Events to look out for
Tomorrow: SME Instrument - Overseas Trade Fairs Webinar #6 – 17 April, 10:00 CET. This webinar will include a general presentation of the SME Instrument's Overseas Trade Fairs programme and an overview of the fairs currently open for applications (Electronica & Productronica, CIIF and METALEX).
European SME Transfer Summit – 17-18 May, Luxembourg (LU). Transeo organises its annual event of transfer of business with expert speakers, six dedicated workshops for SMEs and matchmaking opportunities.
Industry 4.0 for SMEs’ Business Growth –17-18 May, Brussels (BE). Policy makers, innovation experts, financial intermediaries and entrepreneurs from all over the world will explore business and technological trends related to Industry 4.0. Registrations are open now.
Funds available
VentureEU: €2.1 billion to boost venture capital investment in Europe's innovative start-ups. The European Commission and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have launched a Pan-European Venture Capital Funds-of-Funds programme (VentureEU) to boost investment in innovative start-up and scale-up companies across Europe.
European Investment Fund and Aegon Asset Management confirm EUR 120 million for innovative Dutch businesses. This agreement is the first innovative loan guarantee deal in the Netherlands. Thanks to this EU support, Aegon Asset Managemen will provide subordinated loans (loans which will be repaid after all other debt is repaid) to innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and small mid-caps at favourable terms. This transaction is expected to benefit around 85 businesses, helping them to grow and improve their capital flows.
EUR 65 million of EU financing for 430 social enterprises in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and France. The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Triodos Bank have signed the first Social Entrepreneurship guarantee agreement in The Netherlands. This new guarantee agreement allows Triodos Bank to provide a total of EUR 65 million to 430 social entrepreneurs over the next 5 years in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and France. This means social entrepreneurs will be able to benefit from loans at a reduced interest rate with lower collateral requirements.
EU policies for better business
Morocco joins the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area. The European Union and Morocco signed last week an international agreement on Morocco's participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). Morocco formally joins Member States and non-EU countries from both shores of the Mediterranean to work on developing responses to water scarcity and food security, two of the major challenges of the region.
Get involved
Have an idea to empower young people in a changing economy? Three EUR 50,000 prizes will be handed out to the best ideas of this year’s EU Social Innovation competition. Learn more and apply here.