Innovating hessian smes towards europe
With this proposal the coordinator of the EEN Hessen consortium, Hessen Trade & Invest GmbH (HTAI), participates as a sole partner in the Consultation of Enterprise Europe Network partners on the work programme for 2019 Horizon 2020 activities. HTAI will implement the action on services enhancing the innovation management capacities of SMES under the H2020 programmes for specific activities in the context of innovation support and the European Innovation Council pilot. 

Beneficiaries of the funding schemes SME Instrument, Fast Track to Innovation and Future and Enabling Technologies Open will be supported with dedicated Key Account Management (KAM) services. EEN Hessen will assess their gaps and challenges in the innovation process, identify and propose a suitable coach, facilitate the interaction between the coach and the SME and respond to further needs by additional support measures. The overall aim is to enable those companies to conduct their innovation projects successfully and thus to contribute to their commercial growth. 

Other SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for international growth will be supported in the separate process of Enhancing the Innovation Management Capacity (EIMC). EEN Hessen will identify suitable companies in Hessen and motivate them for the EIMC service, assess their gaps and needs, develop an appropriate action plan and facilitate its implementation.

With these activities, complemented by a wide range of further EEN services along the Network Client Journey, HTAI strives to increase the competitiveness of Hessian SMEs and strengthen their ability to operate successfully in the European Single Market and outside, thus contributing to the aims of the Europe 2020 strategy.
The action will be conducted by the EEN Hessen innovation experts, all senior staff experienced in innovation management. They will use the Innovation Health Check by Enterprise Ireland as a CEN/TS 16555-1 conform assessment tool.