Lesson 3: An SME Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe
The SME Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe
The European SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) Strategy, which was announced in March 2020, aims to contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Digital Decade, and other EU actions launched in the context of the twin digital and green transition, namely achieving a climate-neutral, resource-efficient, and agile digital economy, by mobilising European small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across industrial sectors.
Actions, launched within the framework of the European Strategy for SMEs aim to bring results across 3 main pillars, with some ongoing and some planned over the course of upcoming months and years. (Link)
For forward-thinking green entrepreneurs, the SME Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe isn’t just a blueprint – it’s an invitation to transformative growth. By immersing yourself in these insights, you’re opening doors to a world of advantages tailored to you.
- Offering concrete training and upskilling opportunities, financed through the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) tailored to SMEs: crash courses on digital and key emerging technologies – AI, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) and others.
- Supporting businesses to access a talent pool of skilled workforce through the Digital Volunteers initiative.
- Offering concrete training and upskilling opportunities, financed through the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) tailored to SMEs: crash courses on digital and key emerging technologies – AI, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) and others.
- Supporting businesses to access a talent pool of skilled workforce through the Digital Volunteers initiative
Embrace cutting-edge digital technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT through bespoke training. By honing your expertise, you’re poised to spearhead sustainable innovations, and the Digital Volunteers initiative brings skilled talents right to your doorstep.
- Supporting cross-border activities within the European Single Market and on an international level, especially in the context of scaling up.
- Providing relevant and updated information on accounting legislation, tax considerations and specifics.
Scaling up your green enterprise on a global scale becomes attainable with streamlined cross-border support. Stay informed with critical data on regulatory landscapes and market entry essentials, allowing you to expand your eco-friendly solutions across boundaries
- Support to SMEs in this area has been mobilised under the framework of the COSME programme as well as the European Social Fund. Actions include:
- Boosting of the ‘Loan Guarantee Facility’ (LGF) to facilitate financing on all levels for SMEs, in particular on working capital, and flexibility on repayments of existing loans, as well as bridging private and public financing schemes.
- Facilitating access to relevant and updated information on financing instruments and mechanisms and providing guidance to businesses.
Secure the necessary financial backing for your sustainable ventures. Leverage the augmented ‘Loan Guarantee Facility’ and expert insights to fund your green initiatives and pave the way for impactful growth.
Good to know:
The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) helps businesses innovate and grow on an international scale. It is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international ambitions.
The Network is active worldwide. It brings together experts from member organisations that are renowned for their excellence in business support.
Member organisations include:
- chambers of commerce and industry
- regional development organisations
- universities and research institutes
- innovation agencies
As one can see, the SME Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe offers green entrepreneurs a roadmap to success that aligns with a vision for a more sustainable future. Seize these opportunities to innovate, expand, and thrive on both local and global stages, leaving a positive mark on our planet and society as a whole.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the National Agency and Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.