Opportunities deriving from the Enterprise Europe Network

Launch of the SME policy index for the Western Balkans and TurkeyParis - 28 April, 2016

Giacomo Mattinò, Head of UnitDG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Unit H2 Enterprise Europe Network and Internationalisation of SMEs

GROW-H2@ec.europa.eu

Enterprise Europe NetworkThe world's largest support network for SMEs, created in

2008 and renewed under the EU's Competitiveness of Enterprises & SMEs Program (COSME)

Helps European businesses: to innovate to increase their competitiveness to expand their business internationally inside

Europe and in growth markets beyond the EU

EEN in the EU and in COSME countries (receiving an EU contribution of max. 60%)

International Partnership Services• Business cooperation, technology transfer, innovation and research projects –

and related activities: matchmaking events, technology brokerage and company missions;

• Partnership Opportunities Database with 10 000 cooperation demands and offers.

Information & Advisory Services• EU policies, legislation and programs;• Innovation support services, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR);• Access to international markets;• Access to finance;• Horizon 2020 participation, SME Instrument;• Resource efficiency.

Feedback from SMEs concerning EU initiatives, EU legislation

Network services for SMEs (1)

Network services for SMEs (2)

EEN in 3rd countries (no EC funding):

International Partnership Services• Business cooperation, technology transfer, innovation and research

projects (matchmaking events, technology brokerage and company missions).

• Also using the Cooperation Database with 10 000 cooperation demands and offers.

International Market Access information

• Market knowledge for European SMEs wishing to expand their business to the target country

EEN global presence

Buss. Cooperation RussiaNew ZealandJapanChinaSwitzerlandBrazilNorwayEgyptIsraelSingaporeTaiwanBosnia-Herz.ParaguayUkraine

*not funded by EU

Centres*IndonesiaCanadaArgentinaS-KoreaUnited StatesPeruIndiaMexicoTunisiaBelarusChileGeorgiaJordan

AlbaniaIcelandArmeniaFYROM

MontenegroTurkeyMoldovaSerbia

(receive EU funding)

EU Member States625 partner organisations63 countries4.500 professional advisers

full list on: http://een.ec.europa.eu

EEN presence in W-Balkans & Turkey• AL: 5 partners coordinated by Albanian Investment Development Agency• ME: 4 partners coordinated by the Ministry of Economy• FYROM: 6 partners coordinated by Ss. Cyril and Methodius University• RS: 7 partners coordinated by the National Agency for Regional Development• TK:47 partners with overall country coordination by KOSGEB• BiH: 3 partners coordinated by Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina

(changes expected due to planned participation in COSME)

Receiving an EC contribution of € 6.2 mln for WP 2015-2016 (up to 60% of the eligible costs)

Achievements from the region since 1/1/2015• 13.000 SME participating in regional/local events• 2.000 SME involved in technology brokerage events and company missions• 7.500 matchmaking meetings

How the Enterprise Europe Network can help

Local SMEs: Business focused in the Balkan region Small scale production facilities Low innovation culture Limited access to financeThe Network: Business internationalisation enhancement Entrepreneurial and innovation capacity boost Facilitate access to finance

Recommendation• Commitment, at regional/national political level to

define a dedicated "action plan" on SME support involving existing SME support schemes in the process

• Using EU support initiatives:• COSME (EEN, financial instruments)• IPA: help local SMEs to scale up and internationalise• Horizon 2020 (i.e. SME Instrument)• Macro-regional strategies for W. Balkans

Contact the Network

Contact points: een.ec.europa.eu

EEN policy development:European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsGROW-H2@ec.europa.eu

Operational management:Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME)https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/contact

Website:http://een.ec.europa.eu/