European Commission Enterprise and Industry SME and Entrepreneurship Policy of the EU European...

European CommissionEnterprise and Industry

SME and Entrepreneurship Policy of the EU


Marko Curavić – Head of the Unit E.1 - Entrepreneurship

Brussels, 7 November 2011


SMEs - EU’s growth engine

29%

21%

17%

33%

Micro Small Medium Large

67.4% of private jobs and 80% of new private jobs

SMEs Large

58% of total business turnover


Difficulties faced by SMEs

• Access to finance

• Business and regulatory environment

• Availability of skills

• Access to markets

• Access to research and innovation

• Networking among companies


The “Small Business Act”

• Adopted in June 2008• Main objective: create a common framework for

SME initiatives and implement the “Think Small First” principle

• 10 principles and a set of policy actions to implement them

• About 90 policy initiatives and 5 legislative acts (national and European level)


The 10 SBA principles1. Support entrepreneurship2. Give a 2nd chance (failure)3. “Think Small First” (reduce burdens)4. Public administration responsive to SME

needs (e-government)5. Improve access to public procurement & use

of state aid6. Facilitate access to finance7. Benefit from Single Market opportunities8. Access to skills and innovation9. Eco-innovation/environment opportunities10. Access to external markets


Why a Review of the SBA?

• Good progress since the adoption of the SBA but: Need to continue improving SME business and

administrative environment to prepare for new challenges (crisis)

Need for stronger governance to ensure the implementation of the SBA at European and national level


• Four priority areas: smart regulation access to finance access to markets promoting entrepreneurship

• Enhanced governance

• 48 new actions

The SBA Review


SBA ReviewExamples of actions

• Smart regulation - New goal: start a business in 3 days for €100

• Access to markets - A new strategy for EU SMEs going international

• Access to finance - Simplify rules for greater access of SMEs to EU funds

• Promoting entrepreneurship - Mentoring schemes for women entrepreneurs


Enhanced governance

• The network of the SME Envoys: European and national SME Envoys & SME representatives at European level meet 2/3 times per year

• SMEs will have their say with the SME Assembly: representatives of small businesses from all over the 27 Member States will gather yearly


The perception and attitudes of European citizens towards entrepreneurship lag most other countries…

If you could decide between different types of jobs, which one would you prefer?

4555

71

39

51

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

EU27 US China Japan Korea

self-employed employee

Source: Flash Eurobarometer 283, 2009


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

CN CY EL IS US IT RO PT KR FR PL TR BG LT IE SI LV UK

EU27 EE LU CH HR NO NL FI DE AT ES HU JN M

T CZ SE DK BE SK

Countries

Perc

enta

ge

Preference for Self-Employment in Comparison



Comparison EU - US - Asia

45

2822

4955

36 38

7371

4940 4039

1220

32

51

2331 30

01020304050607080

Preference for self-employment

Feasibility of becomingself-employed

Experience of startinga business

Favourable image ofentrepreneurs

%

EU27 US China Japan South Korea

Key Characteristics in Comparison


Perceived Risks of Entrepreneurship



Mission Statement – Promotionof Entrepreneurial Spirit

“Winning the hearts and minds of European citizens”

Building knowledge – “know about” Building skills – “know how to do” Changing attitudes – “wanting to do and being confident”

Targeting the general population and selected groups


Definition of Entrepreneurship• Entrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to turn

ideas into action.

• It includes creativity, innovation and risk taking, as well as the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives.

This • supports everyone in day-to-day life at home and in

society,• makes employees more aware of the context of their work

and better able to seize opportunities, • and provides a foundation for entrepreneurs establishing a

social or commercial activity

(2006 Commission Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning)


Entrepreneurship Education• Commission Communication on “Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets” (2006)

• Oslo Agenda on Entrepreneurship Education in Europe (2007): a detailed menu of actions

• Call for proposals on “Entrepreneurial Culture (2009)

• High Level Reflection Panels on Entrepreneurship Education (5 Panels in 2009/2010),

• Symposium "Teacher Education as a critical success factor” (April 2011)

• Teacher Training Laboratories to exchange methods and good practice (4th quarter 2011 – 2nd quarter 2012)


Activities at EU levelEfforts focus currently on increasing European coordination so as to develop more systematic strategies.

Present goals:

1) Increase the exchange of experiences and practices across Europe, particularly among policy makers:

- Expert Groups, High Level Reflection Panels, Symposium, Teacher Training Laboratories

2) Promote European projects that will become a model or a reference for the multiplication and dissemination of activities in this field:

- 9 European projects currently funded under the CIP for EUR 3.2 million, second call planned for 2012


Entrepreneurship Education – Key Issues

• High importance of involving teachers

• Make entrepreneurship an integral part of the Curriculum

• Engage businesses

• Engage non-profit / intermediary organisations

• Besides formulating a national strategy, link entrepreneurship education into local and regional strategies


European network of female entrepreneurship ambassadors

• Aim: Role models to inspire other women to become entrepreneurs by "telling their story".

• 270 ambassadors in 22 European countries• In 2010, 141 events and workshops with over

8300 participants in 10 countries. • First results from 6 countries: 101 new

women-led companies have been created.• 20 grants for EUR 976 000.


Female Entrepreneurship Ambassador – Dr. Karin Uphoff / Germany

Uphoff pr & Marketing GmbH is a full-service agency, with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses as well as on companies and organisations in the healthcare industry. In 2003, Dr. Karin Uphoff set up her own business, and today has ten employees. Her company has received several awards, among them awards for “innovation”, “entrepreneurship”, and “family-friendly policies”.


Female Entrepreneurship Ambassador – Susanne Rostmark / Sweden

Susanne Rostmark founded FriGeo in 2003 to commercialize the results from her research inenvironmental soil science. The technology is patented by Susanne and her co-workers.

Freeze-Dredging is a technique used for uptake ofcontaminated sediments and objects. Firstly it stabilizes the contaminated sediment by freezing and then the frozen segment is lifted up and above the water. While the contaminated soil is frozen when lifted there is a very small risk for redistribution of contaminated sediment during uptake.

Susanne lives in far north of the Arctic Circle in the cool, cold and creative, Kiruna and uses the joy of frozen water not only for business but also as an enthusiastic skier.


European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs

• Call for proposals• Budget: EUR 1 million• Aim: coverage of 15 countries. Received 53

proposals. Evaluation report: 17• AL, BE, CY, ES, FYROM, GR, HU, IRL, IT,

MNTG, NL, RO, RS, SI, SLO, TUR, UK.• Objective: Mentors to assist women

entrepreneurs by providing advice and support with the establishment, management and growth of their enterprises.


Other ongoing activities

• The European Network to Promote Women’s Entrepreneurship (WES) 31 members - government

representatives Annual activity report

• Women Enterpreneurship Portal Women entrepreneur organisations,

projects, conferences for WE


New and host entrepreneurs benefit from Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

• Get experience & advice from seasoned entrepreneur

• Develop international contacts

• Get knowledge about foreign markets

• Providers, clients, co-venturing opportunities

• Access new skills and innovative knowledge

• Work with a young fresh mind contributing new ideas

• Gain knowledge and intelligence about the foreign markets

• Opportunity to establish a new business partnership with an entrepreneur from another country

Benefits for New Entrepreneurs

Benefits for Host Entrepreneurs


Local and national business support

organisations active in business support (e.g.

Chambers of Commerce, Regional

Development Agencies, Innovation Centres…)

• Recruit and assess entrepreneurs

• Proactively look for exchanges

• Support new entrepreneurs before & during the stay

• Promote Erasmus for Entrepreneurs at national, regional and local level

• Co-financing of max 90% of eligible costs in accordance with the regulations for Erasmus for Entrepreneurs

Intermediary organisations

Manage and

promote

The ExchangesBetween

Entrepreneurs

European Commission – definition of strategic and financial framework

Support Office: day-to-day operational management of the programme

How does Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Work?


Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs So far:• Almost 4000 accepted candidates from all

over the EU (Spain and Italy are the main actors in EYE)

• Approx.800 on-going or finished relationships• 80 grants for EUR 11.3 million• Positive feedback from entrepreneurs:

90%: exchange fulfilled objectives; 85% of NE recommend the programme; 85% of HE ready to repeat the experience.


For more informationSBA and SBA Reviewhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/small-business-act/index_en.htm

European Small Business Portalhttp://ec.europa.eu/small-business/index_en.htm

SME Performance Reviewhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/performance-review/index_en.htm

Eurobarometer on entrepreneurial attitudesEurobarometer on entrepreneurial attitudes::http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/eurobarometer/index_en.htm

Entrepreneurship educationEntrepreneurship education::http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/education-training-

entrepreneurship/index_en.htm

Female entrepreneurshipFemale entrepreneurship::http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/women/index_en.htm

Erasmus for Young EntrepreneursErasmus for Young Entrepreneurs::www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu

European SME WeekEuropean SME Week::http://ec.europa.eu/sme-week

[email protected]

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