Blog

As the world’s third largest economy, Japan is an attractive business hub for European companies. How can small and medium-sized enterprises navigate the Japanese business culture with more confidence? And how can the Enterprise Europe Network and the EU-Japan Centre help your company get started?

How can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) create and nurture a culture of innovation? Read on to discover 7 key steps to help businesses build an innovative mindset and environment that fuels growth.

Finnish entrepreneurs Veera Ylikotila and Jenni Hakkarainen launched Xeraliving with a bold mission: to make the interior design industry more sustainable and transparent. The Enterprise Europe Network helped the company with advice on outsourcing, building international connections, and finding new partners. Hanna Riski, Senior Adviser at Business Finland, spoke with Veera about how this support helped Xeraliving succeed globally.

What is sustainable architecture and how can it help designers, architects, builders, and clients minimise harmful energy consumption and pollution? Katarína Jelenáková, Manager for International Cooperation and Support of SMEs at the Network partner Slovak Business Agency, interviewed architect and structural engineer Martin Pribila, the creator of the "Krtkodom" concept. This alternative housing solution uses less land and energy while promoting a healthy, natural environment for its residents. Simple, sustainable, and successful, the Krtkodom is making a strong case for greener living.

Small businesses in Europe are facing unprecedented challenges. The war in Ukraine, combined with China's economic slowdown, the pandemic, and the climate crisis, is disrupting global supply chains and impacting industries from semiconductors to food. To help Europe recover quickly, it's essential to strengthen the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, enabling them to bounce back from these crises.

As the Enterprise Europe Network enters a new framework period, we talked to Muriel de Grande, Head of Sector at the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), to find out more about the Network’s exciting initiatives and plans for the future.

Enterprise Europe Network supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on their path to green business models and sustainable initiatives. The Danish SME Nortech Solutions is a case in point. With the Network’s aid, Nortech teamed up with a Czech company to launch a successful green business in 2019. Fast-forward to today, the Network’s sustainability advisers are helping small businesses develop strategies that build long-term value and reduce risk.

Africagua Canarias is a global business event linking Africa with Europe and beyond to discuss water, renewable energy, and climate resilience. Enterprise Europe Network partners in the Canary Islands help make it happen by connecting companies and professionals from around the world.

We all love a fresh cup of coffee to kick-start the day, but have you ever wondered what impact this daily habit has on the environment? Read along to find out how the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) supports the French start-up Kabioca on its journey to sustainable and eco-responsible coffee production from farm to cup.

The European agro-food sector is working to produce healthy, safe food while using natural resources more efficiently. It also plays a key role in tackling big challenges like food security, climate change, environmental protection, competitiveness, and recovery after the pandemic. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) group of experts in agro-food supports businesses on their journey to create clean, safe, and sustainable products and services.