The aim of the present proposal is to contribute to the smart growth in the Free State Saxony as an emerging region in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the innovation chain. To achieve the above mentioned objectives the proposed project will: a) Identify bottlenecks to the creation of economic impact in companies benefitting from grants from the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot regarding the SME instrument and address these bottlenecks with the help of capable coaches. This service to beneficiaries of the EIC pilot in the context of a given project is called “Key account management”' (KAM). b) Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation processes in small and medium sized enterprises with significant innovation activities that could potentially become beneficiaries of European support to research and innovation but would not have effective access to consulting services for innovation management. This service, which will be provided independently from a specific innovation project and focussing on a company's innovation management system, is called “Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs” (EIMC). The project targets at the delivery of in total 40 service packages, 10 KAM and 30 EIMC services, in the geographical area of the Free State Saxony (Germany).

Vocational education has lost much of its attractiveness. Especially in EU countries with predominantly school-based vocational training (e.g. Poland, Lithuania, Latvia) the participation rate is low, dropped to an alarmingly low level, and is perceived by many young people as a dead end. At the same time companies complain about the lack of skills of graduates. The consequences are an unemployment rate of 20-25% of the 15-24 year olds in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.Due to the demographic change, the number of school leavers is dropping fast significantly in all member states, except for Sweden. By 2030, the number of 15-44 year olds in the labor force will decrease by up to 25%. Already today, a shortage of skilled workers exists in most countries. This increasingly affects the future and limits any growth development.Increasing qualifications and at the same time eliminating the shortage of skilled labor is the most important task and key to a sustainable strengthening of innovation, competitiveness and growth of SMEs. The German dual system of vocational training, which leads to a comparatively low youth unemployment, can make a large contribution with a lasting impact on the achievement of these objectives. Therefore, by introducing Work based Learning in vocational education, the project pursued the following overall objectives: a) Greatly improving integration of young people in vocational training and reducing youth unemployment andb) Providing qualified staff and thus promoting innovation and competitiveness in SMEs.The following action objectives served this purpose:1. The development of specific concepts for the realization of Work based Learning in VET on the basis of the German system of dual vocational training for three countries with predominantly school-based vocational training (Poland, Lithuania and Hungary). 2. In two countries (Lithuania and Hungary) the specific introduction of a dual system of vocational training, which is tailored to the specific conditions of the country and includes experiences from all countries around the Baltic Sea.3. Development of adapted curricula for train-the-trainers in SMEs (in-company trainers educating the trainees on the spot in the enterprise) and implementations in Poland, Lithuania and Hungary.4. Development of coordinated concepts and the creation of an international network of 13 countries for permanent promotion and implementation of Work based Learning.5. Transfer of the project results to 68 education providers from 13 countries and the promotion of broad-based implementations.The project was led by the Baltic Sea Academy, which has successfully developed and implemented dual bachelor's degree programs in recent years (vocational training in SMEs while studying at a university) in different countries. Another renowned expert of the German dual system, the Chamber of Crafts Dresden was represented in the consortium to contribute all documents, materials and experiences for dual vocational training in Germany and the train-the-trainers seminars for SMEs.In order to identify and thus to improve the transfer success for other countries and evaluate different national conditions, with the selected countries of Poland, Lithuania and Hungary - where there is a great need for action as well as strong willingness for the realization of Work based Learning - the ideal implementing partners were chosen. From these countries the following partners participated in the consortium:a) A Chamber of Crafts, which itself operates two large vocational schools and can implement dual vocational trainings with their SME members.b) Two large professional schools that wanted to realize Work based Learning and cooperate with chambers that introduce SMEs to the operational parts of the training. c) Two universities that, with the other partners, developed region-specific concepts and curricula, and evaluated as well as advised the implementation process. Additionally, the universities developed concepts and curricula for the train-the-trainers seminars and permanently implemented them in cooperation with the chambers.Through the Baltic Sea Academy 18 colleges/universities and 50 chambers from 13 countries were involved as transfer partners. They received all project results, were advised on implementation, and were encouraged to continuously promote Work based Learning in their regions. Thus, a far-reaching effect and high sustainability were achieved.With the implementation of tailor-made solutions for dual systems, young people will be better integrated; they obtain the necessary qualifications in the labor market and youth unemployment is reduced. SMEs get the much needed qualified workforce and get prepared through the train-the-trainer measures for dual vocational training. Through the inclusion of 68 key education stakeholders from 13 countries a continuous support network for the implementation of Work based Learning was created.

In all Baltic Sea Region countries there is a great shortage of entrepreneurs and managers, so that growth in SMEs is severely limited and innovation capacity is much lower than it could and should be. For demographic reasons, this shortage will increase sharply in the future. In most Baltic Sea Region countries, the number of younger workers will fall by up to 25% by 2030. In view of this sharp decline on the one hand and the high aging of current company owners on the other, it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract enough business successors and start-ups. The shortage of entrepreneurs is particularly noticeable in countries with predominantly school-based vocational training and a lack of further training. In addition to the high demand for entrepreneurs, SMEs also have at least the same demand for managers with sound professional and technical qualifications as well as leadership and management skills. In countries with school-based vocational training to date, SMEs also urgently need personnel with pedagogical qualifications and trainer aptitude in order to carry out training in companies within the dual vocational training.In Germany and Norway, for example, training to become a master craftsman is of outstanding importance in securing the next generation of entrepreneurs and managers in SMEs. However, the qualification level of the master craftsman training varies widely in the Baltic Sea Region countries. The aim of the project was to gain company successors, start-ups and managers by means of a comparable master craftsman qualification at a high level in the Baltic Sea Region, to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of SMEs and at the same time to promote the realisation of dual vocational training. On the basis of the German master craftsman training and experiences from other Baltic Sea Region countries, a concept, curricula, teaching materials and examination regulations for a uniform master craftsman training in the entire Baltic Sea Region were developed. The curricula were tested and evaluated in Denmark, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia in order to gain experience with different regional/national conditions and to ensure high transfer and implementation success. The developed master craftsman training also includes a pedagogical part, which leads to an entitlement to vocational training in companies. The qualification programme was classified in the European Qualification Framework and assessed with credit points according to ECVET, so that a cross-border transfer of acquired competences as well as the international recognition of the qualification was ensured.In addition, a comprehensive concept was developed and coordinated in order to enable the integrated attainment of master craftsman qualification and Bachelor's degree within the dual Bachelor's study programmes.Target groups of the master craftsman training are: a) persons employed in companies; b) unemployed persons with good professional qualifications and experience, who use them to significantly improve their chances on the labour market or to become self-employed;c) students and graduates who will have good opportunities to take on management roles in SMEs or who will achieve outstanding preparation for self-employment. Beneficiaries are also SMEs that attract much-needed managers or business successors.In order to constantly attract qualified lecturers to carry out master craftsman training, a training programme for teaching staff has been developed and implemented, which will in future be offered on an ongoing basis by colleges and universities. Target groups are teachers from chambers of commerce, industry and crafts, other vocational training providers, colleges and universities who are specifically qualified as trainers. This benefits all providers of master craftsman training.Under the leadership of the Hanse Parlament, the project consortium consisted of altogether eight partners: chambers, associations, further education institutions, vocational schools and universities from Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Norway. In addition, 68 chambers of commerce, industry and crafts with their educational institutions, other vocational training providers as well as colleges and universities from 13 countries were involved as associated partners. All project results were published in a handbook and transferred to the 68 associated partners, who received needs-oriented implementation advice. The results were presented and comprehensively discussed at meetings and international advisory and transfer conferences. At the same time, politicians, administrations and other stakeholders were involved. This ensured that the master craftsman training in education and economic policy was anchored at local, regional and national level and that the project results were extremely sustainable and used on a broad basis.

The aim of the present proposal is to contribute to the smart growth in the Free State Saxony as an emerging region in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the innovation chain. To achieve the above mentioned objectives the proposed project will: a) Identify bottlenecks to the creation of economic impact in companies benefitting from grants from the European Innovation Council regarding Horizon2020's SME instrument and address these bottlenecks with the help of capable coaches. This service to beneficiaries of the SME instrument, Fast Track to Innovation and Future Emerging Technologies open, respectively, in the context of a given project is called “Key account management”' (KAM). b) Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation processes in small and medium sized enterprises with significant innovation activities that could potentially become beneficiaries of European support to research and innovation but would not have effective access to consulting services for innovation management. This service, which will be provided independently from a specific innovation project and focussing on a company's innovation management system, is called “Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs” (EIMC). The project targets at the delivery of in total 17 service packages, 6 KAM and 11 EIMC services, in the geographical area of the Free State Saxony (Germany).

The aim of the present proposal is to contribute to the smart growth in the Free State Saxony as an emerging region in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the innovation chain. To achieve the above mentioned objectives the proposed project will: a) Identify bottlenecks to the creation of economic impact in companies benefitting from grants by Horizon2020's SME instrument and address these bottlenecks with the help of capable coaches. This service to beneficiaries of the SME instrument in the context of a giving project is called “Key account management”' (KAM). b) Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation processes in small and medium sized enterprises with significant innovation activities that could potentially become beneficiaries of European support to research and innovation but would not have effective access to consulting services for innovation management. This service, which will be provided independently from a specific innovation project and focussing on a company's innovation management system, is called “Enhancing the innovation management capacity of SMEs” (EIMC). The project targets at the delivery of in total 48 service packages, 25 KAM and 23 EIMC services, in the geographical area of the Free State Saxony (Germany).