Rome, EEN National meeting on 16th May 2019 – Presentation of the three pilot projects for European SMEs Networks
Three pilot projects branded Enterprise Europe Network and addressed to SMEs Networks. A single important objective: to increase the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in foreign markets. This is the starting point of Ready2net, BEE Net and Look-EU-Net projects which involve Partners from different Countries under the direction of the European Commission. For the first time, EEN Partners have been allowed by European Commission to co-finance the SMEs networks, which will be selected through a public call.
Specifically, Ready2net is addressed to 10 Networks composed from 4 to 8 SMEs, operating in six target sectors and belonging to at least three EU Countries. In this project are involved five European Partners (InnovhubSSI srl; Council of Chambers of the Valencian Community; Krakow Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vratsa; Latvian Technological Center Foundation). In the project are planned six main phases (preparation and publication of the CfA; network set-up; training and coaching for the internationalization of Networks; creation of an action plan for each network; support activities for the internationalization of retail chains, including EEN services; and monitoring of results). The aim is to create and support two different types of networks: the first is the classic international network and the second is a network consisted by companies that cover different roles in the value chain. The objective of the second network type is to build consortiums able to offer products and processes 100% made in Europe.
The main objective of BEE Net project (Building European Export Networks) is to support cooperation between European SMEs that want to grow and develop at the global level. The final objective is to develop a general conceptual model able to harmonize the creation processes of self-sustainable business networks and able to increase the capacity of SMEs to become international. The partners are Sicindustria (IT), Barcelona Chamber of Commerce (ES), Lithuanian Innovation Center Team (LT) with interested parties. Furthermore, the BEE Net Partners will work in close collaboration with four key stakeholders: RetImpresa (IT), Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LT), General Council of Chambers of Commerce of Catalonia, European Family Businesses. The target groups are the micro, small and medium European companies with limited international experience, the companies that have carried out internationalization activities in the last two years and whose ambition is to increase their commercial activities abroad. At their disposal there is also an integrated online platform, b2match, which allows companies to show their interests, to propose ideas and to set up a structured business collaboration with other companies.
The third project is Look-EU-Net which aims to support the launch of 10 international networks of European SMEs, provide the tools to operate in foreign markets, increase technological and managerial skills, and improve the internationalization strategy. There are seven partners belonging to five European Countries: Informest Consulting (IT); Unioncamere Emilia-Romagna (IT); Handwerk International Baden-Württemberg (DE); Baden-Württemberg International (DE); Toledo Regional CCI (ES); Free Entrepreneurship Association (PL); Plovdiv CCI (BG). Furthermore, the Look-EU-Net Partners will work in close collaboration with Uniocamere del Veneto and with the CCIA of Friburgo. Look-EU-Net is addressed to five target sectors corresponding to the RIS3 trajectories of the partner regions (mechatronics, sustainable living, agro-food industry, cultural and digital tourism, smart health). In the project will involved from 40 to 80 innovative and dynamic European SMEs (with particular attention to scale-ups) with potential interest in growing on international markets, but that have never developed sufficient experience abroad or that have started an internationalization process only individually.