Innovation, SME Support
There is a lot more to innovation than research and technology. Increasing companies' ability to innovate is an important policy objective in most countries. While support programmes for larger enterprises tend to focus on aspects of creating and using technology, those for SMEs cover many more topics, ranging from basic business planning and marketing to new product introduction, organisational development, financing and 'soft technologies' such as continuous improvement. SME and business support is central to many of the projects we undertake in regional development. This also includes developing innovation oriented plans, programmes and projects for the Structural Funds and their evaluation. Innovation happens more and more in clusters and inter-firm networks. We have done extensive studies in how to map, develop, evaluate and manage clusters. We have also done international studies on 'good practices' in cluster policy.
Examples of work specifically geared to innovation and SMEs are:
-
Impact assessment for improving SME specific research schemes
and measures to promote SME participation in the framework
programme
(PDF, 2.3Mb) - Evaluation
of the impact of Research Tax Credits (CIR) (French; Summary
also available in French)
(Full Report, PDF, 4.1Mb / Summary, PDF, 52Kb) - BEST
project on indicators for SME Initiatives
(PDF, 360Kb) - Survey
on SME participation in European research programmes
(German)
(Word Document, 828Kb) - Evaluation
of the Small Firms Advisory Scheme
(PDF, 320Kb) - Benchmarking national policies in support of e-business
for SMEs (Synthesis Report & Benchmarking Report)
(Synthesis Report, Word Document, 916Kb / Benchmarking Report, Word Document, 996Kb)
- Some
New Ideas About Research for Development
(PDF, 1.8Mb) - Building
Firms' Technological Capabilities
(PDF, 328Kb)
