Support for SMEs: The Enterprise Europe Network and its Sector Group Environment Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

The Enterprise Europe Network Linking of two successful networks and continuation of their work Close to 600 organisations (chambers, banks, consultants, regional development bodies) Present in 44 countries (EU 27, candidate countries, EEA countries, other third countries) Some 4000 experts NRW.Europa (ZENIT / NRW.BANK) is one of the largest nodes Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

Services in a nutshell Information, feedback, business co-operation and internationalisation services Innovation, technology and knowledge transfer services Services encouraging the participation of SMEs in the Community Framework Programme for RTD Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

Benefits for clients Central contact point for all EU-related information (one-stop shop) Short and fast routes to information and contacts Early information about current EU topics Competent advice from experts experienced in SME and EU issues Use of international network of contacts Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

Sector Groups 18 Sector Groups Purpose: Generally to support a specific sector and specifically to initiate all types of partnerships (commercial, technology transfer, research) between enterprises/other organisations in different countries Activities: Formal meetings, brokerage events, seminars, company missions, policy feedback and publications, amongst others Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

Example of Sector Group Environment About 50 Members 19 countries represented - From Norway and Sweden in the North, to Malta and Greece in the South - From Portugal and Spain in the West, to Hungary and Romania in the East Chaired by NRW.Europa/ZENIT GmbH Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

Benefits for SMEs (1) Strong sectoral focus on all environment-related topics, from A for air to Z for zero emission Support by experts experienced in SME and environment issues Help in all areas (commerce, technology transfer, R&D, legislation, funding…) Contacts to likeminded partners in other countries Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

Benefits for SMEs (2) Tailored instruments to aid access to other markets (e.g. partner mediation events at environmental trade exhibitions such as Entsorga-Enteco, Cologne, October 2009) Affordable (or even free) services SME input to Commission policies via feedback through SGE Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

SGE events 2009 (extract) For Waste, CZ-Prague, Entsorga-Enteco, D-Cologne, Agromek, DK-Herning, Denmark, last week of November 2009, exact date to be announced Pollutec, F-Paris, first week of December, exact date to be announced Bright Green, DK-Copenhagen, Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany

Thank you for your attention! ZENIT GmbH / NRW.Europa Bismarckstrasse 28 D Mülheim an der Ruhr Tel.: Peter Wolfmeyer, Managing Director, ZENIT GmbH, Germany