The two main specific objectives of the project were the following: 

• Improvement of Regional Advisory and Information Centres (RAICs) / Business Innovation Centres (BICs) sustainability by strengthening their position among SME sector through high quality consultancy services and training courses provided by the professional staff and associates;
• Further development of the SME support network of RAICs and BICs and its activities.

Project Activities:

Assessment Activities (related to both specific objectives no.1 and no. 2):

• Analysis of current mix of services offered by RAICs / BICs and assessment of their current operations and training needs analysis of SME advisors and trainers;
• Review of the present monitoring and evaluation system of RAICs / BICs activities and benchmarking of SME support systems.

Activities aimed at achieving objective no.1 (Improvement of RAICs / BICs sustainability by strengthening their position among SME sector through high quality consultancy services and training courses provided by the professional staff and associates):

• Design of an appropriate package of services to meet the needs of the project beneficiaries: SMEs in the area of counselling and training;
• Design of a Central Training Programme for SME Advisors;
• Organization of a Training of Trainers and Pilot Training for SME Advisors;
• Development of an Accreditation System for SME Advisors and Trainers and for Public Support.

Activities aimed at achieving objective no.2 (Further development of SME support network of RAICs and BICs and its activities):

• Formulation of effective recommendations concerning minimal requirements for operation and staffing of an institution to be a member of the NADSME support network;
• Design of an up-to-date system for monitoring and evaluation of RAICs / BICs performance.

Organization of Study Tours for Slovak managers in Slovenia, Italy and Spain (related to both specific objectives no.1 and no. 2).

Activities aimed at awareness and consensus building: organization of Workshops, Seminars and Conferences.

Type of service

Project Organization and Management.

Consultancy and Training.

Project results dissemination.