Public sector support for innovating SMEs

Innovation support for SMEs is considered from the point of view of the "ne eds" of SMEs in the context of a specific regional economy - London's Lee V alley region. As identified in the literature and, more specifically, in a survey of 100 innovating SMEs in the study region, attention is focused on the innovation support needs that relate to the size characteristics of SME s. The difficulties of financing innovation are shown to stem from the atti tudes of SME owner managers as well as from supply-side failures. The paper examines four different innovation support instruments, taken as constitut ing key elements of the support "system" within the region. Drawing on the findings of interviews with client businesses, the paper considers the stre ngths and weaknesses of each policy instrument. Conclusions relate to the o verall impact of innovation support provision, in particular the need for g reater integration in the design and implementation of policy instruments.