IMP³rove for Future will build on the proven and well-tested innovation management support services developed in the previous IMP³rove projects initiated by the European Commission to help mainly the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) using IMP³rove services for "enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs". Furthermore, IMP³rove support services and training programs will be developed to address up-coming needs of SMEs and the support providers. In seven work packages an operational and capacity building / training environment will be created: Innovation management training programs will be further developed and implemented for EEN and other innovation support providers. Coaching of EEN partners in rendering effective innovation management assessments based on the IMP³rove benchmarking tools, and new benchmarking features will be developed. Actions in regions and Member States to develop better programs to enhance innovation management capacity at SMEs will be supported with new IMP³rove products and services. Within this project also the European and international standardisation activities in innovation management will be supported. The project will actively involve the key stakeholders in shaping the training program, the new features of the IMP³rove platform and in delivering the IMP³rove support services in the most effective manner. The expected results of this 28 months project are more than 400 EEN members rendering effective innovation management benchmarking services and support to SMEs, more than 4,000 SMEs that have benefited from the IMP³rove services and have been put on the growth track and about 10 other actors in regions and Member States developed better programs for innovation management capacity building of SMEs. They all can rely on the IMP³rove methodology and assessment tools and services compliant with international standards in innovation management.

Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) face significant challenges to successfully innovate for sustainable growth. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) as a key player in the innovation eco-system is expected to render highly effective innovation management support services to SMEs. SMEs will adopt these innovation management support services to the degree that EEN staff members are well trained in innovation management support. This requires access to, and experience in assessing the SME’s innovation management capabilities in line with the technical standard CEN/TS 16555. Based on the assessment results, tailored action plans are to be developed and implemented in and with the SMEs. A solid understanding of both key success factors in innovation management is essential, and of effectively supporting SMEs of different age, size, industry, country in developing their innovation management capabilities for sustainable growth. Therefore, the EEENIMAC project aims at enabling the EEN to deliver consistently high value innovation management support services and to develop the performance in the regional innovation eco-system. To achieve these objectives, EEN eligible staff members will receive training, coaching, and on-demand support in state-of-the-art innovation management practices for different levels of proficiency. Furthermore, they will gain access to the proven IMP³rove online tools for assessing up to 4,500 SMEs’ innovation management performance in line with CEN TS 16555. In 4 work packages, a tailored, agile and impact-oriented skill development programme for 450 trainees p.a. will be combined with secure access to proven IMP³rove online assessment tools and international benchmarking databases. The training, coaching and on-demand support will be tailored to the trainee’s needs as defined by the trainee, his/her supervisor, and also based on the regions' economic challenges. It will be offered in a variety of highly interactive settings, off- and online.

INNO-4-AGRIFOOD will deliver a new generation of innovation support services that will assist European SMEs across the vast Agri-food ecosystem to create value from on-line collaboration for innovation, access a broader range of potential innovation partners beyond their national and sectoral borders and timely mobilise them to seize opportunities to launch concrete innovation projects. INNO-4-AGRIFOOD services will be provided by properly qualified and well-trained innovation support specialists and appropriately escalate to respond to the diverse needs and characteristics of agri-food SMEs. They will be platform-independent and supported by a suite of smart ICT tools based on well-established and mainstream web-technologies. In order to equip the staff of innovation intermediaries across Europe with the expertise and skill-set required to deliver its novel innovation support services, INNO-AGRIFOOD will develop a qualification profile that will be complemented with a dedicated curriculum as well as a series of e-training courses provided via an interactive e-learning environment. The development, testing and validation of all project outcomes will take into account the needs of agri-food SMEs and their innovation intermediaries both of which will be effectively integrated along with agri-food stakeholders into a co-creating process to generate demand-driven, desirable and sustainable project outcomes. INNO-4-AGRIFOOD is implemented by a multidisciplinary and well-balanced consortium that encompasses key collective European agri-food associations, major European networks and SME agencies, leading actors that run FIWARE agri-food accelerators’ communities and Living Labs and a specialised media, e-curriculum and e-training developer.

The ADMA TranS4MErs will accelerate factories to become Factories of the Future embracing the ecological, digital, and societal challenges. This will be done via a smart combination of an all-connecting community platform in combination with toolboxes, virtual and physical training activities, assistance programs, tailor-made training content in all relevant technology areas and set of applications. All those services, tools, assistance, and service components pick up the SMEs at the right stage to start their own Trans4mation journey. The consortium is equipped with all necessary experience and professionalism and has a wide geographical reach, that we can almost guarantee to deliver the services at their doorstep or on their screen.

DIH-World aims to accelerate the uptake of advanced digital technologies by European manufacturing SMEs in all sectors and support them in building sustainable competitive advantages and reaching global markets strengthening the capacities of regional DIHs, particularly in underrepresented regions across Europe. As intermediaries of successful local SME digital transformation, DIH World, aims at providing DIHs, access to harmonised tools, well proven technologies, effective methodologies, sound knowledge, smart investment sources, rich training assets and overall a vibrant innovation environment. The final aim is to accelerate the matureness of DIHs and the development of their collaboration capabilities, and avoid a DIH divide due to lack of access to technologies, skills, networks, investment and infrastructures with special emphasis in underrepresented regions; so they can capitalise and leverage on the European DIHs Networks their resources and facilities for the benefit of their local SMEs. This will be achieved thanks to the: DIH-World platform, that will provide a full coverage of the services needed by the DIHs and the SMEs willing to identify the right DIH for them, the DIH-Academy that will provide the tools to train DIHs and bring them to the next level, Open calls for experiments, that will provide sufficient technological support to SMEs and midcaps. As well as with a broad geographical coverage, with more than 26 countries to be covered in Europe including specific activities to involve regional and national actors in the DIH network.