EDITORIAL 30.01.2015 “Your company invests money in R&DI activities: so what?”

Probably not! According to analyses carried out at European level, R&DI spending is not an automatic corollary to a better company’s economic performance.  In other terms, R&DI spending does not always and necessarily implies growth in operational profits, in incomes from sales of new products or services and / or cost reductions.
More than on R&DI spending, all these aspects depend on the capacity companies have – and SMEs in particular – to manage innovation and notably to manage and structure their internal innovation processes.  Actually, these latter are not only expected to be aligned with, but fully integrated into the company’s overall business development and growth strategy.     
Easier said than done, especially for those SME entrepreneurs who are busy on several fronts simultaneously!
Now, what if a person – not belonging to the company – would take the time to come at your premises, look in a neutral way at your strategy, step in the necessary perspective to audit your decisions and actions using proven high quality methodologies to help improve the innovation management ?
This is the philosophy the service aimed at enhancing the innovation management capacity of SME (EIMC) has got. This service – delivered by Enterprise Europe Brussels advisor @ impulse.brussels  – is open to SMEs:
–    With particularly high EU-wide market and innovation potential
–    Have a desire (and a potential) to grow and internationalise via innovation, but lack the strategic innovation management capacities to achieve this goal
–    Having at least 10 employees
–    Established for at least 4 years
The EIMC service focuses on results and impact creation, allows a holistic view and benchmarking at international level or against one country, depending on the sector. It’s based on the IMP³rove methodology and carried out with a tool, compliant with EU standards (TS 16555).

Barbara Andreani
Enterprise Europe Brussels Coordinator
ban@impulse.irisnet.be