Lithuanian Action Plan includes VI main action steps with a final goal to provide the recommendations, basing on experiences of P2L2 project in order to improve the “Innovation Vouchers’” or Innovouchers’ policy instrument, implemented in Lithuanian Region. Those steps include such actions like review of the funding schemes; abolition of the pre-defined list of R&D services; improvement of the application submission and evaluation procedure; introducing continuous call for application; lengthening of the duration of projects up to 24 months; and possibility to submit and administer the application, using (DMS) and (SFMIS). Main idea and vision of the Lithuanian action plan is to increase the productivity of Lithuanian SMEs, as well as number of employees and turnover, significantly increase private sector spending on R&D. The biggest part of Lithuanian action plan basically has been implemented and Renewed Innovouchers policy instrument Launched on 27th of April 2018. For monitoring of the action plan 7 main indicator have been analysed:
- Increased share of private investments;
- Increased share of projects submitted for experimental activities (TRL6-9);
- Success ratio (selected projects vs applications);
- Share of SMEs that received funding through Innovouchers executing other R&D activities;
- Smaller share of projects that requires extending the time for the project implementation;
- Reduced time for reporting on project implementation;
- Number of processes that became electronic.
The indicators for share of private investments, success ratio (selected projects vs applications) and number of electronic processes have almost achieved to target rate. While share of SMEs that received funding through Innovouchers, share of projects that requires extending the time and the reduced time for reporting on project implementation is too early to evaluate. The only indicator, which looks that will not achieve the target ratio is - increased share of projects submitted for experimental activities (TRL6-9). The reason of the decrease of submitted projects for experimental activities could be due to increased financial contribution of companies.
