Benchmarking Sectoral e-business Policy Initiatives for SMEs

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1 Benchmarking Sectoral e-business Policy Initiatives for SMEs A study by empirica GmbH, Databank and IDATE Hannes Selhofer empirica GmbH A study commissioned by the European Commission Paris, 06 July 2007 ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 1

2 Study objectives Stock-taking of policies sector specific initiatives promoting e-business for SMEs in EU25, EEA, US, CAN, JAP, China, India, South Korea, Singapore (regional / national initiatives) Identification of best practices policies as a whole / elements within a policy Policy case studies + Synthesis Report Dissemination of results Benchmarking Report Printed summary booklet (2000 copies) ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 2

3 Phase I (Jan. Apr. 2007): 75 policy initiatives identified Name of the initiative ID on list Abstract Sectors targeted Initiated / implemented by Timing KITARA - The Application of Information Technology in Mechanical, Civil and Automation Engineering FI02 The mechanical engineering and construction cluster makes a major contribution to the Finnish national economy. The cluster provides jobs to 650,000 people. A sufficient volume of high-level basic research in these fields is regarded to be essential for staying competitive. However, experts argue that the mechanical engineering, construction and real estate sectors have failed to exploit the full potential of ICT up to know. In Finland, ICT are heavily concentrated in data communications applications, where Finland has world-leading know-how in ICT. If this excellence could be transferred to manufacturing processes, the result could give products a strong competitive edge in the global marketplace. The Research Programme on the Application of Information Technology in Mechanical, Civil and Automation Engineering (KITARA) is designed to support development in these fields on a broad front. Mechanical, civil and automation engineering Academy of Finland, in cooperation with the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries, the Finnish Association of Building Owners and Construction Clients, Tekes (National Technology Agency) and the Ministry of the Environment ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 3

4 Phase II (May June 2007) : 40 expanded policy descriptions Selection of 40 initiatives based on qualitative criteria: Sectoral approach e-business concept Type of policy Expanded descriptions, focusing on Background and objectives Target groups Implementation (activities & communication) Outcomes Evaluation ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 4

5 Phase II: 40 selected policies Types of policy initiatives 1. Policy level: Links with other programmes 2. Focus of the activities Framework policy / action plan (covering diverse action lines) Integrated project / initiative (vertical - as an action within a framework programme) Linked project / initiative (strong horizontal links with other projects / initiatives, but is not part of them) Stand-alone project / initiative (without links) Support scheme (provision of grants for individual companies) Networking / cluster-building initiative Awareness raising initiative RTD project / programme (e.g. support for the develop of new e-business solutions) Standardisation initiative ICT training initiative Legal action (e.g. tax incentives, regulatory framework initiatives) ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 5

6 Phase II: 40 selected policies Objectives addressed Networking initiatives: Build / strengthen B2B networks and cooperation Typically advanced schemes Support for individual companies Grant schemes (e.g. for ICT adoption / e-business projects) Awareness activities (brochures, seminars) Improving framework conditions for e-business Promote standards development and adoption RTD programmes and projects ICT skills development initiatives ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 6

7 Phase III (Jul. Sep. 2007): Case studies Selection of 15 initiatives for case studies Focus on achievements (outcomes, effects) Focus on innovative approaches Basis for best practice identification Selection based on benchmarking criteria 15 indicators (scale of 1-5) Documentation: Final Benchmarking Report Printed Booklet (80 pages) Website ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 7

8 Innovative approaches & good practices 1 2 Business process orientation & the critical importance of e-standards Business process analysis Support for SMEs in selecting standards Agreements on standards Adaptation of existing standards for specific sectors / purposes Reward cooperation: joint projects Focus on network enhancement Role of policy as a "match-maker" (by creating a framework / platform for cooperation) eslog (Slovenia) PROZEUS (Germany) ALFA (France) icast (Italy) CITAX (Ireland) TIC-PME (France) CANARIE programme (Canada) BAIKA (Germany) B2B Project (Korea) ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 8

9 Innovative approaches & good practices 3 4 Get large companies involved No digital integration without commitment & cooperation of large players Policy as a mediator / advocate of SME interests Stakeholder-value approach: multistakeholder coordination initiatives Develop a common vision Anticipate conflicts of interests Get all relevant parties involved to reach agreements and achieve results Policy as a coordinator & mediator ALFA (France) TIC-PME (France) Global ebiz Working Group (UK) eslog (Slovenia) Avanza PYME (Spain) PME Digital (Portugal) BIT programme (Norway) ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 9

10 Innovative approaches & good practices 5 6 Focus on 'motivated' SMEs SMEs with concrete business objectives Derive e-business goals from this Develop "Roadmap" and support projects Pioneers as 'innovation hubs' Exploitation of concrete projects for awareness raising Mix of policy tools Support schemes for concrete projects Exploit results for good practice dissemination (applies to most of the described initiatives) PROZEUS (Germany) ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 10

11 A recipe for effective e-business e policies? Be clear about objectives and targets Apply systemic thinking links between initiatives integrate with framework programme Focus on motivated SMEs Get large companies on board Take a stakeholder perspective Do projects with a few, disseminate lessons learned to many Encourage networking among enterprises ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 11

12 More information & contact Study Team empirica GmbH Hannes Selhofer Oxfordstr. 2, Bonn, Germany E: T: (+49) European Commission ebsn Workshop, Paris, 05/06 July 2007 Hannes Selhofer, empirica GmbH 12