ESF, ERDF 2020) and experienced in social innovation policies and programs want to deepen their knowledge and find joint solutions to challenges hindering the development of social economy. Thus, they want to promote new approaches able to overcome a fragmented approach to policies supporting social economy and the innovation and competitiveness of social enterprises. A new policy mix, taking into consideration social, economic and environmental aspects (Agenda 2030), would be able to overcome “silos policies” and to create a favorable ecosystem for social enterprises. They will work together with regional public and private social economy stakeholders to analyze beneficiaries’ needs and promote new policies and actions. Already existing approaches and best practices will be shared in a mutual learning process among Regional Development Agencies, and related regions, that will be enlarged through EURADA and ERRIN networks for more effective and targeted regional and European innovation programs for social enterprises. Moreover, partners, accordingly with INNOSUP general scope, choose to focus on social innovation as it is “required at the interface between public services and private enterprises” with a view to jointly learn and discuss about public and private partnership and co-design approach

Lack of innovation management capacity is recognised as an important barrier to creating economic impact (competitiveness, growth and jobs) from innovation activities in SMEs. Horizon 2020’s SME-instrument foresees offering mentoring and coaching services to beneficiaries to address the need of SMEs of consulting service offers enhancing the innovation management capacity. Moreover, in a survey undertaken in 2011 for DG Enterprise and Industry, SME´s and SME support organisations considered the inability to manage innovation processes efficiently and effectively as the second most important barrier to SME innovation (after 'lack of financial resources').The two partners of the consortium for the present project, IVACE and INFO MURCIA have both more than 20 years’ experience in providing services of Enhancing innovation capacity to SMEs in their regions. More recently as members of EEN-SEIMED Network they have both been leading in their Region the provision of services in order to help small business to make the most of the European marketplace. Specifically services provided are supporting: • Technology transfer • Access to finance • Advice on EU law and standards • Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) • Research funding • Going international The Enterprise Europe Network SEIMED is therefore a suitable structure to introduce services “Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs” and make available to SMEs higher quality innovation support services where these are absent or unaffordable on local markets.