ACTION PLANS SUMMARY

INTRA Internationalisation of regional SMEs

This document has been prepared by the INTRA consortium within the framework of the exchange of experiences activities. Therefore, it only reflects the authors’ views and the

programme authorities are not liable for any use that may be made of the information

2 | Action Plan Summary | INTRA

East sLOVEnia

Partner: Maribor Development Agency NUTS2 region: Vzhodna Slovenia

Managing Authority / Intermediate Bodies: Ministry of Economic Development and Technology

Policy tackled: : Operational Programme for the Implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy in the Period 2014 – 2020 (CCI 2014SI16MAOP001), Investment priority: Developing and implementing new business models for SMEs, in particular with regard to internationalisation.

Actions Title: Internationalisation Vouchers Type of policy improvement: introduction of new measure for internationalisation of SMEs Brief description: The Internationalisation Vouchers, new policy measure for internationalisation of SMEs will be implemented in the period from 2019 – 2023 under the Operational Programme for the Implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy in the period 2014-2020 (CCI number: 2014SI16MAOP001) in the following fields: A voucher for obtaining an international, European or Slovenian Quality Certificate A voucher for patent application or registration of trademark/design A voucher for market research on the foreign markets A voucher for participation at an economic delegation abroad A voucher for participants at international forums A voucher for group participation of Slovenian economy at fairs abroad Min. amount to be granted: 1.000,00 EUR and max 9.999,00 EUR. Target group/beneficiaries: micro, small and medium sized companies.

Timeframe: 2019 - 2023 Funding sources: ERDF and national co-financing in the amount of 8,5 mio EUR

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North East Bulgaria

Partner: Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship

and Innovations – Varna (RAPIV) NUTS2 region: Severoiztochen

Managing Authority/Intermediate Body: Ministry of Economy

Policy tackled: Operational Programme Innovation and Competitiveness 2014-2020 OPIC is the main national instrument for encouraging innovation of SMEs. The OPIC envisages a number of schemes and financial measures to increase productivity, efficiency and innovation of Bulgarian enterprises.

Actions Title: 1. Fostering the Entrepreneurship; 2. Regional Innovation Centres; 3. Voucher support for SMEs Type of policy improvement: Introduction of additional activities and costs in the public calls of existing measures. Brief description: the additional activities are related to the internationalisation of Bulgarian SMEs, in particular development of export plans; performing diagnostics of activity/product/services for entering specific external markets; export promo activities and enhancement of internationalisation knowledge in SMEs through the inclusion of external experts.

Timeframe: 2018 - 2021 Funding sources: ERDF

4 | Action Plan Summary | INTRA

Extremadura, Spain

Partner: Foundation FUNDECYT Scientific

and Technological Park of Extremadura NUTS2 region: Extremadura

Managing Authority/Intermediate Body: Extremadura Avante S.L.U.

Policy tackled: ERDF Operational Programme of Extremadura 2014-2020. Investment priority 3 (d) Supporting the capacity of small and medium sized enterprises to grow in regional, national and international markets and to engage in innovation processes”.

Actions Title: E-commerce and digitalisation of SMEs Type of policy improvement: Design, implementation and monitoring of new type of services in internationalisation, including e-commerce support, assitance in the development of Digital Business Strategy/Plan, consultancy support in internationalisation.

Timeframe: 2019 - 2021 Funding sources: ERDF

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Algarve,

Portugal

Partner: University of

Algarve NUTS2 region: Algarve

Managing AUthority: Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Algarve (CCDR-Alg)

Policy tackled: Algarve Regional Operational Programme CRESC Algarve 2020 Through the ROP CRESC Algarve 2020, the region has available three specific financial instruments to foster internationalization of companies and, in consequence, increase the competitiveness of the region.

Actions Title: 1. Algarve Science and Technology Park; 2. Re-Start Type of policy improvement: Introduction of 2 new projects under the policy tackled in the field of Research&Development&Innovation&Internationalisation Action 1 aims to stimulate initiatives and group skills for the technological development and innovation of sectors of economic activity with consolidated or latent expression, with particular focus on the ICT and Health and Wellbeing domains, promoting the connection with Tourism, Sea, Agro-food, and CCI sectors. It is intended for initiatives that are located in the Algarve region, but that develop global strategies. Action 2: services to increase the competitiveness of regional SMEs, including their international posititioning.

Timeframe: 2019 - 2021 Funding sources: ERDF and national co-financing; Action 1: 5,428,571.00EUR ; Action 2: 712.908,64 EUR

6 | Action Plan Summary | INTRA

West Midlands, UK

Partner: Coventry University Enterprises

Limited NUTS2 region: West Midlands

Intermediate Body: Coventry City Council

Policy tackled: The European Structural and Investment Funds 2014 to 2020, Coventry and Warwickshire

European Structural and Investment Funds Strategy (ESIF)

The UK Government’s ‘Plan for Growth’ recognises the importance of a competitive SME base to the global competitiveness of the overall UK economy, and identifies a key ambition to make the UK one of the best places in Europe to start, finance and grow a business. In order to achieve this, the Government’s plans focus in particular on measures to support SMEs in accessing the finance they need, and in exploiting new global export markets.

Actions Title: Integration of digital internationalisation support in existing ERDF SMEs support programmes Type of policy improvement: Introduction of new elements to the existing measures To the following 4 ERDF regional programmes the digital support to increase SMEs internationalisation

readiness will be introduced:

- C&W Innovation Test Beds - Focus Digital - C&W Green Business - C&W Business Support

INTRA enabled these programmes to ALL incorporate the importance for SMEs to be internationally competitive by enhancing the use of digital technologies either by focusing on their international digital strategy and/or how the use of technologies could improve their products, services and/or processes.

Timeframe: 2019 - 2021 Funding sources: ERDF

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Abruzzo, Italy

Partner: Capitank – Chemical and Pharmaceutical

Innovation Tank. Innovation Pole in Pharmaceutical and

Chemical sector of Abruzzo Region

NUTS2 region: ITF1 - Abruzzo

Managing Authority: AUTORITÀ DI GESTIONE UNICA FESR-FSE" - Abruzzo Region Unique Managing

Authority ERDF-ESF

Policy tackled: : Regional Operational Programme for the European Regional Development Found 2014 –

2020 (2014IT16RFOP004), Axis I: research, technological development and innovation

The purpose of the Program, whose total budget amounts to € 231.509.780, is to promote smart, sustainable

and inclusive growth and strengthen the economic, social and territorial cohesion of Abruzzo.

Actions Title: Support for R & D projects of companies involved in S3 domains - DPG013 no. 183 01/11/2016 (Action 1.1.4) Type of policy improvement: Reallocation of funds within existing measure. The measure intends to support the regional productive sectors that demonstrate a real aggregative capacity and the greater propensity to develop new technologies and/or new products and/or new organizational processes, whose positive impact reflect on companies. The intervention is limited to the S3 specialization areas. This action also aims to promote the establishment of international partnerships for the location of the Abruzzo business fabric on frontier technological trajectories. In this sense, the participation of the Abruzzo companies in consortia is promoted in the context of projects financed at European level.

Timeframe: 2019 - 2021 Funding sources: ERDF; 6.438.204 EUR