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Introduction to HB Berenschot
HB Berenschot, located in Deventer, Diepenbeek(Belgium), Groningen, 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht is a consultancy agency, concentrating on advising innovative companies and institutes with regard to:
· the acquisition of grants;
· the management of granted projects;
· the process of innovation itself, independent of the acquisition of grants.
In order to take full advantage of the entire range of subsidies and to give a broad meaning to the concept of project management, our consultancy team combines the expertise of (business) economists and technologists.

Grants
One of the objectives of the Dutch government and the European Community is to encourage innovation in business and industry. One of the methods to stimulate this is by means of grants. Grants can be regarded as rewards for desired conduct and serve to reduce the risks involved when research and development activities are carried out. HB Berenschot links the client's strategic plans to both national and international subsidy schemes at present After identifying the common grounds, HB Berenschot guides its clients through the entire application process.

Instead of an impulsive strategy on the acquisition of grants, HB Berenschot assists the client in developing a structured strategy on obtaining the best results out of the available grant resources.

In the field of technological research and development special attention is focussed on the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission. Within this programme international co-operation on (advanced) research and development is financially supported. HB Berenschot provides support to its clients in the various steps leading to the acceptation of an EC-funded project and the management of the project.

However, the range of grants is not only limited to research and development. It also includes, environmental issues, human resources and education.

Project Management
We believe that our consulting and guidance does not stop at the instant of granting. If desired, HB Berenschot will assist the client during the following phase, the management and controlling phase. We define project management as the entire counselling process, in which the consultant initiates and executes the counselling process of larger strategic projects with the objective of optimising the co-operation of the parties involved. Our consultants are broadly experienced in their role as an intermediary. With respect to controlling we refer to reporting, accounting of project expenses and filing of project results, generally in the prescribed format as demanded by the government.

Innovation processes
In our practice as consultants on the acquisition of grants for R&D-projects, we often encounter the need of our clients for a structured approach on their R&D-activities. Of course, this is tightly connected to developments in their markets, technological advancement and increasing competition. A structured approach to R&D as one of the strategic issues of a company is indeed possible and will pay off. HB Berenschot helps to structure and define various aspects of innovation, e.g. with:
· generating an overview of relevant scientific trends;
· market developments in view of new competitors, products and technologies;
· make-or-buy decisions on the acquisition of knowledge;
· and many more.

After doing so, the management of our clients can take well founded decisions on the strategy on their innovation activities.