Overall objective of this proposed project is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union, by supporting and developing the capability of European SMEs to turn their investments in research, development and innovation into growth and commercial success. Specifically, the project will contribute to identify and remove bottlenecks and weaknesses in the innovation capacities of SMEs hindering their current growth opportunities, and to enhance the SME’s innovation management capacities for more effectiveness and efficiency in future innovation projects. This will be achieved by the delivery of dedicated services packages to two different target groups: 1) SMEs in Bavaria that are beneficiaries of the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot or any potential successor programme under Horizon Europe, receiving “Key Account Management” (KAM) services. 2) Other internationally oriented SMEs in Bavaria with strong ambitions in innovation and growth, receiving “Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity” (EIMC) services. For implementation, KAM case tracker and need analysis will be used for delivering KAM services, and IMP³rove or Innovation Health Check methodology will be used for delivering EIMC services. For both services, the underlying understanding of Innovation Management System follows the specifications provided by the European Committee for Standardisation in CEN/TS 16555-1, and comprises a company’s complete innovation process from idea generation to generation of profit. It includes both internal enabling factors like leadership, management skills, financial situation, market knowledge etc, as well as practices and skills for external cooperation with third parties like suppliers, R&D partners, potential clients, and investors.

Context and background: Digitization develops a new cultural technique – the competent contact with digital media – which complements and changes traditional cultural skills reading, writing and calculation. Now this statement of the past has become a reality. Now we live in the age of the digitalisation. The whole economy has been captured by new technologies - the concept Industry 4.0 describes this development. This development must not only be considered by the professional education – VET must keep pace with the rapid advancements in the working world. Objectives: The project focuses on the qualification of educational staff in the professional education (school and company) as well as in the adult education. We want - educational staff to have a great possibility of a technical-educational further-qualification. - sharpen the perception of changes in the working world and create a consciousness for future demands based on new technologies. - offer an insight into a great variety of different technologies, educational attempts and reflecting possibilities on international level. - to enable the involved facilities to develop a tailor-made training- and infrastructure-concept that takes the needs of the companies and technological developments into account. Participants: - Representative of the subordinated authority of the Bavarian Ministry of Education(with a network to political stakeholders and to all Bavarian vocational schools and relevant research groups) - Educational staff of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Munich (IHK München) and the member companies (e.g., Audi, BMW, Siemens, Infinion) - ICT teachers of a professional school with strong links to universities, teacher-training and a unique concept to the experimental learning - ICT teachers of a professional school who covers the areas from professional training (EQR 4) up to the professional further qualification (EQR 6), different technical occupational fields (ICT, electronics, mechatronik, automotoive technology) - Teachers of a professional school with a wide range of different occupations (technology, economy, service, Socially) which are considerably influenced by digitalization - Educational staff from the area of the adult education which are responsible for the qualification of persons of the working world, which must be prepared for changes in the digitalized professional einvironment; link to the ministry of labour Activities: Project management and implementing: Preparation and organisation of the activities and financial matters, support of the partners, evaluation and collection of the project results, preparation, upkeeping and updating of the project homepage Mobility (LTTAs): presentations and input phases by hich-tech companies, input about the latest methodical-didactic questions, the new demands on curricuae and equipment aspects, presentation of the activities and work with respect on industry 4.0 in each entity (examples of good practise), reflexion of the input phases, exchange about the possible application at each partner-institution, evaluation and documentation of the LTTAs Project results: Written representation of examples of good practise, development and the “defence” of an further-training-concept and the infrastructure-concept, dissemination of the project results Results: - Capture of future demands of the professional education by digitalization / industry 4.0 - technical and methodical-didactical qualification of the educational staff - Creation of one further-training- and infrastructure-concept IImpact and benefits: - Strengthening of the involved facilities in coping of new challenges / reduction of the gap between vocational training and the working world - Further development of the trainers and teachers, the technical infrastructure and the organisation - Improvement of the qualification of the learners / better education oriented to job market - Strengthening of the European cooperation in the area of the vocational education and training - Strengthening of the cooperation between company and school - satisfy the need in certified specialist staff by the working world

For SMEs, the lack of innovation management capacity is one important barrier to creating economic benefit from innovation projects. The proposed support action project aims at improving the ability of SMEs in the region of Bavaria to perform innovation activities more effective and efficient. This will be achieved by the delivery of well-defined service packages to the SMEs, targeting specifically the enhancement of their innovation management capacity and the removal of potential innovation gaps and bottlenecks. Target groups of the service packages will be: 1. SME beneficiaries in Bavaria receiving funding from the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, or having been awarded with a 'Seal of Excellence' ("Key Account Management" KAM) 2. Other SMEs in Bavaria with European or international potential and strong ambitions in innovation and growth ("Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity" EIMC) Receiving the proposed services will increase the ability of the SMEs to generate ideas, to focus on ideas with the highest potential, to translate those ideas into projects, and to bring these projects to an economic success. On the other hand, the services shall increase the ability of SMEs to abandon projects smoothly with minimal losses for the company, in case a project doesn't live up to the original expectations.

Overall objective of this proposed project is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation (both private or public), and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the value chain. Specifically, this proposal will contribute to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation projects in SMEs in the region of Bavaria. This will be achieved by the delivery of well-defined services packages to the SMEs, targeting specifically the enhancement of their innovation management capacity and the removal of potential innovation gaps and bottlenecks.Target groups of the service packages will be 1) SME beneficiaries in Bavaria participating in Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument (“Key Account Management” KAM) 2) Other internationally oriented SMEs in Bavaria with strong ambitions in innovation and growth (“Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity” EIMC). 'Innovation management’, as addressed by this project comprises a company’s complete innovation process from idea generation to innovation result. It includes internal enabling factors like leadership, management skills, financial situation, market knowledge etc, as well as external cooperation with third parties like suppliers, R&D partners, potential clients, and investors. This understanding of innovation management follows the specifications of innovation management systems provided by the European Committee for Standardisation in CEN/TS 16555-1.For implementation, KAM case tracker and IMP³rove assessment will be used for delivering KAM services and IMP³rove as well as IHC tool will be used for delivering EIMC services, respectively.

Overall objective of this proposed project is to contribute to smart growth in the European Union by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in research, development and innovation (both private or public), and by contributing to a better and more efficient connection of actors along the value chain. Specifically, this proposal will contribute to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation projects in SMEs in the region of Bavaria. This will be achieved by the delivery of well-defined services packages to the SMEs, targeting specifically the enhancement of their innovation management capacity and the removal of potential innovation gaps and bottlenecks. Target groups of the service packages will be 1. SME beneficiaries in Bavaria participating in Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument (“Key Account Management” KAM) 2. Other internationally oriented SMEs in Bavaria with strong ambitions in innovation and growth (“Enhancing Innovation Management Capacity” EIMC) ‘Innovation management’, as addressed by this project comprises a company’s complete innovation process from idea generation to innovation result. It includes internal enabling factors like leadership, management skills, financial situation, market knowledge etc, as well as external cooperation with third parties like suppliers, R&D partners, potential clients, and investors. This understanding of innovation management follows the specifications of innovation management systems provided by the European Committee for Standardisation in CEN/TS 16555-1. For implementation, KAM case tracker and IMP³rove assessment will be used for delivering KAM services and EIMC services, respectively.