Dott. Giuseppe DaneseCEO of Gruppo Danese
A yachting group, from offline to online markets
Needs mapping, process analysis and a digital transformation path followed step by step. The CEO tells the story in his own words (video in Italian).
Innovation manager for SMEs: strategy, projects and resources to innovate
An innovation manager helps you decide where to innovate, turn that decision into concrete projects and find the resources to deliver them. I do this for SMEs and for international companies operating in Italy as an Innovation Manager certified under UNI 11814 by Apave Italia CPM (certificate no. 38-M). I sit at the table with you and with whoever runs the company, set priorities, coordinate suppliers and measure results.
Ing. Vito Domenico Amodio
Engineer and Innovation Manager, I work with you directly
- UNI 11814 Innovation Manager · Apave no. 38-M
- Licensed engineer, Lecce no. 4603
- Listed by MISE as innovation manager in 2019
- Working with SMEs since 2014
I have no product to sell you. My job is to help you spend time and money well, even when the right answer is “not now”. I am also CIO of Moviweb S.r.l., a web agency in Lecce: if a project needs web or software development, I tell you in advance whether I am proposing Moviweb, and the choice of supplier stays with you.
When you need it
This service fits if:
Your way of working no longer holds
You run a small or medium-sized company and feel today’s organisation will not support tomorrow’s growth
A technology choice is coming
You need to choose an ERP, a CRM, an e-commerce platform or an AI tool and do not want to rely only on the vendor
A digital project has stalled
You have already tried to digitalise something, but the project stopped or people do not use the tool
You are investing in Italy
You are opening a site, acquiring a business or launching a project in Southern Italy and need someone who knows the local context and reports in English
A grant needs a qualified manager
You want to use an Italian funding scheme that requires a qualified innovation manager to sign the technical part
Nobody owns innovation
You have no one on staff who looks after it, and hiring someone today does not make sense.
I work with agrifood, retail, hospitality, tourism, services and small manufacturing. You do not need an IT department: my counterpart is often the owner or the country manager.
What I do
UNI 11814 gives the Innovation Manager eight tasks, from the relationship with top management to training. In practice, this is what I do with you:
Context analysis
Market, competitors, internal processes, skills, available data. I find where you lose time and where the opportunities are.
Innovation intent
One or two lines stating why your company wants to innovate. ISO 56001 puts it at the base of everything, and so do I.
Project portfolio
A short, prioritised list of initiatives with costs, expected benefits, risks and timing. Few and feasible.
Technology selection
ERP, CRM, e-commerce, cloud, cybersecurity, automation, AI. I prepare requirements, compare offers and review contracts.
Funding plan
Italian and EU grants, vouchers, tax credits, own resources. See Grants and public funding.
Supplier and network coordination
Developers, consultants, trainers. I keep track of time, quality and cost.
Change management
I involve people, plan training and pick up doubts before they turn into resistance.
Measurement
A few indicators agreed at the start, checked during and at the end of the project.
How I work
Listening
In an introductory call you tell me about the company, its goals and its problems. I tell you whether and how I can help.
Diagnosis
One or more days on site, interviews with key people, a look at the data. I measure digital maturity with a structured model.
Plan and resources
I share a short document on intent and strategy: where you are, where you want to go and why. I turn it into a roadmap of projects ranked by priority, with budget and possible funding sources.
Delivery and results
I follow the work with my project network and the suppliers you choose, and send you regular progress updates. At the end of the project we check the indicators and decide the next step.
These are the four steps of the method I follow in every project.
What you get
Assessment report
with your digital maturity level and critical points.
Innovation intent and strategy document
two or three pages your accountant or your board can read.
Roadmap
with projects, priorities, indicative budget and timeline.
Funding plan
with compatible schemes and their status at the time of analysis.
Specifications and supplier comparisons
for technology choices.
Progress reports
during delivery.
Indicator scorecard
with starting and target values.
Next steps
All documents are yours, and you can reuse them with banks, partners, headquarters and suppliers.
If you prefer support for a set period, see the temporary innovation manager option, or start with a digital assessment and roadmap. Results from companies I have worked with are in the case studies, and my background is on the About page.
Shall we talk for half an hour?
Tell me where you are so I understand what you need. If I can help, I send you a written quote.
How it went for a client
Frequently asked questions
Can't find your question? Write to me and I will answer.
What is the difference between an innovation manager and an IT consultant?
An IT consultant solves a technical problem: installing an ERP, setting up a network, building an application. An innovation manager decides with you which problems are worth solving, in what order and with which resources. I work with management on strategy and priorities, then coordinate the technical suppliers. You often need both, at different moments.
Why does UNI 11814 certification matter?
UNI 11814 is the Italian standard for innovation managers. Certification means an accredited body has checked, through an exam, that the professional has the knowledge and skills the standard requires. Some Italian grant schemes ask for it before consultancy costs become eligible. The standard also refers to the ISO 56000 family, so the method is recognisable to international teams.
Can you work with our headquarters outside Italy?
Yes. I report to your management in English, work alongside your local team and suppliers in Italy, and align the project with your group’s standards and reporting. Much of the work can be done remotely; meetings with people on site take place in Italy. I do not offer a physical presence in other countries.
How long does an engagement last?
It depends on the goal. An assessment with a roadmap usually takes a few weeks. Support during delivery follows the length of the project itself; when a public grant is involved, the maximum timeline is set by the scheme. Duration and deliverables are always written into the proposal before we start.
Do you only work in Apulia?
My office is in Lecce, in Apulia, and most of my clients are Italian companies in the South. Many activities are carried out remotely, so I also work with companies in other Italian regions, with European companies and with foreign groups that want to invest in Southern Italy.
Book an introductory call
Tell me where your company stands today and what you would like to change. The call helps me understand your request and prepare a written proposal, or give you a clear view of what you can do on your own.
Tell me about your company and what you want to achieve. The call is for me to understand your request: if I can help, I prepare a written quote. or fill in the formBook a 30-minute introductory call
Related services
- Temporary innovation managerFor a set period I join your team and see a change project through.
- Digital assessment and roadmapA picture of your digital maturity and a phased plan with priorities and costs.
- ISO 56001 innovation management systemProcesses, roles and metrics to innovate with method, again and again.