UK SBS FWRECR17088INN - Review of UK's EEN Connect Activities

Tender description

This mini competition is to conduct a review of the UK Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) over the period from January 2015 to June 2017 inclusive; it will also consider how the EEN's activities align with the EEN remit and approach. Further details are set out in the requirement section with additional background information provided below and attached in a separate Annex including the COSME Implementation Strategy that was submitted to the EU Commission and forms the basis for the 7 year framework partnership agreement. Enterprise Europe Network The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is a business support network that was operated historically in the UK by 11 different consortia. In January 2015 it was brought together by Innovate UK under the umbrella of one national consortium comprising 21 partners to provide coherent consistent services across England Northern Ireland and Wales . The scope of this mini competition covers the Enterprise Europe Network England, Northern Ireland and Wales consortium (EEN ENIW) which form part of an international network of local experts, across the EU28 and beyond. The wider European network consist of: • more than 600 partner organisations, • across 66 countries, • linking to over 3,000 staff, • Providing information and services to 2.5 million European small - to medium-sized enterprises. The EEN ENIW has 21 partners that work with: • 5,000 + SMEs • 830 companies are given intensive innovation coaching and mentoring • £40m finance has been raised through direct support • 1,500 SMEs have been connected to overseas collaborators The Network's activities in the UK are delivered by regional partners via c180 people 'on the ground' across the country. Each of the partners in the Consortium has a team of specialist innovation, internationalization and funding advisers providing practical support for companies, universities and research centers in their region.