Business advisers, industry experts and policy makers explore how to enhance business support for Europe’s ambitious small businesses, at this year’s Enterprise Europe Network conference. Sustainability, internationalisation and access to finance for innovative companies and scale-ups, are at the top of the agenda.
Major shifts in the political environment and the rapid rate of industrial and technological change are among the many challenges currently facing Europe’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). On 21-23 October, 800 participants from 60 countries will come together in Finlandia Hall, Helsinki to discuss and shape the future of EU business support for SMEs.
Key sessions will focus on how the Network can help innovative SMEs to:
- lead the sustainability transition
- export to highgrowth markets
- access finance even more effectively
Opening the event will be European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice President Alexander Stubb. The keynote speech will come from Finnish entrepreneur Suvi Haimi, CEO and Co-founder of Sulapac. Also presenting will be promising Finnish SMEs Oi Oi and Prometec. All three companies have received the support and advice of the Enterprise Europe Network.
Alexander Stubb said:
"Our aim is to increase access to funding for SMEs. The digital revolution will change our economy and the way we work and the Enterprise Europe Network will play a role in helping to make European companies ready for this.”
Timo Pesonen, Director General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission said:
“The Enterprise Europe Network is helping businesses adjust to the new challenges of digitalisation and sustainability. These priorities will be reflected in the European Commission's SME Strategy, reinforcing the role of the Network at the heart of Europe's SME support."
Julien Guerrier, Director of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises said:
“The Network is a crucial resource to help European SMEs innovate and grow internationally. This year’s event lays the foundation for its 3000 experts to help new generations of innovative and environmentally conscious SMEs prosper on the global stage.”
About the conference:
The Enterprise Europe Network annual conference will take place from 21-23 October at Finlandia Hall in Helsinki. It will bring together 800 participants from 60 countries including Enterprise Europe Network business advisers, industry experts and EU officials. The theme of the 2019 conference is “Addressing the future needs of SMEs”. See programme for full details.
About the Enterprise Europe Network:
The Enterprise Europe Network is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized businesses with international ambitions. Since 2008, it has helped 3 million SMEs innovate and grow internationally. The Network is active in more than 60 countries worldwide. It brings together 3,000 experts from more than 600 member organisations – all renowned for their excellence in business support. The members of the Enterprise Europe Network are organisations such as chambers of commerce and industry, technology centres, and research institutes.
The Network is funded by the European Commission and managed by the Executive Agency for Small & Medium- sized Enterprises (EASME).