European Commission Enterprise and Industry The Enterprise Europe Network Business and innovation support for SMEs An overview of support services

The Context: why support SMEs?

Why support SMEs? 99 % of businesses in the EU are SMEs SMEs = the foundation of tomorrow’s prosperity Source: Eurostat, Commission Communication on Modern SME policy for Growth and Employment

SMEs are the backbone of our economy 75 mil. Jobs Contribution to GDP Up to 90% of jobs in some industry sectors SMEs Others SMEs

USA: 30% China: 70% SMEs with international activities Europe Beyond Internal Market: 13% Outside own country: 24%

SMEs and the single market 450 million consumers Millions of potential business and technology partners A wealth of (missed) opportunities  A minority have international activities in the EU  Even fewer are active outside the EU Internationalisation and Innovation  Growth drivers that require: time, skills, money SMEs = vulnerable actors  Competitive pressures, globalisation, crisis: the smaller a company, the harder it gets hit

Mission of the Network Internationalisation Business partnerships Advice on EU laws, rules, standards Help SMEs access markets and benefit from the internal market Access to finance and funding opportunities Innovation Technology transfer Modern innovation support services & Innovation audits, IPR Increase R&D activities of SMEs participation in FP7 Feedback and consultation: dialogue with SMEs

What does the Network deliver?

The Network’s value chain

The Network’s results since 2008 Helped businesses to sign over 3000 cooperation agreements Organised international brokerage events for 30,000 companies Local events for half a million companies Carried out over 75,000 technology- and company reviews and analyses 4000 SMEs consulted via feedback and panels Provided information and services to over 2.5 million SMEs

Where does the Network operate?

Serving all regions in the EU27 and 21 countries outside EuropeServing all regions in the EU27 and 21 countries outside Europe Representing nearly 600Representing nearly 600 local organisations (chambers of commerce, technology and innovation agencies, sector associations, regional development agencies, etc) Over 3000 expertsOver 3000 experts Over 2 million SMEs contactedOver 2 million SMEs contacted local events The Network in the EU…and beyond

Unique worldwide coverage Full coverage throughout all EU regions Partner offices in key markets for EU SMEs (e.g. China, Russia, Japan), many established without funding under Art (CIP) Current coverage of 48 countries: EU27, EEA (Norway, Iceland), Candidate Countries (Turkey, Croatia, FYROM), Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, US, Russia, China, South Korea, Israel, Chile, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Armenia, Mexico, Japan.

Contact us in ENTR E2: Visit our website

Your Europe Better information on EU rights …. and more all in one place

Your Europe in a nutshell (YE-Business)  User-centric: information on the entire entrepreneurial life- cycle from the start-up phase until the various exit strategies (26 life situations), as less jargon as possible  National information on administrative requirements and procedures  Direct access to further help, links to the Enterprise Europe Network and SOLVIT offices, putting questions directly planned for 2011 (questions automatically chanelled to the assistance services)  Responsive feedback possibility for users in 2011

User-centric

National information

Multilingualism YE-B  EU level content is available in 23 langauges  National content is available in national language(s) plus EN  Update for both content layers once a year

Updates: key to success  information is of value only if it is kept up-to-date  automated data exchange between Your Erope and national information portals (content syndication)  part of the ISA Porgramme (Interoperable Solutions for European Public Administrations) run by DIGIT

Promotion campaign  Online campaign

Some figures  Your Europe: visits in November  Citizens: visits in November, Business:  Number of page-views: in November  Single most visited page ‘residence’ – rights and conditions for workers and pensioners: visits, most visited chapters for YE-B: setting up a business and access to finance  Help page (50/day)

More info - questions? Promotional materials