Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been hearing the word 'resilience' rather often. It is the ability to be successful and to thrive again after something difficult or bad has happened. That is easier said than done.
The pandemic has altered our lives in unforeseeable ways. It has forced us to behave and to think differently. So, how can we bounce back from such a challenging situation? Is it even possible to recover from such abrupt changes? The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) has been working relentlessly to prove that resilience is not just a concept, but, rather, a way forward.
The Network is still here to help
In our previous article, we mentioned several examples of SMEs benefiting from the Network’s support during the crisis.
We also talked about several Network initiatives combining commitment, perseverance and teamwork with international business expertise and local knowledge.
Since then, there have been many more great examples of Network support.
Imagine having a great product but not knowing how to make it successful. This is the case of YOOOM, a software development company, offering products for the healthcare sector. The Dutch company created 123Family.org, a user-friendly video-call app targeting elderly people with little or no digital skills and either suffering from (early) dementia or 'forgetfulness'. Despite their great product and the increasing distancing caused by the pandemic, the app was not performing well. With the support of Network partner Chamber of Commerce of Utrecht, YOOOM was able to develop a new strategy and business model for the app, together with a significant growth in the number of users.
The German company COREVAS has adapted one of its products, EmergencyEye®, to cope with the pandemic. This new type of video chat service for emergency workers and doctors enables an accurate initial diagnosis from a distance. Thanks to the support of Network partner ZENIT GmbH, the product has received outstanding national and international visibility.
Network partner Consorzio Arca has provided advisory services on IPR management and strategy to patent and protect the new product developed by YAM. This Italian start-up was initially dealing with the design and building of sailing yachts. In response to the COVID-19 emergency, YAM designed and prototyped 'CoronaScreen - 800A', an innovative device for shielding face, neck and the respiratory tract from external agents, liquids and infected particles.
Similarly, the Network partner Agenzia di Sviluppo, Azienda speciale Camera di Commercio Chieti provided Bond Factory with tailored advisory services. Due to COVID-19, Bond Factory had to switch from manufacturing clothes, leather goods and footwear to producing personal protective equipment. The Network helped the company with legal and IPR support and by accelerating product testing and certification.
Does distance really matter?
In a time when distance has become the rule, the Enterprise Europe Network continues to bring people together.
Thanks to the cooperation between the Czech partner Technology Centre CAS and the Greek partner PRAXI Network, the Czech company Workswell managed to conclude a distribution agreement with Microshop IKE, making their dual face and thermal camera for the screening of body temperature enter the Greek market.
When the pandemic started, the Croatian company Vuplast d.o.o started to produce 'Biohazard', a water-soluble plastic bag for washing contaminated clothes. Thanks to the dedicated collaboration between the Croatian Chamber of Economy & CCI - Nouvelle-Aquitaine via Limoges and Haute-Vienne Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the company managed to sell their product to the hospital CHU de Poitiers in France.
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Polish company ZUP Roztocze developed a special type of door handle, which allows opening doors using the forearm only. Therefore, it reduces the risk of direct contact with viruses and bacteria on the ‘traditional’ handles. Thanks to the mediation between Network partners Lublin Development Foundation and PRAXI Network, ZUP managed to finalise a partnership agreement with Safe Case, a Greek company active in the sector of security locks and safety doors.
The Network also managed to provide support in one of the sectors most heavily impacted by COVID-19: the travel industry. This was the case of TMTM. Network partners ZENIT GmbH and Bolzano Chamber of Commerce put in contact the German company with the South Tyrolean cycle tour operator Funactive Tours to redesign their international bike tours. In a time when long travelling wasn’t allowed, they were able to offer a new, closer solution, fostering local and cross-border tourism at the same time.
Another example? Thanks to Enterprise Europe Network Malta and Enterprise Europe Network Netherlands, Dutch company FreeBreathing managed to find a Maltese partner who wanted to contribute in manufacturing VentilatorPAL. This low cost and open source device offers a solution to the lack of respirators for COVID-19 patients.
When the Network support reaches your doorstep
One last case that shows how the Enterprise Europe Network’s support is closer than you think is that of Life Length. This industry-leading biotechnology company has provided their comprehensive clinical analysis and testing services to help address the COVID-19 health crisis in Spain. For example, they carry out PCR tests that have been qualified as one of the best in the industry by the University of Yale. The Network partner Madrid Science Park has helped the company to set up their COVID-19 testing service. They helped finding suppliers for critical reagents and materials during the peak of the crisis. They communicated Life Length’s services and reached out to potential clients. They also helped with special storage facilities and waste management. This very successful story was also featured on Euronews – Business Planet.
We are all wondering: when is this situation going to end? When will we get our 'normal' lives back? While we are not able to give an answer to these questions, there are companies out there who are doing their best to protect us daily and to make the light at the end of the tunnel approach a bit faster. The Enterprise Europe Network is by their side, helping companies thrive in critical scenarios, while showing what that word 'resilience' is all about.