Innovation-driving board work in small and medium-sized firms

Purpose and goal

The main goal of the project has been to concretize the conditions for concentrating support for innovation through the board of directors in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The project has based on a number of performed activities identified five dimensions that together meet the main goal for the project: 1) focus for concentrated support, 2) form for concentrated support, 3) research needs, 4) forum for interchange, and 5) forms for interchange. Illuminating and concretizing these dimensions have fulfilled the main goal of the project.

Results and expected effects

The project has contributed with a knowledge base that can be used to concentrate support for innovation through the board of directors in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The overall results show that there is a lack of systematic research within the area, that there are some supports for developing boards in SMEs in Europe but not with a focus on innovation driven board work, and that concentrated support should target SMEs of a certain size in close interaction with owners and board members.

Approach and implementation

The project has analyzed three specific areas within its focus on innovation through the board of directors in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): 1) the current state-of-the-art in research and literature, 2) what has been done and the experience from such efforts within the area in Europe (for example via innovation agencies and formalized professional networks), and 3) forms of exchange and the type of firms that would benefit most from concentrated support.