The main objective was to improve the quality of the services provided by innovation centres, through an effective methodology that evaluates various impacts. These can be measured not only at the individual level of start-ups or SMEs, but also subsequently in the economic performance of the whole region. We had extensive discussions within the consortium to finally arrive at a simple division of evaluations into those that serve as a control tool for the innovation centre shareholders and those that help the innovation centre itself to improve its internal processes. The best centres evaluate their programmes not only out of obligation but above all to continuously improve. In this project, we have described methods of impact evaluation from the most complex, but also the most challenging to implement, to the very simple ones such as pre-and post-intervention measurement. 

The project was successfully completed at the end of March this year. On behalf of Silesian University were involved doc. Mgr. Tomáš Gongol, Ph.D., Ing. Martin Klepek, Ph.D. and Ing. Dalibor Šimek, Ph.D. Our role consisted primarily of the preparation of the literature review, facilitation of peer-learning workshops and consultations on the methodological aspect of the project. The output of the project was a Design option paper, which serves as a methodological material for other innovation centres that are starting or want to move forward with impact evaluation.

You can learn more about the project here.