Although SMEs are referred to as the backbone of Europe’s economy, it is really micro enterprises (with less than 10 employees) that sustain employment and have most growth potential: 9 out of 10 SMEs are micro-enterprises, they employee one third of the workforce and produce more than 40% of economic value added (EC, Annual Report on European SMEs 2018). With innovation at the forefront of the drive for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, it follows that innovation support and training should be focussed on the micro sector. However, innovation policy and practice -at EU and national level- is still dominated by the conventional R&D model, involving high investment in hi-technology. Although suitable for large companies, especially in industry and manufacturing, this is not viable for most micro-enterprises given their acute financial constraints and ongoing low levels of consumer spending across Europe. Lean innovation offers an alternative route to innovation; a cost-effective, low-tech approach, it prioritises design thinking and agile experimentation to generate value-maximizing products and services, thus helping small businesses grow in spite of their economic conditions. In addition, unlike traditional innovation, which is resource dependent, lean innovation is a knowledge and skills based approach and so vocational training organizations can play a key role in developing these skills. OUR OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES Our overall goal, therefore, is to introduce the lean innovation skillset to our education system and by extension to our economies. In order to do so, our specific objectives are: a. Motivate micro-entrepreneurs to engage in innovation training by creating a self-assessment tool that helps identify the innovation knowledge and skills that will be most useful to their particular business context/goals. b. Increase the availability and quality of Lean Innovation teaching for micro-entrepreneurs by assisting entrepreneurship education providers to quickly integrate it into classroom teaching via a made-to-measure curriculum, teachers’ packs and OERs c. Maximise access to lean innovation skills development for micro-entrepreneurs through an online training course PARTICIPANTS The project involves participants at all stages, from design to execution to evaluation, specifically: - 120 Micro Enterprise will participate in the testing of the Online Self-assessment tool - 24 teaching staff from VET institutions and HEIs will participate in the USER TESTING of the OERs - 60 existing micro enterprise/ student entrepreneurs will participate in USER TESTING of the OERs and Online course - 200+ VET institutions, HE institutions and wider stakeholders will participate in MULTIPLIER EVENTS - 10,000 individuals from the target groups will engage with materials online through our interactive dissemination. RESULTS The tangible results of the project will include: IO1 Formative Self Assessment Tool. This online, interactive diagnostic tool enables users to evaluate their current innovation capacity and “readiness”. It constitutes the first phase of the learning process for micro enterprises and entrepreneurs, but also allows trainers’ back-end access to the results of their group for better understanding IO2 Lean Innovation Curriculum and OERs consist of a complete set of learning objectives, training materials and case studies providing entrepreneurship trainers and lecturers the ability to impart to micro enterprises/entrepreneurs the knowledge, skills and self-belief required to engage in great product and service innovation using lean innovation methods and techniques. IO3 Lean Innovation Online Course. The OERs will be adapted into a series of short modules for use on computers, tablets or smartphones, for micro enterprises. This enables access to high quality learning for those who prefer self-led learning due to geographic, time or other constraints. IMPACT The structure of LIME has been designed so that the activities carried out are capable of generating the desired change within each of the target groups, and that together this will create system-level change. As more and more VET organizations implement the training model, the project will generate an increase in the availability and quality of innovation education. This will lead to the thousands of small businesses acquiring a lean innovation mind-set and engaging in low-tech, practical innovation thanks to the improved education they receive. The impact of the project will be felt most at local and regional level through the strengthening of innovation teaching. However, it also provides a reliable means of advancing systemic changes in approaches to innovation at national and international levels given the high relevance of Lean Innovation to the demands of our contemporary European economy and the involvement of key stakeholders in education, enterprise and development.
OUR OBJECTIVES Our overall goal is to introduce the lean innovation skillset to our education system and by extension to our economies. In order to do so, our specific objectives were: a. To motivate micro-entrepreneurs to engage in innovation training b. To increase the availability and quality of Lean Innovation teaching for micro-entrepreneur, assisting entrepreneurship education providers to quickly integrate it into classroom teaching c. To maximise access to lean innovation skills development for micro-entrepreneurs
The project responds primarily to the needs of two target groups; MICRO-ENTERPRISE MANAGERS AND FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS who need to innovate, but lack financial resources, key innovation skills or are risk averse; ENTERPRISE EDUCATION PROVIDERS such as regional enterprise centres, vocational colleges, incubators and business faculties who need to modernize curricula and improve pedagogic techniques. SMEs are often described as the backbone of Europe’s economy and 9 out of 10 SMEs are micro-enterprises. They employ one third of the workforce, producing more than 40% of economic value added. With innovation at the forefront of the drive for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, innovation training should be focussed on the micro sector. However, innovation policy and practice at EU and national level is still dominated by conventional R&D models, with high investment in hi-technology. This is not viable for most micro-enterprises, given their acute financial constraints. Lean innovation is an alternative route to innovation; a cost-effective, low-tech approach. Since lean innovation is a knowledge and skills based approach, VET organizations can play a key role in developing these skills, and LIME can equip them for that role.