Dear Reader
This InnoSupport material represents a guide in the form of a series of components which has been designed and developed to support innovation in SMEs by a transnational partnership and partly funded by the European Programme Leonardo da Vinci.

Who is this guide for?

This guide is an introduction to basic tools to support innovation in SMEs. We do not address experienced R&D experts but staff in SMEs (managers, employees and trainees) who have to develop innovative products and services to suit their own circumstances and look for some tools that may assist them. We address people who do not have overall knowledge of the many-facetted innovation processes but who wish or indeed need to know more about it. 

Therefore, we also address students or continuing professional development trainees who might use it as “a pocket guide” for economic and innovation related subjects. Business consultants might wish to use it as an additional tool to support their clients or to give their clients a general understanding of innovative issues. 

What is the scope of the guide? 
Innovation can lead to success and the best way to achieve the expected results is when tried and tested processes are understood and applied. The components have been designed to support general understanding of innovation related issues and to support the learning of the processes in the workplace.

First, the material informs you of what a certain technique or process can be used for. The information on where and how to apply the tool  aims to help you decide if a  more intense application will be useful for you and the objectives you have in mind. Examples and case studies are meant to underpin the understanding and illustrate practical applications. 

You can use the search function for moving within the system and the glossary for further information. You can also download the content in pdf-format.

The information on tools will enable you to apply and test the tools immediately, supported by checklists and links to relevant further information. This product is therefore a combined learning and working tool. 

For other, more complex tools, expert assistance or further learning will be necessary. This can be best done in useful learning scenarios by way of workbased, project based, project integrated learning or similar. 

After reading the content you will be in a better position to make a sound decision on the usefulness of a certain innovation tool for your purposes and your working environment.

This way, we hope to encourage the user of this guide to reflect on the question “what else can help me to become more competent, effective and innovative?” And we also hope that guide will prove to be of real value in the user’s strive for competitiveness and innovation in his or her company as this would be the best result for the INNOSUPPORT project team.

However, we know that there is always scope for further development and we would appreciate your comments and suggestions for future improvement by contacting one of the partners in your country.

The guide is available as a web-based system, a CD and a handbook.

We wish you success in working and learning with the INNOSUPPORT-guide!