PROMOFIRENZE AZIENDA SPECIALE DELLACAMERA DI COMMERCIO INDUSTRIA ARTIGIANATO E AGRICOLTURA DI FIRENZE

Their core work

PromoFirenze is the special agency of the Florence Chamber of Commerce responsible for helping local SMEs access innovation support and international markets. Under H2020, they operated as an Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) node, delivering structured innovation management assessments and coaching to SMEs using the CEN/TS 16555 European standard. Their core work involves identifying SMEs with growth potential, assessing their innovation capacity, and guiding them through the SME Instrument (later EIC) application process via Key Account Management (KAM) methodology.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

PromoFirenze's focus has been remarkably consistent across 2015-2021, running the same I-KAM2EU programme in successive phases. The early period (2015-2018) emphasized general innovation management coaching and SME assessment, while later phases (2019-2021) adopted more formalized frameworks — adding CEN/TS 16555 standards, EIMC methodology, and the structured "client journey" concept. The shift from referencing "SME Instrument" to "EIC" in the final phase reflects their adaptation to the evolving EU funding landscape.

They are moving toward more structured, standards-based innovation management delivery (CEN/TS 16555, EIMC), positioning themselves as a professionalized EEN service provider rather than a general support office.

How they like to work

PromoFirenze always leads — all four projects have them as coordinator, with zero participation-only roles. Their consortia are small, with only 8 unique partners across all projects, all within a single country (Italy). This suggests a tightly controlled, locally-anchored operation where they serve as the hub for a stable network of Italian EEN partners rather than building wide European consortia.

Their network is compact and domestic: 8 unique partners all within Italy, likely other Italian EEN nodes and Chambers of Commerce. No evidence of cross-border consortium building despite their EEN mandate.

What sets them apart

PromoFirenze's value lies in being a direct bridge between EU innovation support programmes and the Tuscan SME ecosystem, backed by the institutional weight of the Florence Chamber of Commerce. Their sustained focus on a single programme (I-KAM2EU) over six years shows deep operational experience in SME innovation diagnostics. For consortium builders, they offer reliable access to the Tuscan business community and proven delivery of EEN-standard innovation services.

Highlights from their portfolio

• I-KAM2EU (2020-2021)
  Final and best-funded phase (EUR 20,616), incorporating EIC references and the most mature methodology with full CEN/TS 16555 and EIMC integration.
• I-KAM2EU (2015-2016)
  Founding phase that established PromoFirenze's role as coordinator of this recurring EEN innovation management programme.