The European network of advisors helping SMEs innovate and internationalise is renewed. Sustainability and digital transitions are new focus areas.
In order to better help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups grow and internationalise, while developing their sustainability and resilience, the European Commission (EC) has reinforced its programmes to connect and advise such smaller industry actors. With grants for the current Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) due to expire at the end of 2021, the EC officially opened the call for proposals to continue the work of the Network for the period 2022-2025. This successor network will be funded under the new Single Market Programme (SMP), which succeeds the COSME Programme, the recently ended set of instruments supporting SME competitiveness. The available budget of the call amounts to EUR 164.5 million and is expected to contribute to the SMP objectives: improving the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs in Europe and promoting entrepreneurship.
Since its launch in 2008, EEN has played an important role in facilitating the access of European SMEs to the Single Market and third country markets, and in providing business support services to help them compete. The network is now the largest support network in the world for SMEs with international ambitions, active in over 60 countries to open markets for European SMEs.
The available budget will contribute to continuing the above mentioned support activities and expanding the focus into the areas of sustainability and digitalisation. The successful consortium will facilitate SMEs’ access to the single market and to third country markets, supporting innovation processes, helping to link up with relevant geographical clusters, industrial ecosystems and broader global value chains. In addition, newly dedicated Sustainability Advisors will be engaged to assist SMEs in transitioning to more sustainable business models. Further services will help SMEs adapt to digital technologies and become more resilient as they recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
Internationalisation is another core focus for the programme, as the network will assist in creating connections to lead markets as well as finance and innovation partners with market access advice and matchmaking services. The applying consortium to the EEN call should indeed identify countries of strategic interest for innovative SMEs that have close economic and vibrant R&D partnerships with the European Union.
In line with the aim to exploit synergies among EU programmes, the EC also envisages cooperation between EEN and European Digital Innovation Hubs and clusters. The objective is to upgrade capacity in the field of digitalisation for European SMEs joint activities by establishing activities, which may include client referrals, joint events, and joint client assessments, depending on preparedness of the regional/national members. A joint working group will monitor progress and give recommendations, and set out annual plans of cooperation between the network, the hubs and clusters.
Further interaction with the European Innovation Council (EIC) is also foreseen. Competence building workshops for SMEs on access to EU funding are planned, including for the EIC. Cooperation with relevant EIC National Contact Points are encouraged. Not included among the services are one-to-one tailored advice on accessing EIC calls in widening countries, support for women entrepreneurs and support for Seal of Excellence holders. Indeed, these activities are covered in a separate Horizon Europe call (see European Innovation Council work programme).
The deadline for submission of proposals is 11 August, 2021. Switzerland was not associated to the COSME programme and no association to the SMP is envisaged. However, Swiss entities have in the past participated as third country partners in network activities, and continuing this collaboration is foreseen.