European Commission

We are back with news on the most significant event for small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe: the SME Assembly. And what better day to announce when this key event will take place if not on the World SME Day?

We are 154 days apart from a 3-day journey on entrepreneurship, economy, policy and innovation. No need to do the math, just make sure to save the date!

This year the event will take place both in Prague, Czech Republic, between the 28th and 31st of November. Mark these days in your agenda because we will be getting back to share everything you need to know about the 2022 edition.

Organized together with the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Assembly will feature a mix of high-level panels, expert roundtables, interactive masterclasses and networking opportunities. We will also get to know who will be the winners of this year´s European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA), with one of the most awaited awards ceremony for the SME community taking place during the event.

If you want to quickly take a look at the highlights of the previous edition of the Assembly, feel free to relive the experience with the video below and prepare for what will come later this year!

Updates about the programme and speakers will be announced on the European Commission website, here on the Promoting enterprise news portal and also via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

A large number of Ukrainian refugees have fled to Europe to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against its neighbour in February. Here on the Promoting Enterprise News Portal, we have been covering initiatives being implemented across Europe to support these refugees. We have already reported on initiatives in Malta, Portugal and the Netherlands and today, World Refugee Day, we would like to continue to do so by focusing on Germany, Slovakia and Poland. Read on to find out more!

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 12 million people are believed to have fled their homes in Ukraine since the military aggression began, with some 7 million Ukrainians displaced internally and 5.2 million fleeing to neighbouring countries. Organisations in these countries have been quick to react with initiatives to support the refugees and help them integrate into their new reality and the day to day of EU Countries.

In light of the refugee crisis caused by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, the SME Week alumnus COMPETENZentrum für Selbständige, implemented by the non-profit association Initiative Selbständiger Immigrantinnen (ISI), set up the new Ukraine to support ‘Ukrainian women in Berlin’ pilot project, and help them settle in and build confidence in their future. The programme focuses on physiological support, future job opportunities and empowerment, and guides refugees in making decisions about their future employment.

Likewise, in Slovakia, the game company Pixelfederation has set up the #KtoPomôžeUkrajine (Who Helps Ukraine) online platform to provide Ukrainian refugees with important information in their language. The platform offers multiple forms of support for people impacted by the war in Ukraine and forced to flee to Slovakia. Currently, it is focusing on helping with finding accommodation in Slovakia, along with providing social, psychological and financial support to those in need. Locals are encouraged to help in any way they can, whether it is by offering accommodation, transport, psychological or social help or other forms of support. Through the platform, a strong network of individuals and organisations that are ready to offer help to Ukrainians is being set up, and the platform puts them in touch.

In Poland, and similarly to the Slovakian initiative above, PomagamUkrainie.gov.pl (Helping Ukraine) aims to improve the provision of assistance, both on the giving and receiving ends. The website has two entry points: one for people offering assistance, and another for refugees looking of help. The website provides information on the different types of help offered or needed, such as shelter, transport, employment, legal aid, clothing and medications.

As we receive more information on further initiatives being implemented across Europe to support Ukrainian refugees and integrate them into EU society, we will let you know about them here on the Promoting Enterprise portal, so make sure to check in regularly!

The EEPA national competitions are underway and are currently looking for the best projects to compete at national level. If you are from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey, we have great news for you. The national competitions are still open in your country and you still have a chance to apply to the most prestigious European competition that rewards those who promote entrepreneurship and small business at the national, regional and local level.

If you want to participate, you can find your national EEPA factsheet with all the information you need here. For any further questions, be sure to contact your National Coordinator or the EEPA Secretariat.

For some amazing inspiration before applying, we recommend you take a look at the EEPA Compendium that showcases all projects that were shortlisted in the competition last year. It is the best way to get some insight into the awards process right from the source.

One last tip: make sure you read our exclusive interview with jury members. Thomas Cooney, Selma Yilmaz-Schwenker, Outi Slotboom and Marian Piecha have been the first four to give us valuable insights on the three top qualities they will look for in a winning project.

France and Luxembourg will soon communicate their own national deadlines, so make sure you visit the Promoting Enterprise News Portal regularly to be up to speed. For all remaining participating countries – Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, and Romania – applications are now closed.

For more information about the European Enterprise Promotion Awards, visit the European Commission website and for the latest updates make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

We have already published interviews with three of this year’s European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) jury members (Thomas Cooney, Selma Yilmaz-Schwenker and Outi Slotboom). Today it is the turn of Marian Piecha, who represents the Czech EU presidency on this year’s jury. Marian shares his advice for this year’s participants along with some other valuable insights, so read on!

Before being appointed Deputy Minister of the EU Funds and Digital Economy Section on February 1, 2018, Marian was in turn Director of the Department of Business and Investment at the Czech Ministry of Industry and Tradem the CEO of the business and investment support agency CzechInvest, and Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s SME Support Department.

What do you think makes this competition unique in Europe?

I consider the EEPA to be very beneficial in terms of rewarding activities to promote entrepreneurial spirit and the growth of private enterprise and which should enable SMEs in particular to make better use of opportunities in the European Union and the world.

Do you have any advice for the participants on how to make their application stand out from the rest and include the information that you need to evaluate the project?

I believe that a large number of interesting projects from all over the EU will enter the competition and the decision-making will be difficult for the whole jury. I will definitely appreciate an interesting presentation of the project, which will include not only its development, but also visible results, including the outlook for the future.

What do you think the jury members will be specifically looking for in the EEPA 2022 competition?

This competition has a long tradition of promoting interesting ideas for the development of European SMEs. In view of the current situation, I believe that the jury will look forward to projects that help to overcome the current crisis and difficulties that SMEs are currently facing.

Which are the top three qualities you will look for in a winning project?

I will definitely appreciate projects that are original, bring unique solutions and will be transferable worldwide, not only within the EU.

We will introduce you to the other members of the 2022 EEPA jury soon – so make sure to visit the Promoting Enterprise News Portal regularly and to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news.

We have already heard from two of this year’s European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) jury members – Thomas Cooney and Selma Yilmaz-Schwenker. This time we have the pleasure to introduce you to one more jury member – Outi Slotboom, a newcomer to the EEPA jury, representing the European Commission.

Outi is Director for Strategy and Economic Analysis at the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission. Her Directorate is in charge of the strategy for EU industrial policy and the Single Market, small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship, the international aspects of industrial policy, as well as economic analysis underpinning these policies. Outi has some good advice for the participants in this year’s competition, see below!

What do you think makes this competition unique in Europe?

EEPA highlights and celebrates local and regional initiatives that support entrepreneurs and SMEs where they may need it most: supporting them to become more sustainable, more digital or supporting them to become more inclusive.

Do you have any advice for the participants on how to make their application stand out from the rest and include the information that you need to evaluate the project?

An application stands out when the actions and impacts of the initiative are tangible and innovative but also easy to grasp.

What do you think the jury members will be specifically looking for in the EEPA 2022 competition?

Just having overcome the most adverse effects of the COVID-crisis, European SMEs are again confronted with a particular set of challenges: high inflation with particularly high energy prices and disrupted supply chains, also due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Thus, projects that support SMEs/entrepreneurs to become more energy-efficient, less dependent on fossil fuels, or increase the resilience of supply chains would be particularly welcome. If initiatives include elements that improve the (entrepreneurial) skills of migrants or refugees, this would be most welcome in the current context of Ukrainian refugees. Projects that mitigate the consequences of the climate crisis would also certainly catch my attention.

What are the top three qualities you will look for in a winning project?

The three qualities that I will be looking for are: (1) the impact of the initiative; (2) its innovative elements (what is new/done differently as opposed to similar initiatives); and (3) its ability to be replicated in other countries/settings.

We will introduce you to the other members of the 2022 EEPA jury soon – so make sure to visit the Promoting Enterprise News Portal regularly and to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news.

Welcome to the latest edition of the SME Week Newsletter 

In this edition of the SME Week newsletter, we are delighted to remind you that the 2021 EEPA Compendium is now available for download. Every year the Compendium showcases all of the shortlisted projects from the previous year and celebrates their achievements, as well as providing some insight into the Awards process – so make sure you check it out!

Other news in this edition includes the ‘Get Digital – Go Green, and Be Resilient’ call for expressions of interest, which will result in a catalogue of innovative digital solutions from the European Union, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine to help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase economic resilience.

We also announce the members of this year’s EEPA Jury, tease the launch of the seventh edition of the SME Week Youth Essay Competition, and introduce you to some initiatives being implemented across the EU to support Ukrainian refugees fleeing Ukraine, following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against its neighbour.

As always, we look forward to hearing from you too – so please share with us stories that you believe will be of interest to the wider SME community, along with your news and updates to be featured in an upcoming newsletter, or on the Promoting Enterprise News Portal.

Read more >>

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Today we are continuing to introduce you to the members of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) jury by talking with Selma Yilmaz-Schwenker. Selma represents the organisation that won last year’s Grand Jury Prize. Her recent experience as a participant in the competition means her advice for this year’s cohort is particularly valuable. Keep reading to hear it!

Selma is Programme Director of COMPETENZentrum für Selbständige (CfS), an initiative started by the German non-profit Initiative Selbständiger Immigrantinnen e.V. (I.S.I. e.V.) working in Berlin. For more than 30 years, I.S.I. e.V. has been empowering and qualifying women with a migration background to pursue entrepreneurship. Before being awarded last year’s Grand Jury prize, CfS was selected as the winner in the competition’s Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills category.

Through CfS, I.S.I. e.V. promotes entrepreneurship amongst immigrant women in Berlin by providing free training and access to networking events. What’s more, I.S.I. e.V., which is itself managed by immigrant women, not only supports women looking to become entrepreneurs, but also those who are already entrepreneurs and are looking to expand their businesses. Below, Selma talks about her experience in the competition, gives some excellent advice, and lets us know what will make a project stand out for her in this year’s competition.

What do you think makes this competition unique in Europe?

It showcases entrepreneurship initiatives from the whole of Europe, sharing valuable examples and boosting entrepreneurship by increasing the recognition and value of entrepreneurs. By shining a light on local initiatives, it shows the great European potential of entrepreneurship and its role in nurturing and shaping our society.

Do you have any advice for the participants on how to make their application stand out from the rest and include the information that you need to evaluate the project?

It is very important to include information on the impact the initiatives have had, both with figures and performance indicators and with concrete examples. The vision for the future is also very important, since these initiatives must constantly adapt to changes in the environment and respond to the real needs of society.

What do you think the jury members will be specifically looking for in the EEPA 2022 competition?

The difficult political situation has brought instability and economic crisis, as well as uncertainty about the future. To build trust and hope, we need to move toward a healthy society that is attentive to social values and gender equality, thus promoting sustainable, equitable and responsible initiatives and projects. In this context, attention to the needs of the most vulnerable is crucial, as well as a focus on people’s mental and physical well-being.

What are the top three qualities you will look for in a winning project?

An innovative and engaging approach, impact on people and on the local economy, and attention to the well-being of people.

We will introduce you to the other members of the 2022 EEPA jury soon – so make sure to visit the Promoting Enterprise News Portal regularly and to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news.

On the Promoting Enterprise portal today, we are highlighting a call for expression of interest related to green, resilient and digital companies in the European Union, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. The ‘Get Digital – Go Green and Be Resilient’ initiative launches on Tuesday, 24 May, with the goal of creating a catalogue featuring innovative digital solutions.

The Russian aggression in Ukraine has refocused international efforts on energy dependence and supply chain resilience. In this context, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) along with the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), and the European Digital SME Alliance (DigitalSME) will create a catalogue with leading European businesses providing use cases to help industry become more resilient.

The initiative aims to put the spotlight on digital solutions and business models that can offer the most impactful approaches to become less dependent on oil, gas and raw materials, and more resilient within the global supply chain. If you have a start-up or SME from the EU, Ukraine, Moldova or Georgia that provides an innovative digital solution in this area, then this call could be for you! Sounds interesting? Then sign up HERE.

The initiative will be followed by two workshops to showcase the innovative solutions and facilitate their accelerated uptake on the market. The first “Get Digital: Go Green” workshop, will have a focus on digital solutions that can reduce overall energy consumption within business operations, while the second “Get Digital: Be Resilient” workshop, will zoom in on digital solutions supporting the supply chain resilience of European industry.

“We need to actively support SMEs to accelerate the digital transition. Through the “Get Digital” workshop series, we aim to ensure leading digital SMEs in Europe, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia can use the Single Market to scale digital solutions that help all our industries, including our many SMEs, become greener and more resilient. Our Single Market is the best lever to promote digitalisation and help our industries to thrive in today’s global context,” said DG GROW Director-General Kerstin Jorna.

The Commission also intends, with the help of all the participants in the initiative, to identify in very practical terms the barriers to the implementation of digital solutions and to the acceleration of digitalisation, with a view to tackling them with specific policy measures.

WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?

Participating in the initiative would help you to:
• Promote your innovative digital business model and increase your business exposure;
• Receive information and advice on financing sources and support in accessing them; business support such as mentoring advice, IP registration and protection, sustainability advice and digitalisation support services etc. from specific European business and innovation support services;
• Receive tailored support based on your company’s needs from specific European business and innovation support services, if selected by the Jury;
• Match-make with other companies from across the continent;
• Learn about and get inspired by some of the leading solutions in the digital ecosystem;
• Mainstream and promote your digital solution to the traditional industry environment (e.g., through matchmaking);
• Find help to tackle key business obstacles and barriers when attempting to scale your digital business solution;
• Inform policymakers about your company’s specific needs.

All the digital business solutions that are submitted will be featured in an exclusive digital catalogue. A jury made up of independent investment and business managers will select the most impactful submissions who will get the opportunity to present at the workshops. These companies will receive tailored coaching from experts in SME support services, funded by relevant EU programmes based on the needs of each company’s project. There will also be webinars for all companies included in the catalogue at which the main SME support services offered by the EU will be presented.

For more information and to register, visit the initiative page on the DigitalSME site. If you have any questions, please contact: GROW-WORKSHOP@ec.europa.eu.

Every year, during the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA), we introduce you to the members of our jury, who play are responsible for choosing the most innovative and exciting competition entries and selecting the winner of the Grand Jury Prize. We kick off our introductions this year with an EEPA stalwart Professor Thomas Cooney.

Thomas is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at Technological University Dublin, and Academic Director of the TU Dublin Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship. He is also a director of four businesses, works in a supportive capacity with a variety of organisations and has published widely on the topic of entrepreneurship. Thomas has been an EEPA jury member for several years now, so we asked him for his advice for participants and what the jury will be looking for in 2022. Read on for his enlightening insights!

What do you think makes this competition unique in Europe?

What is wonderful about EEPA is that it recognizes unsung heroes and celebrates the amazing work being done by people to encourage greater levels of entrepreneurial activity at local and regional levels. These people also support the inclusion of marginalized communities whose needs are not being met by formal government interventions, and this competition enables their incredible work to be acclaimed.

Do you have any advice for EEPA participants on how to make their application stand out from the rest and include the information that you need to evaluate the project?

Successful applications have one common feature – they provide statistics and evidence of the success of their initiative. Hard data showing the number of people who have successfully completed the programme and the measurement of the impact of the programme is much more powerful than any testimonial.

What do you think the jury members will be specifically looking for in the EEPA 2022 competition?

The UN Sustainable Development Goals are critically important in terms of addressing the current challenges facing governments and people across Europe. Therefore, I believe that showing how an initiative tackles a specific UN SDG would be helpful, but applicants need to identify which specific target they are addressing (e.g. SDG Target 10.1) rather than being quite broad with their relationship to the UN SDGs.

Which are the top three qualities you will look for in a winning project?

The three qualities that I would like to see are: (1) level of innovation (what is the project doing that nobody else is doing?); (2) the ability for the initiative to be replicated in another country, by other people; and (3) the long-term sustainability of the initiative. Excel in these three qualities and you will be in contention for a prize!

We will introduce you to the other five members of the 2022 EEPA jury soon – so make sure to visit the Promoting Enterprise News Portal regularly and to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest news.

The launch of the seventh edition of the SME Week Youth Essay Competition is imminent. Work is continuing on the concept for this year’s competition and we will make an announcement soon – so make sure to check the Prompting Enterprise portal regularly for details. In the meantime, read on to learn about the competition and be inspired by previous winners.

Organised by the European Commission Directorate-General for Single Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, the YEC is an opportunity for 18-25-year-olds to share their ideas and viewpoints with key figures and stakeholders in the spheres of enterprise, entrepreneurship and SMEs. More generally, the goal of the competition is to raise the profile of entrepreneurship as an attractive career choice for young Europeans. European young people have been enthusiastic in their engagement with the competition, so let’s hear from some of them.

Kristina Dimova from Bulgaria won the 2021 edition of YEC with an essay that highlighted that humanity is the key to sustainability, both when developing a business plan for a small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and when it comes to company management. We asked Kristina what it was like to be announced the winner of last year’s competition. Her response? “A moment of pure bliss!”

Kristina was declared the YEC winner at the 2021 SME Week Assembly, which was held in the beautiful city of Portorož in Slovenia. Her main takeaway from the Assembly was that time is limited and that we should spend our time in a worthwhile way, making the most of life for ourselves, other people, and the world in which we live. “Every single business idea must be sustainable both for the environment and for society’s needs. In a world where people are more divided than ever on so many topics, we need to find the way to the right solutions for each of us. The SME Assembly 2021 showed me that with the right steps, finding the path towards re-establishing unity is possible,” she said.

You can read Kristina’s essay here. In her acceptance speech, Kristina said that she had been inspired to participate by the previous year’s winner – Sabine Kerssens. Sabine impressed the jury with her ideas about the importance of cross-border collaboration and how learning from different cultures made innovation more inclusive. Sabine won the live vote at the SME Assembly after presenting her ideas.

Sabine was very positive about her SME Assembly experience. “Through the Youth Essay Competition, the finalists shared the stage with some of the most fascinating speakers within and beyond the European Union. It was inspiring and uplifting to learn from the engaging sessions.” She had some words of advice for potential participants: “To all the young change makers out there: participate in events like this to make sure that you give yourself the chance to find your strengths and make your voice heard in different ways. You can do it!” You can read Sabine’s essay here.

In addition to the winners, finalists from previous years have also shared their experience of the competition with us. Victoria Krah was a finalist in 2021 and, in this interview, she talks about what motivated her to enter the competition and about her plans for the future. You can read Victoria’s essay here. Likewise, Pablo Pastor Vidal was a finalist in 2020, having impressed the jury with his ideas on sustainability and resilience. You can read Pablo’s essay here.

In 2022, it could be you receiving the Youth Essay Competition prize! We will be announcing the competition details soon, so make sure to visit the Promoting Enterprise News Portal regularly and to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter.