
The Innovation in SMEs programme (INNOSUP) was part of Horizon 2020 and a number of its projects will continue until 2024
About
The Horizon 2020 “Innovation in SMEs” (INNOSUP) programme aims to test new approaches for better innovation support through funding opportunities for innovation actors across Europe. It consists of innovation-support measures designed to provide opportunities to Member States and regions to enhance their services to SMEs through collaboration, peer-learning, and testing new approaches that facilitate SMEs’ access to customers, capital and competencies; the latter especially in the domains of business, innovation and intellectual asset management.
Its ultimate goal is hence to help strengthen the dynamism and the resilience of the SME innovation ecosystem in Europe, though INNOSUP Actions generally operate as pilots to test out particular approaches.
Calls are, generally, directed to intermediaries that nurture and support innovative SMEs, such as innovation agencies, industrial clusters, and innovation associations of different kinds and from different sectors. Some of the calls are also directly targeted at SMEs (final beneficiaries), while others are intended to support existing European innovation-support schemes (e.g. the Enterprise Europe Network).
Currently, the INNOSUP actions fall under the European Innovation Ecosystem.
Information about past projects managed under the previous agency (EASME) can be found on the legacy legacy website.
Project results
Publications
- Report
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
Experimental innovation policy for SMEs: Findings and recommendations (2022 edition)
This report presents the context and set-up of 13 projects financed under the Action “Support to design and running of randomised control trials (RCTs)” under the Horizon 2020 Work Programme.
- Report
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
Workplace Innovation uptake by SMEs - Action report
This report presents how the INNOSUP-04 action promoted the development of a European-led model of Workplace innovation amongst SMEs through its projects.
- Report
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
Experimental innovation policy for SMEs: findings and recommendations
This report from the Innovation Growth Lab brings together analysis and key findings from thirteen projects who were chosen to break new ground in many agencies by applying experimental approaches to innovation policy.
- Study
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
Report on Public Innovation Support for SMEs in Europe
Report on Public Innovation Support for SMEs in Europe
- Study
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
Cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains - Impact Report
Cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains - Impact Report
News

- News article
European Patent Office and European IP Helpdesk team up for a joint “Train-the-Trainer” workshop in Munich
Joining forces with the European Patent Office (EPO), the European IP Helpdesk organised a two-day training for their European IP Helpdesk Ambassadors in Munich from 28 to 29 June 2023

- News article
EU-funded GALATEA project wins the Westmed Project Award 2023
Congratulations to the winners

- News article
EU-funded PITCCH project shares insights on open innovation
The consortium has gathered all the knowledge, findings, and recommendations, built over the three years of the project’s implementation, into a digital booklet.

- News article
EU-funded GALATEA project - the blue growth accelerator - presents its results in final event
On 7 and 8 March 2023, SMEs, end-users, investors and institutions met in Marseille for the final event and presentation of the GALATEA project’s results.

- News article
GALACTICA EU-funded project closes with final event and pitching competition in Barcelona
On 16 February 2023, more than 110 participants attended the H2020 INNOSUP-funded project GALACTICA’s final event.