SMEs

Intellectual property is a powerful tool that can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) thrive in a fierce business world. Small businesses drive innovation, job creation, and economic growth. Yet, many of these ventures face a common hurdle: the lack of resources and know-how to protect their valuable intangible assets. Join us for a conversation with Christina Deyl, Internationalisation adviser for Enterprise Europe Network Hessen, as she shares her insights on how to make the most of your intellectual property.

As clean beauty is reshaping the cosmetics landscape, Four Starlings – a family-owned soap-making business in Poland – emerged as a rising star in the industry. We talked to Grzegorz Sienkiewicz, Managing Director of Four Starlings, and Anna Wrzesińska, Chief Specialist for International Cooperation at Podlaska Regional Development Foundation and Business Adviser at the Polish branch of Enterprise Europe Network, to find out how the Network helped the company grow into an international success.  

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) turns 15 this year. To celebrate this milestone, join us for a conversation with two proud ambassadors of the Network. European Commission’s Deputy Director-General, Maive Rute, and Natalia Martínez Páramo, Head of Unit at the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) share their views on the Network’s success and way forward.

Over the past decades, the number of women who run small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has increased. Still, female entrepreneurs face multiple and intersectional challenges, from access to funding to gender biases. Enterprise Europe Network is on a mission to bolster women’s voices across all industries and equip them with the right tools to succeed.

How does Enterprise Europe Network support innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tech sector? Our Network business advisers and three companies benefiting from their expert advice look back on their successful collaboration.

How can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) create and nurture a culture of innovation? Discover below seven steps companies should take to develop an innovative mindset and environment that supports growth.

Small businesses in Europe are under more strain than ever before. The ravaging war in Ukraine – adding to a dramatic slowdown in China’s economy, the pandemic, and the climate crisis – is rocking global supply chains, affecting industries from semiconductors to food. In this period of disruption, enhancing the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to bounce back from crises is crucial for Europe's rapid recovery.

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.

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.