The project examines the factors that hinder small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in initiating and implementing innovation activities and how support services can be used to increase SMEs' innovation activities in NRW. The aim is to identify concrete and scalable options for action to improve the framework conditions for innovation-related activities in SMEs in NRW.

ZEW's contribution to the study lies in the analysis of innovation barriers in SMEs and the role that innovation policy support plays in mitigating these barriers. For this purpose, a literature review will be conducted and data from the Mannheim Innovation Panel will be evaluated.