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Table of Contents
Contents
Informal Opening of The SME Assembly 2015 ...........2
Opening addresses ....................................................................3
Five stories shared by five entrepreneurial women
.............................................................................................................4Open Space Technology..........................................................9
Open Space posters .............................................................. 18
The European Enterprise Promotion Awards ......... 47
Ideas from Europe .................................................................. 51
On November 19 and 20 over 600 delegates interested in SME´s
in Europe, gathered together to find out how to move forward
together. Delegates were a mix of policy makers, SMEs
(startups, scaleups and standups), NGOs, business associations,
chambers and local, national and regional authorities and from
press and media.
The first day of the programme was highly participatory, where delegates shared stories
and engaged in conversations around topics on SMEs: their opportunities & challenges the
various systems supporting them, roles of actors in the business environment in Europe
The second day provided both opportunities for deepening learnings through Master
Classes or Policy Sessions as well as providing ground breaking talks by inspiring
entrepreneurs from all over Europe.
Many of the themes that surfaced during the Assembly were familiar but still valid, e.g. The
Internal Market needs to further align and implement rules, financing can still be achallenge for SMEs, especially for women entrepreneurs, while easy access to information
and education is needed at all levels of running business.
Other less traditional areas need to be understood and integrated and in some cases
regulated e.g. new models of funding, new models of ownership, new “groups” and types of
entrepreneurs etc.
The good news is that SMEs in Europe are growing and creating jobs for the first time since
the start of the crisis and therefore constitute an important part of society, more than ever.
The following is a short account of the two days activities and conversations. This documenthas been established with great care. Despite careful preparation and checking it may
contain errors for which we apologise. This publication does not necessarily reflect the view
or the position of the European Commission.
DOCUMENTATION
SME Assembly 18-19-20. November
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Reception at the EIB, Luxembourg
Wednesday 18 November
Informal Opening of The SME Assembly 2015
The SME Assembly 2015 was unofficially opened by the “European SME week Reception”held in the lobby of the European Investment Bank in the evening of November 18.
The reception was opened by Mr. André Meyer from DG GROW calling for a minute ofsilence in memory of the recent events in Paris. After that, the President of the EIB, MrWerner Hoyer welcomed us and reminded us of the changing times that Europe is goingthrough.
Commissioner Bieńkowska emphasised all that is needed to create the best possibleenvironment for SMEs, starting with the policy environment conducive to the SME growthin Europe.
The Minister of the Economy and Trade of Luxembourg, Mr. Etienne Schneider, gave awarm welcome to entrepreneurs in his country, underlining the importance of SMEs inparticular for a country like the Grand Duchy.
We were made aware of the breadth and diversity of talent in the room. This included theyoungest delegate, Lily 'Scout' Haigh-Neal, a 13-year old serial entrepreneur from Australia.We were assured that all the knowledge present in the room would be put to good use thenext day since the Assembly will be run in a way to assure meaningful participation fromeverybody.
Finally, the Committee of the Regions, through launching of its European EntrepreneurialRegion Award (EER 2017) emphasised the dynamism that lies in our cities and regions.
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Francine Closener, Minister of State for the Economy
for the Grand Duchy
Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska
Thursday 19 November
Opening addresses
Francine Closener, Minister of State for the Economy for the Grand Duchy welcomed us to
Luxembourg. In her speech she mentioned that the meeting offers a unique opportunity for all
players in the field to meet and exchange their views on the work that remains to be done to
remove barriers and make the Single Market a reality.
She encouraged entrepreneurs to continue mobilizing and contributing to the growth of the
economy.
She referred to the two priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency, which are:
The wish to highlight and exploit the European added value and in particular the “cost of
non-Europe”
Advance the mainstreaming of competitiveness across all pol icy areas. The aim is to
promote a transversal approach that addresses the needs of enterprises, particularly SMEs.
She put particular emphasis on the Digital Single Market strategy and on the importance of small
business and female entrepreneurs.
Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska her intervention with the motto of the Assembly: 'Forward.
Together'. We need to join forces for success.
Small and Medium companies are essential to growth and there are positive signs - more than one
million new jobs were created last year. But what exactly do SMEs need from the EU? There are
already more choices, lower prices, but still there is a need to do more.
Obstacles include the internal market. This is not working for citizens and companies are being held
back. This is a key priority for the new Commission and it has pledged to take action. The EC needs
to work with SMEs and Member States to ensure compliance with and enforcement of EU laws. To
do this, they need to have an increase in the understanding of the rules and a decrease in the
number of regulations. Most importantly we need to learn from each other and wo rk together.
Finally, our hosts for the day's sessions, Penny Hunt and Ursula Hillbrand, outlined the participatorynature of the event: that everyone in the room has knowledge and ideas to contribute, and the
invitation is for every single person to come forward, feed the discussion so that afterwards we work
better together for the benefit of the SMEs.
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Five story-tellers surrounded by Ursula Hillbrand and Penny Hunt
Betty Fontaine, Brasserie Simon
Five stories shared by five entrepreneurial women
After the welcome address, five women led by HRH the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg entered the
stage. They each shared their personal story of entrepreneurship.In addition to HRH, the storytellers were; Betty Fontain from Brasserie Simon, Henryka Bochniarz
from Leviatan, Marianne Costigan from Merian Ventures and Amy Millman, from Springboard
Enterprises.
While the stories were shared, the delegates were listening to five different aspects of the stories.
The five perspectives encompassed 1) challenges and opportunities 2) breakthroughs 3) success
factors 4) applicability 5) what questions the story might raise. Such focussed listening helps to see
in more detail and to see further.
Betty Fontaine, Brasserie Simon
Betty shared a story about how she broke away from the traditional roles and expectations put on
her, when she took on the family business. Starting from zero, she had to learn the hard way to run
a business, manage people and find good clients. A Businesswoman of the year award marked a
turning-point, which in essence led to a realisation that, as a small company, her strength lays in
being different, in terms of products, services and quality. She needed to get people to believe in her
business. Her goal was not necessarily to grow bigger but simply to continue with quality. She is now
looking to 2024, which will be the 200th anniversary of the company. And as she does so, she is
concentrating on not necessarily being bigger but certainly better.
“ We do not need to be bigger, just better at what we do”
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Henryka Bochniarz, Leviatan
Marianne Costigan, Merian Ventures
Henryka Bochniarz, Leviatan
Henryka Bochniarz presented her story as a fairy tale. Born into a time of global disruption following
the Second World War, Henryka saw education as a route to escaping poverty. This led her to a
degree from Warsaw School of Economics, later an Asla Fulbright Scholarship to the USA after whichshe returned back to Poland. Poland was, at this time, going through societal and political changes
driven by the Solidarity movement. The opportunities offered at this time led Henryka to first start
her own company, later accepting an offer to become a minister in the new government. She alsoestablished a confederation of private employers and was later invited to join Boeing where she
stayed for 8 years. This new experience inspired her to co-fund the Congress of Women. Later she
produced a book 'Be yourself and win' and now she mentors others on their business journeys.
Henryka gave three recommendations: Life is the biggest investment! Diversify your portfolio, your
friends and hobbies – and know yourself!
“Have a business plan for the long, medium, and short term. But you don't need to
stick to it! There is always something interesting on the other side of the river.”
Marianne Costigan, Merian Ventures
Marianne Costigan currently works for an investment company, which supports companies where
there is at least one female founder. As in the case of the previous two speakers, her path has been
influenced by external factors, such as the political situation in her home country, Ireland, as well as
her parents values. Initially starting out with McKinsey, gave her a solid preparation for her future
ventures. Later Marianne moved into industry, which brought with it a new set of challenges.
However in her particular field of theatre lighting she saw how software was key to the success of
the company. She later became involved in a start-up software company, which was eventually
taken over by IBM. This brought her to a new crossroads in her career. A colleague encouraged her
to follow her heart and to take on a challenge which best suited her own particular talents, as a
marketing manager. From there she moved on to new challenges, driven by her passion for
supporting new developments and so she found herself in a new role, working for a venturecompany. She encouraged the audience to 'give it a go ' and risk making mistakes.
Marianne acknowledged that for women there is an issue regarding the funding. Studies have
shown that men are more likely to receive funding even when proposing the same ideas as women.
At the same time other studies show that those companies with at least one woman as a co-founder
have the most success.
“ Give it a 'go' and risk making mistakes”
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Amy Millman, Springboard Enterprises
HRH The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Amy Millman, Springboard Enterprises
Amy started her story by telling the audience that entrepreneurship was not a spectator sport, we
all need to engage. As she said, global phenomenon start from a single idea and we need
entrepreneurs to have the vision to move these ideas to success.
She too was initially influenced by traditional ideas of what her role in life should be. So when she
first started looking for work she wanted something to fit into these expectations. But she grew upin a time where there was a growing belief that you could change the world. It was a time where
doors were opening - although you needed to give them a kick! She was inspired by other womenand particularly influenced by mentors who taught her to be true to herself. She also saw how
important it was to bring people together, to form networks. These networks should reach out to all
the stakeholders, bringing them together to create a common agenda. So whilst she is not an
'entrepreneur' in her own eyes she has worked tirelessly to create these networks and advance the
cause of entrepreneurs.
“Entrepreneurship is not a spectator sport”
HRH the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
The Grand Duchess acknowledged that she was not an entrepreneur in the traditional sense and yet
her role closely involves her in what she termed 'nation branding'. Beyond her main role, she is
passionate about the negative effects of poverty, refusing to believe that this state should be
considered endemic.
It was as a goodwill ambassador for UNESCO that she experienced a pivotal moment. Whilst visiting
Bangladesh she was introduced to a woman who was benefitting from micro-financing in order to
house herself and her son whilst buying chickens and selling eggs in her village. All this was possible
under a scheme run by the Grameen Bank.
Ten years later HRH returned with the head of the bank, Muhammad Yunus, and was delighted to
see the impact of the loan. The woman had been able to make enough money to send her son toschool. And he was now learning to be a pilot. The micro financing project had already impacted the
next generation.
In Senegal she saw at first hand how micro financing had helped women set up small cooperatives.In order to run these the women had to expand their education, to be able to manage their
business. This led on to their success and this success then encouraged the men in their
communities to wish to emulate this and so they in turn sought to be better educated. Clearly theimpact of micro financing goes beyond the individual and reaches out to the wider society.
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Looking at the stories through
five different perspectivesAfter hearing the stories delegates were invited to share some of
their insights while enjoying the coffee. For the last part of the coffee
break delegates were asked to have conversations in smaller groups
about one of the following questions, depending on which
perspective they had initially listened to:
1.
In your view, what are the significant challenges or
opportunities that SMEs will face in the coming years?
2. What can we learn from the stories that can translate into
lessons for other entrepreneurs?
3. What are some factors that enable long term success for SMEs?
4. What solutions from the stories we heard and / or we know of,
could be successfully applied in other contexts?
5. What important unanswered question do we now have, on how
to help SMEs grow?
After the conversations everyone returned to the main room t o share insights.
Some of the themes that emerged from the stories kept showing up in all or most of the five
stories i.e.:
1 The need to cultivate a SME-friendly culture including acceptance of failure, dealing with
stereotyped expectations and pressure from society, community or family
1. Ensuring the needed skills and competencies both in the entrepreneur as well as in the
business. Start cultivating skills and foster a spirit of entrepreneurship from an early age as
well as later on.
2. Easy access to finance and information e.g. having a one-stop information point or creating
a climate of easier access to loans and other forms of financing
3. Regulation needs to be easier or more flexible e.g. a legislation that is less hard on
entrepreneurs re. social payments, or a legislation that is easily understood or decreasing
the administrative burden.
4.
Support for entrepreneurs e.g. mentors, networks, role models or professional boards
5. Lastly entrepreneurs need to cultivate personal qualities like resilience, courage,
multitasking, authenticity, inspiration, risk acceptance.
Other themes that emerged from the stories from the women entrepreneurs perspective
An MIT research showing that investors who hear the same pitch from women and men
entrepreneurs are twice as likely to invest in the men as in the women.
Women seemed to readily admit that they did do not know everything but were willing to learn.
Women seemed to value being authentic, and accepting strengths and weaknesses.In some cultures (e.g. India, Bangladesh, Africa), where Grameen Bank extends micro-loans, women
are seen as very trustworthy and the ones that can get a family out of poverty.
*) See Appendix 1, at the end of this document, for a full documentation of all notes from the
conversations after the stories
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Conversations after the stories
The story tellers reflect back on what they heard from the audience
Reflections from the panel of women
Following the interventions of the delegates, the panellists were given an opportunity to reflect
once more on their key messages.
Betty Fontaine pleaded for the right to fail, to make mistakes. It isn't possible to succeed every time.
But you need political incentives to encourage this, otherwise people are not willing to take risks.
You need to acknowledge their efforts.
Henryka Bochniarz reflected on the barriers caused by the “usual suspects”, regulatory framework.
She would like to see something done, really done, not just discussed. Businesses need to be
encouraged rather than spending their time fighting bureaucracy.
Marianne Costigan reiterated the need to embrace failure although she felt that this should be
experienced at an early age. Give young people the possibility to experience entrepreneurship and
to fail early on so that they can grow.
Amy Millman talked about the two conflicting themes of aspiration and expectation. She looks to a
future, which encourages and inspires. But there is a need for a framework to respect this struggle.
There should be eco-systems to support this. By looking at society and rethinking how we may lead
to change.
HRH the Grand Duchess also touched on the themes of failure, solidarity and coaching.
She proposed looking more closely at micro enterprises and at what lessons could be learnt.
She made particular note of how the model in Bangladesh brings groups of 5 women together.
In this way, if one fails the others pitch in to help her.
She concluded by talking about the importance of coaching and micro financing and made a plea for
this to be rolled out further.
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Invitation to Open Space
Posting sessions in the matrix
Open Space – Forward. Together
30 ideas and initiatives to help SMEs grow in Europe and beyond
After lunch the delegates were invited to come forward with whatever questions or ideas they
wanted to explore regarding how to move SMEs and SME policy forward.
The method used was Open Space Technology and the question for the afternoon was:
What can we do together to help SMEs grow in Europe and beyond?
There were thirty open slots for topics, 15 slots in each round, and all slots were filled in no time.
Looking at the topics they could be clustered in 9 major themes:
SME policy framework
Can we have a new SME Action Plan?
Developing a platform/framework to ease access for entrepreneurs to EU m easures.
How to organise meetings between European Commission staff and entrepreneurs?
How to move 'Pros and Freelancers' issues higher up in the European agenda?
SME dimension of the Internal Market
How to get help with legal problems in other member states?
How to raise competitiveness of European SMEs?
Ideal One-Stop information shop: what do we need?
Regional dimension
How to work together in EU regions for better SME support?
How can regional governance best support SMEs?
Coaching SMEs and start-ups.
Entrepreneurship
Refugee entrepreneurship.
Female entrepreneurs – how can we best support them to grow their businesses?
Social entrepreneurship - Legal framework for SMEs for social impact.
How to integrate the EU in the rapidly growing bottom-up national start-up ecosystems?
Culture - Start-up Parliament; Bring politics and start-ups together.
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Open Space sessions in progress
Results from the sessions were captured on posters
Help SMEs to grow
How can we help SMEs grow by external acquisition?
How to promote SME champions?
Access to finance; Apply for SME Instruments Programme EU-2020.
New methods of business collaboration - a way for growth of SMEs?
How can we GROW and USE entrepreneurial communities?
European Economic Diplomacy.
Skills
How can businesses help schools make learning more relevant to real life?
Skills for SMEs.
How to overcome the skills barriers for SMEs in recruitment and training needs?
Help SMEs in difficulties
How can we help SMEs passing from difficult times – is a business clinic an option?
How to avoid failure and how to provide a second chance?
Innovation and technology
How do we make ordinary SMEs make use of digitisation? Innovative technology; Encourage scalable technology. Request EU proposals for new tech.
development for SME support
Reduce administrative burden
How to minimize unnecessary bureaucracy for SMEs?
After the two rounds of workshops, each project owner gave a short p itch introducing the main
insights from the sessions. All posters were exhibited around the room so that all delegates could
network, talk to the owners of the sessions they missed and interlink knowledge.
The following is a quick overview of the Open Space sessions including the main insights , followed by a documentation of each poster
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Open Space sessions – Min-map overview
Can we have a new SME Action Plan?
Developing a platform/framework to ease accessfor entrepreneurs to EU measures
How to organise meetings between EuropeanCommission staff and entrepreneurs?
How to move IPros and Freelancers' issueshigher up in the European agenda
SME policy framework
How to get help with legalproblems in other member states?
How to raise competitivenessof European SMEs
Ideal One-Stop informationshop: what do we need?
SME dimension of theInternal Market
How to minimise unnecessarybureaucracy for SMEs
Reduce administrative burden
How can we help SMEs growby external acquisition?
How to promote SME champions?
Apply for SME InstrumentsProgramme EU-2020
Access to finance
New methods of business collaboration- a way for growth of SMEs?
How can we GROW and USEentrepreneurial communities?
European Economic Diplomacy
Help SMEs to grow
How can we help SMEspassing from difficult times - isa business clinic an option?
How to avoid failure and howto provide a second chance
Help SMEs in difficulties
How to work together in EU regionsfor better SME support?
How can regional governancebest support SMEs
Coaching SMEs and startups
Regional dimension
How do we make ordinary SMEsmake use of digitisation?
Encourage scalable technology
Request EU proposals fornew tech development forSME support
Innovative technology
Innovation and technology
Refugee entrepreneurship
Female entrepreneurs - howcan we best support them togrow their businesses?
Legal framework for SME forsocial impact
Social entrepreneurship
How to integrate the EU in therapidly growing bottom-upnational startup ecosystems
Bring politics and startups together Culture - Start-up Parliament
Entrepreneurship
How can businesses helpschools make learning morerelevant to real life?
Skills for SMEs
How to overcome the skillsbarriers for SMEs in recruit-ment and training needs
Skills
Europe works forSMEs Open Space
session
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Open Space sessions – Quick overview
What can we do together to help SMEs grow in Europe and beyond?
Theme: SME policy framework
No. of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no. of ”Taps”
4A How to develop a platform or a
framework to ease an access for
entrepreneurs to Europeaninstruments?
Lack of communication
Too many intermediates
Entrepreneurs don’t know how to access
Paul Martin Calvo, Martina
Guerlenda, Ferdinand Bierbrauer
4 taps
10A Independent Professionals – How to
push their needs higher up in the
European agenda?
Ipros and Freelancers in Europe are a growing part of the economy.
Ignoring them is counter productive
Francesca Pesce EFIP-Italy
2 taps
5B Can we have a new SME Action Plan in
light of the most recent economic
developments, such as shared
economy?
SME policy not mentioned in 2016 EC Work Programme
New developments after crisis – new business environment
Focus on traditional SMEs
5BA not yet fully implemented
No piece-meal approach
21 mio. SMEs in Europe
60% of European Labour
58% of GDP
Peter Faross
6 taps
6B How can we encourage meetings
between European Commission
employees and real entrepreneurs?
ERRIN
How to communicate better
EEN to communicate
Michel Duchateau
Twitter: @miduchateau
9 taps
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Theme: SME dimension of the Internal Market
No of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no of ”Taps”
12A The ideal one-stop information shop for
SMEs - what do we need?
Missing: feedback mechanism for companies. - Rules on products
difficult to find. - Difficult to find information (even if existing) – construction in BE e.g. MADB on YE not known, - Look also beyond
the EU. - Issue: investment needed for e-procedures
Language is an issue, machine translation part of the solution?
Offer EN (DE in some regions) - Rules on double taxation are
complex
[email protected] Send us your ideas!
15 taps
14A How to get legal help in other Member
States?
No legal help by EU. - No clear rules and conditions. - No respect of
contracts. - Difficult to start and close a business
Alexander von Campenhausen
6 taps
15B How to raise competitiveness of
European SMEs so that they can face
TTIPs and other FTAs?
High EL. Prices for EU-SMEs
Unfair competition
G. Stoev
22 taps
Theme: Regional dimension
No of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no of ”Taps”
7A How can regional governance best
support SMEs?
Core SME needed (growth). – Empowerment – SMEs (one stop
shop). – Cooperation (partnerships between local / regions /
government). - Light touch policy. – Ownership
Regional policy needs to look outwards to gain their good practice
Andrew McCormick Northern Ireland
+ partners
17 taps
8A Coaching of SMEs and start ups Many former “Managers” are “retired” but would love to share
their knowledge. – Coaching
Mentoring. – We you refuse to helpsomeone who asks for help? +Currently active business members
Marcel Lejeune
10 taps
3B How to work together in EU regions for
better SME support?Common interestsGrow business
Competition between different organisations
Scary paperwork for EU projects
Istvan Nemeth
12 taps
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Theme: Information and technology
No of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no of ”Taps”
1A How do we make more SMEs benefit
from digitisation?
There are critical policy issues to address
Digitalisation is here to stayCostly for many SMEs
Opportunities not yet explored
Infrastructure crucial (broadband)
Gunilla Nordlöf, SME Envoy for
Sweden
23 taps
10B How can online technology be
developed and used to improve start-up
training that ensures more people
survive and thrive in business?
Innovation slow, lack of time, Status Quo, What do we want Peter Harrington
5 taps
Theme: Skills
No of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no of ”Taps”
9A How do we overcome the skills barriers
for SMEs in recruitment and training
needs?
Get a well matched mentor. – Discovery of own skills and
complimentary skills. – Face to face mentoring, peer to peer
valuable but limited. – How to create a team
Ian Clifford
10 taps
12B Skills for SMEs – the challenges Changing framework (digitalisation, clients)
Fast track entrepreneurship
Mentorship, consultants
Matthias Tschirf
17 taps
14B How can business/SMEs help schools to
make learning more relevant to real
life?
Needs to start at the earliest stage in schools. – Cross-curricular
implementation. – Needs space within the curriculum. – Teachers
don’t have time/awareness. – Creating a win-win for businessNeed to explore technology and how it can support
Need to build aspiration among young people
About entrepreneurial skills not start up skills
Elin McAllun
14 taps
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Theme: Entrepreneurship
No of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no of ”Taps”
3A Female entrepreneurs - how best to
support them to grow their businesses?
Growth is relative and means different things to different people –
solo entre.; necessity entre. (struggling); ambitions entre.Entrepreneurs learn well from each other ´peer support groups`
Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely experience
Female entrepreneurs often underplay their own potential
Often do not ask for sufficient capital (link confidence, aspiration,
finance structure)
1st
employee is often the hardest
Culture which suggests that running a business that is growing is
harder than one that is not (work/life balance misapprehension)
Paula Fitzsimons - Going for Growth
All who attended contributed to ideas
3 taps
11A How can we improve the economic
integration of refugees through
entrepreneurship?
Opportunity instead of threat. – Branding. - Diversity of refugees. -
Legal aspect. - Information gap. – Gender. - Legal market. - Young
refugees
Particularity: Marginalisation, minorisation, voluntary activities
Adam Kumcu
Growing population of refugees
18 taps
1B How do we involve the EU in the
bottom-up rapidly growing national
start-up ecosystem around Europe and
create more value?
Why are the start-ups not connecting? Kim Balle, Global Start-up Awards
Participants: Cool people
11 taps
2B Changing culture through Parliament
start-up weekends
Bring politics and start-ups together
Direct understanding of what happens in entrepreneurial world
Anders Hoffmann Denmark
9 taps
4B How can we provide a more flexible
legal framework for SMEs that want to
have a social impact?
Non profit company social enterprise
Law not flexible enough
Stefania Druga
6 taps
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Theme: Helping SMEs to grow
No of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no of ”Taps”
5A How to promote SME champions? What is a champion? (competition, innovation, growth)
Need to promote to ensure more visibilityTo attract investors and new markets
Natasca Lai (EASME)
6 taps
13A How can we build communities for
entrepreneurs and use them to create
more and better SMEs?
No silver bullet: many complementary actions needed
Best initiatives come from entrepreneurs themselves
Entrepreneurs need easy, cheap access to “fast” knowledge – help
them get it
Leo Exter
12 taps
13A How can we build communities for
entrepreneurs and use them to create
more and better SMEs?
No silver bullet: many complementary actions needed
Best initiatives come from entrepreneurs themselves
Entrepreneurs need easy, cheap access to “fast” knowledge – help
them get it
Leo Exter
12 taps
7B How can we help SMEs grow by external
acquisition?
Find the way to collaborate with the companies. - Finance
Protection of national interest cross border attitude
Too much attention to START-UPS. Need of balance
Inflated valuation from selling side. - Information about business
Cross-border investment
Julia Michaelis
TRANSEO.eu, EU4BT.eu
REEMPRESA.org
13 taps
8B How to shape European Economic
Diplomacy: services for SMEs
internationalisation
Foreign Business need visa process that is easier
IP protection
Avoid rat races among EU Member States
Philippe Adrianssens, Valerio
Mazzone & 10+ Happy participants
17 taps
11B Are new methods of business
collaboration a way of growth for
SMEs?
Digital economy facilitated collaboration. - Collaborative economy
IP-Question – Who owns?. - It is about give and take. - A way of
building partners. - Allow specialisation. - Small=need to cooperate
Open innovation. – It is down up initiative
Jan Svensson, Microfund Vaf, Sweden
7 taps
13B How can we get easy access to money
for SMEs? Formulate recommendationsfor SME Instrument in Horizon 2020
based on SMEs experience
SMEs can apply for SME Instruments Programme EU2020
Phase 1 – Phase 2 (make a step between Phase 1 and 2)Phase 3. – Difficult to find private investors in Europe because of
regulation risks
Mieke and Harald R. Preyer
UK small enterprise investmentscheme
20 taps
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Theme: Help SMEs in difficulties
No of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no of ”Taps”
6A How can we help SMEs to pass through
difficult times (Business Clinic)?
Already exists something similar in Egypt
Can be a joint venture with private sectorPreventing failure
Anton Vella
Business themselvesMalta Employer`s Associations
Business Organisations
9 taps
15A How can we create and early warning
system and boost rebounds in your
countries? How to prevent SMEs from
failing and provide them a second
chance?
Cultural barriers, risk, perception of failure, recruitment of
volunteers, cooperation public/private
Rewarding failure
Power of finance
Failure and Growth for success
Soeren Boutrup – Early warning
Valerie Delande - 60 000 Rebounds
27 people from 20 different
communities
22 taps
Theme: Reduce administrative burden
No of
session
Title of session Main insight Owner and no of ”Taps”
2A How to minimise bureaucracy for SMEs? Only once to fulfil
Why so many infos?Way of collection
Ilze Lore
Vladimir SvobodaAnete Lusara + Lat
Kaypo Sempelsow
Martin VicianOlga Nemethova
Emmet Browne
18 taps
The following is a documentation of each poster
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Open Space – The harvesting sheets
Session 1A - Theme: Information and technology
Discussion topic:How do we make more SMEs benefit from digitisation?
Main insights:
There are critical policy issues to address
Digitalisation is here to stay
Costly for many SMEs
Opportunities not yet explored
Infrastructure crucial (broadband)
Next steps:
Summarise discussion. Dig deeper into policy issues. Disseminate best practice.
Concrete action:
How to finance digital transformation? Investments.
Transform rules. Raise SME´s awareness of digital opportuni ties and requirements.
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Make use of European funds. Exp lore voucher schemes already in place. Express recommendations
linked to the single market strategy. Adapt rules and regulations
Idea owner: Gunilla Nordlöf, SME envoy for Sweden
Participants: 23 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129977988083717
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Session 2A - Theme “Reduce administrative burden”
Discussion topic:
How to minimise unnecessary bureaucracy for SMEs?
Main insights:Only once to fulfil. Why so many infos? Way of collecting. Some services as “must”.
Next steps:
Assessment of data (necessary/unnecessary)? Put (make) data electronic.
Stop/minimise mandatory bureaucracy
Concrete action:
Right to protect against bureaucracy, duplication. One collection point. One collection date.
Set mandatory only where is needed
Recommendations for policy makers:
Change the laws in favour of SMEs. Analyse competitive systems, - Silicon Valley, - Singapore.
Idea owner(s): Ilze Lore
Vladimir Svoboda, Anete Lusara + Lat, Kaypo Sempelsow, Martin Vician, Olga Nemethova, Emmet
Browne
Participants: 18 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129978042597380
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Session 3A - Theme “Entrepreneurship”
Discussion topic: Female entrepreneurs - how best to support them to grow their
businesses?
Main insights:
Growth is relative and means different things to different people – solo entre.; necessity entre.
(struggling); ambitions entre.
Entrepreneurs learn well from each other ´peer support groups`
Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely experience.
Female entrepreneurs often underplay their own potential.
Often do not ask for sufficient capital (link confidence, aspiration, finance structure). - 1st
employee
is often the hardestCulture which suggests that running a business that is growing is harder than one that is not
(work/life balance misapprehension)
Concrete action:
Tap into willingness of entrepreneurs and corporate executives to support women to grow their
business. Role-models not only for inspiring and motivating. Associate women entrepreneurs with
growth, in media, communications policy etc. Ensure support available and appropriate to differenttypes of entrepreneurs, .?, ..? and ambitions – one size does not fit all!
Recommendations for policy makers
Examine supports to encourage taking on … employee (incentives and disincentives). Support
initiatives from private or N/GO sector, which assist women to grow sustainable business. Focus on
quality of entrepreneurs not just business measures(?) (quantity)
Recommendations for others
Tackle unconscious gender bias in banks & other funding / support organisations. - Ensure greater
gender balance in training and educational materials.
Idea owner(s): Paula Fitzsimons - Going for Growth All who attended contributed to ideasParticipants: 3 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129972854247425
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Session 4A - Theme “SME policy framework”
Discussion topic:
How to develop a platform or a framework to ease an access for entrepreneurs to
European instruments (measures)?
Main insights:
Lack of communication.
Too many intermediates.
Entrepreneurs don’t know how to access
Next steps:
To talk to real /small entrepreneurs.
To study efficiency of initiatives.
Concrete action:
Improve EEN communication.We need specialists. Website? One!!
Recommendations for policy makers:
More efforts by EC on coordination of measures and practical assistance.
Idea owner(s): Paul Martin Calvo, Martina Guerlenda, Ferdinand Bierbrauer
Participants: 4 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129617324077058
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Session 5A – Theme “Helping SME´s to grow”
Discussion topic:
How to promote SME champions?
Main insights:
What is a champion? (competition, innovation, growth)
Need to promote to ensure more visibility
To attract investors and new markets
Next steps:
To ensure to select the best companies from the beginning.
‘Monitor progress of the companies (growth, innovation) and to ensure visibility to them.
To define a good MARKETING PLAN .
To promote success stories.
Concrete action:Facilitate partnership.
Facilitate access to loans. –
Inviting them to important events to present their ideas and their business.
More communication on success stories.(social media, videos) - Certification (label) to increase
visibility and credibility.
Recommendations for policy makers:
Ensure that the best SMEs defined as champions, will get the right support in terms of visibility, in
order to make their success sustainable through easier access to financers, investors and multiple
market opportunities.
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129602681757701
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Session 6A – Theme “Help SMEs in difficulties”
Discussion topic:
How can we help SMEs to pass through difficult times (e.g. Business Clinic)?
Main insights:Already exists something similar in Egypt. Can be a joint venture with private sector
Preventing failure
Next steps:
We have to make a clear distinction between micro entrepreneurs and SMEs. We need to build a
business case
Concrete action:
Policies need to be more SME friendly. – Provide this concept throughout Europe, mandatory.
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Need of assessment disclose process amongst SMEs – free of charge. More flexibility in regulations
…(?) eligibility.
Idea owner(s): Anton Vella, Business themselves, Malta Employer`s Associations, Business
Organisations
Participants: 9 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129323253035011
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Session 7A – Theme: “Regional dimension”
Discussion topic:
How can regional governance best support SMEs?
Main insights:Core SME needed (growth)
Empowerment – SMEs (one stop shop)
Cooperation (partnerships between local/regions/government)
Light touch policy
Ownership
Regional policy needs to look outwards to gain their good practice
Next steps:
To engage partner administrations to agree to work together to solve SME problem.
Concrete action:
Proposal – seek INTERREG Europe support for a project to test all that public agencies do. Test: does
this enable and support SMEs?
Recommendations for policy makers:
1.sht(?) policy fund(?). Procurement design, SME friendly policy.
Recommendations for others:
Policy makers need to listen to SMEs. Small Business Act (needs to translate at local level)
Idea owner(s):
Andrew McCormick Northern Ireland + partners
Participants: Regional & municipal administrations, SMEs, Chambers. - 17 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129570377228288
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Session 8A – Theme: “Regional dimension”
Discussion topic:
Coaching of SMEs and start ups
Main insights:Many former “Managers” are “retired” but would love to share their knowledge
CoachingMentoring
We you refuse to help someone who asks for help?
+Currently active business members
Next steps:
How to find the “coaches”? – Look locally and expand later in your region. Create a “Business Club”
. Local Richard.
Concrete action:
Recommendations for policy makers:Get free access to official data-bases and support of EU agencies
Idea owner: Marcel Lejeune
Participants: 10 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129340575510532
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Session 9A – Theme “Skills”
Discussion topic:
How do we overcome the skills barriers for SMEs in recruitment and training
needs?
Main insights:
Get a well-matched mentorDiscovery of own skills and complimentary skillsFace to face mentoring, peer-to-peer valuable but limitedHow to create a team
Concrete action:
Resource required EYE increased
Idea owner: Ian Clifford
Participants: 10 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129310628167684
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Session 10A – Theme: “SME policy framework”
Discussion topic:
Independent Professionals –
How to push their needs higher up in the European agenda?
Main insights:
Independent professionals and Freelancers in Europe are a growing part of the economy. Ignoring
them is counter productive
Next steps:
Invite them and make them feel included. Explicitly.
Concrete action:
Statistics!!! – Research. – Impact assessment. – Definition.
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Listen – learn – think different
Idea owner:
Francesca Pesce EFIP-Italy
Participants: 2 taps (2-3)
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129303661432833
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Session 11A – Theme: “Entrepreneurship”
Discussion topic:
How can we improve the economic integration of refugees through
entrepreneurship?
Main insights:
Opportunity instead of threat. - Branding. - Diversity of refugees.
Legal aspect. - Information gap. – Gender. - Legal market. - Young refugees
Particularity: Marginalisation, minorisation, voluntary activities
Next steps:
One shop. - Partnership / Tandems(?).
Reduce regulation in certain sectors.
Provisional status.
Crowd funding ( via social entre..)
To remove the prey economy.
Mentoring/consultancy for women (&) entrepreneurs.Transfer knowledge of development experience, competences (craft)
Concrete action:
Vocational education. Internship (how?) for entrepreneurship. ERASMUS for refugee entrepreneurs.
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
(Campaign for branding social acceptance). - Reduce regulation (some sectors, licences, ..). -
Developing qualification and business assessment. – Provisional status. – Crowd funding. –
Mentoring programmes. – ERASMUS as an example. – Give refugees a voice.
Idea owners: Adam Kumcu + Growing population of refugees
Participants: 18 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073129206684925954
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Session 12A – Theme: “SME dimension of the Internal Market”
Discussion topic:
The ideal one-stop information shop for SMEs - what do we need?
Main insights:Missing: feedback mechanism for companies
Rules on products difficult to find
Difficult to find information (even if existing) – construction in BE e.g. MADB on YE not known
Look also beyond the EU
Issue: investment needed for e-procedures
Language is an issue, machine translation part of the solution? Offer EN (DE in some regions)
Rules on double taxation are complex
Next steps:
Extend points of simple contact?
Link to Business Federations.
Develop and cascade guiding system & citizen/business -> sector …( international level) Publish beta-version (can be skeleton, consult on it)Talk to software producers (MS, Apple, Google)
Go into detail
Concrete action:
Meet with entrepreneurs in person.
Recommendations for policy makers:
Reduce multitude of Commission portals (including on EU funding)=> Develop one central business
portal.
Model: French Business portal (APCE.com & PT)
Idea owners: [email protected] & [email protected]
Send us your ideas!
Participants: 15 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073128998701981697
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Session 13A – Theme: “Helping SMEs to grow”
Discussion topic:
How can we build communities for entrepreneurs and use them to create more
and better SMEs?
Main insights:No silver bullet: many complementary actions needed
Best initiatives come from entrepreneurs themselves
Entrepreneurs need easy, cheap access to “fast” knowledge – help them get it
Next steps:
Collect and share good examples of volunteer driven entrepreneurial community activities. Connect
volunteers to each other.
Concrete action:
Ensure budget (€500 - €5000) for supporting entrepreneur driven initiatives, meet-ups, workshops,
etc. Make it SUPER easy to apply for and get funding for volunteers – things like start-up …(?),
topical meet-ups (e.g. growth meeting), etc.
Recommendations for policy makers (& others):
Make it easier for entrepreneurs to build community events, meet, learn, make small budgets easily
available for volunteers.
Idea owner: Leo Exter
Participants: 12 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073128635005489154
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Session 14A – Theme: SME dimension in the Internal Market”
Discussion topic:
How to get legal help in other Member States?
Main insights:No legal help by EU
No clear rules and conditions
No respect of contracts
Difficult to start and close a business
Concrete action:
Grassroots events
Better info-portals
Cooperation with EEN
Recommendations for policy makers:
EU start-up policy.“Auto-entrepreneur” system in EU (like in France)
Idea owner: Alexander von Campenhausen
Participants: 6 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073128482886479875
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Session 15A – Theme: Help SMEs in difficulties
Discussion topic:
How can we create and early warning system and boost rebounds in your
countries? How to prevent SMEs from failing and provide them a second chance?
Main insights:
Cultural barriers, risk, perception of failure, recruitment of volunteers, cooperation public/private
Rewarding failure
Power of finance
Failure and Growth for success
Next steps:
Join forces at European level (cooperating, not fighting). Complete our models for success. Package
to replicate (franchise). $ Funding!
Concrete action:
Build pan. European solution built on best practice.Fund a European knowledge centre.
Build a European volunteer core of experts & a conference for the same.
Recommendations for (policy makers) & others:
Build a business case for policy makers (savings, employment, value).
Integrate HEALTH into policy.
Idea owners: Soeren Boutrup – Early warning, Valerie Delande - 60 000 Rebounds
Participants: 27 people from 20 different communities - 22 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073128233560264708
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Session 1B – Theme: “Entrepreneurship”
Discussion topic:
How do we involve the EU in the bottom-up rapidly growing national start-up
ecosystem around Europe and create more value?
Main insights:
Why are the start-ups not connecting?
Next steps:
Map who to involve in the conversation
Concrete action:
European Business Angel network
European start-up community network
Recommendations for policy makers:
Say yes when invited.
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Go lobby
Idea owner: Kim Balle, Global Start-up Awards.
Participants: Cool people - 11 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073131945267654657
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Session 2B – Theme: “Entrepreneurship”
Discussion topic:
Changing culture through Parliament start-up weekends
Main insights:
Bring politics and start-ups together
Direct understanding of what happens in entrepreneurial world
Next steps:
Start-up organisations at national level to start the process
SME envois to link with politics at national level
Start with pilot of 4-5 countries
Concrete action:
Danish team to offer expertise and talk to national start-up organisations
Present initiative to SME Envoy meetingWork with NL Presidency
Raise issue at next events / conferences
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
A start-up weekend in the European Parliament
Estonia and UK might be interested
Idea owner: Anders Hoffmann Denmark
Participants: 9 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073131819715346433
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Session 3B – Theme “Regional dimension”
Discussion topic:
How to work together in EU regions for better SME support?
Main insights:
Common interests Grow business
Competition between different organisations
Scary paperwork for EU projects
Next steps:
Listen to NGO´s
Get support on EU application
Cut corruption
SMEs to go international
Concrete action:Better coordination, who does what?
Regional mapping
Have similar events on regional level + to discuss
Recommendations for policy makers:
Getting together
Getting the right player access to EU decision makers
Recommendations for others:
SME week event with several countries
Idea owner: Istvan Nemeth
Participants: 12 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073131581529214978
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Session 4B – Theme “Entrepreneurship”
Discussion topic:
How can we provide a more flexible legal framework for SMEs that want to have
a social impact?
Main insights:
Non-profit company social enterprise
Law not flexible enough
Next steps:
Remove enterprise tax for social enterprise.
Make a clear distinction between the different legal entities (coop, social business, Ngo etc.)
EU clear definition + guidelines
Concrete action:
Establish an evaluation process to see how the profit is reinvested-> …….?
Recommendations for policy makers
Promotion from EU: Social enterprise is a normal enterprise.
Help gain visibility and respect in business
Idea owner: Stefania Druga
Participants: 6 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073131277530251268
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Session 5B – Theme: “SME policy framework”
Discussion topic:
Can we have a new SME Action Plan in light of the most recent economic
developments, such as shared economy?
Main insights:
SME policy not mentioned in 2016 EC Work Programme
New developments after crisis – new business environment
Focus on traditional SMEs. - 5BA not yet fully implemented
No piece-meal approach
Next steps:
EC & MS to better cooperate with SME organisations
Better service for SMEs from national SME organisations / capacity building
EEN to better cooperate with SME organisations
Concrete action:
Widespread vocational training.- Inclusive entrepreneurship
Access to finance (crowd funding & no red tape for SME banks)
Better digital package for SMEs. - Cut down red tape
Modernise labour market
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Think & act small first.. - Entrepreneurship alliance for new action plan
EC to follow SME envoys´ recommendations - SME entrepreneur Action Day
Friendly and multilingual consultation. - Distribution of best practice
Idea owner(s): Peter Faross + 21 mio. SMEs in Europe, 60% of European Labour, 58% of GDP
Participants: 6 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073131619139543040
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Session 6B – Theme: “SME policy framework”
Discussion topic:
How can we encourage meetings between European Commission employees and
real entrepreneurs?
Main insights:
ERRIN
How to communicate better
EEN to communicate
Concrete action:
Meet after 5 pm via internet
Make link with:
- Start-up agenda
- & EEN
- & ERRINCom. Via problems instead of offers
Idea owner: Michel Duchateau
Twitter: @miduchateau
Participants: 9 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073131277630922756
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Session 7B – Theme “Helping SMEs to grow”
Discussion topic:
How can we help SMEs grow by external acquisition?
Main insights:Find the way to collaborate with the companies
Finance. - Protection of national interest cross border attitude
Too much attention to START-UPS. Need of balance
Inflated valuation from selling side. - Information about business
Cross-border investment
Next steps:
State of the art
Develop a concrete methodology
Concrete action:
Add business acquisition in school topics/programRaising awareness amongst entrepreneurs
TRANSECO W. G.
Cross border tool
Experience sharing -> reality
Recommendations for policy makers (& others):
Create financial support to buy outs
Law guarantee loans
Financial support to modernise bought business
Stability of regulatory framework
Incentives for cross border acq.
Idea owners: Julia Michaelis, TRANSEO.eu, EU4BT.eu, REEMPRESA.org
Participants: 13 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073130870326247428
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Session 8B – Theme “Helping SMEs to grow”
Discussion topic:
Concrete action and policy framework
How to shape European Economic Diplomacy: services for SMEs
internationalisation
Main insights:
Foreign Business need visa process that us easier
IP protection
Avoid rat races among EU Member States
Next steps:
Get more info to SMEs or collect it better
Work via EEN and Chambers
Harmonise approaches in EU
Concrete action:M4G with SMEs
Presentations in the EU with experts from 3rd
markets
Use EU delegations more
Recommendations for policy makers (& others):
Commercial Visa for professionals, foreign businesses to come to EU
European export guarantee scheme
Stable business regulatory environment in EU countries
Idea owners: Philippe Adrianssens, Valerio Mazzone & 10+ Happy participants
Participants: 17 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073738355932160000
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Session 9B (poster is missing)
Discussion topic:
Financing talent: how to engage unemployed young talent to achieve their
dreams?
Idea owners: Albert Colomer and Espinet
Participants: 1 tab
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073131235494940672
Session 10B – Theme “Innovation and Technology”
Discussion topic: Innovative technology;
How can online technology be developed and used to improve start-up training
that ensures more people survive and thrive in business?
Main insights:
Innovation slow, lack of time, Status Quo, What do we want
Next steps:
Foster new tech ideas, try them and accept failure
Concrete action:
Request EU proposals for new tech. development for start-up and SME support
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Encourage scalable technology – the learning will be invaluable
Idea owner: Peter Harrington
Participants: 5 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073131159989075968
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Session 11B – Theme “Helping SMEs to grow”
Discussion topic:
Are new methods of business collaboration a way of growth for SMEs?
Main insights:
Digital economy facilitated collaboration. - Collaborative economyIP-Question – Who owns? - It is about give and take
A way of building partners. - Allow specialisation
Small=need to cooperate
Open innovation. - It is down up initiative
Next steps:
Competitive cluster
Collaboration between clusters
Inclusion of Academy to SME
Best practice
Think strategic in a global way
Concrete action:
Let the market work for itself
Provide evidence of result of collaborationLook at financial side of collaboration
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Research in the field
Sharing information
Regulation or not of collaborative economy (also between countries)
Idea owner: Jan Svensson, Microfund Vaf, Sweden
Participants: 7 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6074153452760551426
S i 12B Th “Skill ”
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Session 12B – Theme “Skills”
Discussion topic:
Skills for SMEs – the challenges
Main insights:
Changing framework (digitalisation, clients)
Fast track entrepreneurshipMentorship, consultants
Next steps:
Improving skills: economic, digital and soft skills
Concrete action:
Focus: children (primary school)
IPs the economy
Changing mind-set / risk culture
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Qualification has to play on all levels a great role (Commission, national, regional authorities
Idea owner: Matthias Tschirf, SME Envoy for Austria
Participants: 17 taps
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8416175/8416175-6073130925116440578
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Session 13B – Theme: “Helping SMEs to grow”
Discussion topic:
Access to finance; How can we get easy access to money for SMEs? Formulate
recommendations for SME Instrument in Horizon 2020 based on SMEs experience
Main insights:SMEs can apply for SME Instruments Programme EU2020
Phase 1
Phase 2 (make a step between Phase 1 and 2)
Phase 3
Difficult to find private investors in Europe because of regulation risks
Next steps:
SMEs are the engine of our economy
Concrete action:
Increase the budget for the SME instrument (put your money where your mouth is)
For larger investmentsIncentives for European private investors
Best practices: organise own bank with entrepreneurs crowd-funding etc.
EIB support for SMEs must be implemented on national levels
Matching funding must be encouraged
Regulatory burdens, we need standardisation, cross border harmonisation
Stock exchange market for SMEs
Recommendations for policy makers (& others):
Make it simple
Increase money
Idea owners: Mieke and Harald R. Preyer, UK s mall enterprise investment scheme
Participants: 20 taps
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Session 14B – Theme: “Skills”
Discussion topic:
How can business/SMEs help schools to make learning more relevant to real life?
Main insights:
Needs to start at the earliest stage in schools. - Cross curricular implementation.
Needs space within the curriculum. - Teachers don’t have time/awareness.
Creating a win-win for business. - Need to explore technology and how it can support
Need to build aspiration among young people. - About entrepreneurial skills not start up skills
Next steps:
Need to identify what has worked
Challenge business to get involved
Work with business membership organisations
Explore .. in Nashville / impact of JAYE / education tech as channel
Policy makers / … of Ed(ucation) should be engaged
Concrete action:
How: teacher – pupil – business (triangle)
Making links via local partnerships
EU level support => identify new methodologies
Policy maker support
Raise awareness with teachers at the front line of education
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Case studies specifically on how business can engage
EU challenge to business to promote their involvement / time / contribution
Mentors / Role models from business and to business (raising awareness)
Promote real partnership
Idea owner: Elin McAllun
Participants: 14 taps
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Session 15B – Theme: “SME dimension of Internal Market”
Discussion topic:
How to raise competitiveness of European SMEs so that they can face TTIPs and
other FTAs?
Main insights:
High EL. Prices for EU-SMEs
Unfair competition
Next steps:
Innovations
Concrete action:
Improving; Law enforcement & Follow up of supply chains
Recommendations for policy makers & others:
Energy unionImpose common standards
Idea owner: G. Stoev
Participants: 22 taps
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Closing the afternoon session
The afternoon session was closed with a short one word “check-out” on “What do I take with me
from today?” Words of appreciation, learning, enjoying the energy and talking to each other wereexpressed.
The European Enterprise Promotion Awards
In the evening the European Enterprise Promotion Awards' were shared. The ceremony was the
culmination of the 2015 programme when the winners in each of the six categories and the winner
of the Grand Jury Prize received their trophies.
The following awards were presented:
Category 1 - Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit to “Zomer Ondernemer”
Category 2 - Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills to “Going for Growth” Category 3 - Improving the Business Environment to “Creative Quarter”
Category 4 - Supporting the Internationalisation of Business to “Game Founders”
Category 5 - Supporting the Development of Green Markets & Resource Efficiency to “Green
Business Network”
Category 6 - Responsible & Inclusive Entrepreneurship to “Enterability”
Grand Jury Prize was awarded to “Lisbon Municipal Council”
About the 2016 EEPA winners:
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About the 2016 EEPA winners:
ZomerOndernemer (Promoting Entrepreneurial Spirit )
Grand Jury Prize Winner
Portugal – Lisbon Micro-Entrepreneurship is a programme working to support responsible and
inclusive entrepreneurship, be it through helping to develop business plans, to advising on how best
to obtain funding.
Responsible organisation: Lisboa Municipal Council
Organisation website: http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/www.cm-lisboa.pt
Promoting Entrepreneurial Spirit
Netherlands – ZomerOndernemer allows young people to start their own companies and experience
entrepreneurship during their summer holidays.
Responsible organisation: The New Entrepreneur Foundation
Organisation website: http://stichtingonehoogeveen.nl/
Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills
Ireland – Going for Growth focuses on encouraging female entrepreneurs to be ambitious and
supports them to achieve their growth aspirations.
Responsible organisation: Fitzsimons Consulting in association with the Gender Equality Division,
Department of Justice and Equality
Organisation website: www.goingforgrowth.com
Improving the Business Environment
United Kingdom – Creative Quarter aims to support creative SMEs to generate prosperity and create jobs by developing a highly -skilled local workforce ready to compete in the knowledge economy and
to transform the area in the city to make it a great business location.
Responsible organisation: Creative Quarter Nottingham Limited
Organisation website: www.creativequater.com
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GameFounders (Supporting the Internationalisation of Business)
Enterability (Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship)
Supporting the Internationalisation of Business
Estonia – GameFounders is a global game industry accelerator that aims to support technical teams
in developing a product business model.
Responsible organisation: GameFounders OÜ
Organisation website: www.gamefounders.com
Supporting the Development of Green Markets and Resource Efficiency
Spain – Green Business Network is the first networking platform in Spain to specialise in green
business.
Responsible organisation: Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the
Environment
Organisation website: www.fundación-biodiversidad.es
Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Germany – Enterability is a management consultancy for people with disabilities that provides help
before and after starting a business.
Responsible organisation: Social Impact gGmbH
Organisation website: http://www.ifd-enterability.de/
A full description of each initiative and the full list of winners, runners up and special mentions can
be found on the Promoting Enterprise blog: http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/promotingenterprise/
and the EEPA Compendium at: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/support/enterprise-promotion-
awards/index_en.htm
Friday 20 November
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y
The second day of the conference offered a smorgasbord of possibilities to deep dive into relevant
subjects or to be inspired by innovative entrepreneurs.
There was congruence between the scheduled subjects offered on day 2 and the subjects surfaced
and discussed by participants on day 1.
There were four policy sessions offered :
Skills for SMEs
Making the single Market work
From Refugee to Entrepreneur
Alternative roads to financing for SMEs
There were seven possibilities offered for deep diving into different subjects through the master
classes. The subjects were:
Creativity
SMEs on the Stock-exchange
Circular Economy
Start-up Europe Partnerships
Crowd-funding
Digitising Government
Twitter for Business
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Ideas from Europe
Last but not least there were 28 short and inspired “Ideas from
Europe” presentations by entrepreneurs with ground breaking Ideas
from all over Europe.
At the end of the day nine finalists of “Ideas from Europe” were
identified. There is also a “wildcard”, everybody can vote for their
own preferred candidate on-line. Lastly there were two special
mentions - a wildcard from the Assembly delegates went to the
Netherlands and the special mention to Michael Hermansson from
Sweden, for ideas that also deserved recognition.
The finalists are:
Nora Khaldi, Nuritas, Ireland
Gerhard Dust, Polycare, Germany Cécile Real, Endodiag, France Lorenzo Pradella, Greenbone, Italy Nathan Farrugia, Empower, Malta Anita Schjøll Brede, Piecing together the puzzle, Norway Stefania Druga, HacKIDemia, Romania Pirkka Palomäki, Enevo, Finland Kenny Ewan, WeFarm UK Jos Joore, Mimetas Netherlands
VOTE for the 11th here on-line!!!
Cl i dd b C t A d l From the Open Space discussions what was noticed is the energy and knowledge in the room to find
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Closing address by Costas Andropoulos
Costas Andropoulos, the Head of Unit for the COSME Programme,
the SME Envoy Network and SME Policy opened by saying that “We
have been together for three days – talking, sharing, listening,
learning. Each of us hopefully has now gained some new insights,
some new contacts, some feeling that we have contributed and been
heard.”
Lessons learned from the Women Entrepreneur Session encompass:
entrepreneurship is a skill that can and should be taught. Resilience
and the willingness to fail is key. Be different.
Key insights from the 'State of the Union for SMEs' – the Annual
Report demonstrate that SMEs are growing, and they have also
started to hire again. To support this further EU countries and the
European Commission together need to keep up their efforts tocreate the best possible environment for SME growth.
From the Open Space discussions what was noticed is the energy and knowledge in the room to find
solutions for SMEs in Europe in a range of areas from supporting young entrepreneurs, early
warning systems for failing SMEs, integrating refugees into our economy, to encouraging women
entrepreneurs to grow their businesses more. Each of the thirty topics suggested had a LinkedIn
group created and everyone was invited to continue the conversations there.
On the second day of the assembly the Master Classes provided expert knowledge and the Policy
sessions dealt with many of the themes that come up in the Open Space discussions: from a deeper
insight into using crowd-funding or twitter for your business, through growing your business across
borders; to "Think small first" needed to close the remaining gaps in the Single Market; and
reviewing the rules for VAT.
Finally the bright young entrepreneurs in the "Ideas from Europe" competition were mentioned, on
how they have identified a need in our society, and gone ahead to create a solution. Ten of the
finalists will be invited directly to TEDx Binnenhof , in the Netherlands, in March 2016
As a conclusion to the 3 days together, before passing the baton to Slovakia, the host of the next
Assembly, Costas expressed that “the discussions we have had and the things we have heard allow
me to say:
Stay in touch join the Online SME Assembly group on LinkedIn
“The future is bright for SMEs.”
Appendix 1. 1. In your view, what are the significant challenges or opportunities
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pp
Documentation of notes from the
conversations following the Stories
Morning Session 19.11.2015
The following is a documentation of the written notes from theconversations following the stories. The written notes havebeen clustered into themes. In some cases some notes areadded of comments given verbally in the plenary.
The five topics for the different conversationswere:
1.
In your view, what are the significant challengesor opportunities that SMEs will face in the
coming years?
2. What can we learn from the stories that can
translate into lessons for other entrepreneurs?
3.
What are some factors that enable long term
success for SMEs
4.
What solutions from the stories we heard and /
or we know of, could be successfully applied in
other contexts5.
What important un-answered questions do we
now have, on how to help SME´s grow.
that SMEs will face in the coming years?
Main themes NB. The list below contains both challenges and opportunities.
Challenges
Risk of failure.
Globalisation. Innovation/new ideas
Statutory impediments
Regulatory burdens.
Digitalisation - sharing economics
Market and client orientations -> single market
Personal objectives, characteristics
Harder for women to be heard. Beautiful woman has to prove herself.
Be different. - Be yourself
Make tough decisions
Dare - leaving the comfort zone Make tough decisions - Henryka from USA to Poland. Be yourself
Finland - young girls coding
Daring to leave it - Betty ... Bro. Being different
Women more emotional
In journalism glamorous woman has to prove herself
Access to finance
Access to finance (mentioned twice)
5% funding to female founders - men twice as likely to be funded (Marianne)
HRH: power of micro finance - show high levels of trust - 99% will deliver (Didrik)
Access to informationIs often poor, especially from the EU, e.g. about access to finance
Need help navigating the regulatory environment
Education
As a way to push the unemployed to start a business
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“ Politicians should run their own business for
at least five years and have a mandate
limited to two years”
s a ay to pus t e u e p oyed to sta t a bus ess
Mentoring - successes / failures
Skills - access to skilled workers
Entrepreneurship is a skill. Teach it!
Inexperience. Lack of entrepreneurial education
Access to entrepreneurial skills
2. What can we learn from the stories that can translate into lessonsfor other entrepreneurs?
Personal characteristics / qualities
Finding the purpose - vision. - Have a drive – passion
Multitasking and aligning work/life balance
Resilience.
Be humble
Courage
Be yourself / authentic
Be yourself. - be authentic Be different ( ideas, products, relationships)
Awards - motivation (jury believes in my idea)
Find what fits - "once you are connected to what you do it works well"
Build competence and skills
Add knowledge - skills, best practice
Get better not just bigger
Learn (continuously)
Non-formal learning and mentoring
Manage people
Have courage to try and fail Make the go - commitment, support
Make mistakes. - Have a go
Have the courage to try, fail, try
Make the first step
Seize opportunities in disruption
Make use of a crisis
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Mind-map re. long term success done buy one of the groups
Grasp opportunities
Find disruption (i.e. Software)
Keep moving, be flexible
Don't rest on your laurels
Diversify your portfolios/ balance your life
Adapt to changes; have a plan but be flexible
Reach out
Take opportunities, get out of the office and connect to people. - Step outside of your office
Partners
3. What are some factors that enable long term success for SMEs?
The mind-map covered most of the factors for long-term success.
Other factors mentioned in plenary were:
Skills and competencies Focus on people, build and maintain competence in the enterprise. Continue education
both inside and outside.
Strengthen skills, education, training programs for running a business
Education in the field of entrepreneurship is important
Focus on quality and evolving the company
Focus on the quality both in the product and in process
Be open for diversification, take in new ideas, make mistakes
Renew your company & plan
Build a support-system /network
Take care of yourself, find a work, family life balance You cannot do it alone, you need a team, network, partnerships etc.
Legislative framework to support
The legislative framework needs to support
Need legislation to support
4. What solutions from the stories we heard and / or we know of,
could be successfully applied in other contexts
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“Entrepreneurship is not a
spectator sport – engage!”
could be successfully applied in other contexts
Creating a conducive business environment
Peer to peer loans
In creating a single market:
o Taxation – social tax for SME´s or start ups should be lower
o Before entering politics, politicians should have and lead their companies for at
least 5 years.
o The mandate of the politicians should be limited to two mandates
Review of award criteria / systems (recognition of different forms of success, not just $)
Information on programs
Study case of the successful women entrepreneurs
Quality over growth
Most striking insight: Betty “The aim is not to grow, but to continue and become better at
what we do”
Being “different”
As an SME, don´t compete with large players on their terms, be different!
Be different
Have a goal and find out what fits
Connecting with others, building partnerships
Partnerships
Team working
Networking with entrepreneurs
Building skills and competence
Education and knowledge are key
Education is important for young entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurial education, secondary and higher level. Mentoring programs
Personal qualities that matter
Be yourself, - be aware of your weaknesses and strengths
Risk readiness. - Grasp opportunities when they appear
5. What important un-answered questions do we now have, on how
to help SME´s grow
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to help SME s grow.
There were two major themes central to the above question:
How can we change the culture to be more supportive of SME´s?
How do we change the culture?
It is all the more difficult since the small and medium enterprises are not at the policy table
Where can we find the inspiration?
How can they become more data driven?
But mostly how do we change the risk perception and how do we fight prejudice?
One way might be through different awareness campaigns.
A different way is to put more emphasis on education: expand the experience and build the
skills .
How else can we support SME´s?
Support can have many different ways and shapes.
Support closely related to the entrepreneurs, inside their companies
There is the need for role model The need for mentors
The need for coaching
Building skills and competence
Having more professionals on the boards of the enterprises
Support can also be as simple as offering better childcare facilities
Support from external stakeholders e.g. policymakers, banks etc.
How could the red tape be simplified?.
Financial support e.g. easier access to financing
Better cash flow
Better incentives for innovation.
Tax exemption or lighter taxation e.g. in the first years, better cash flow and betterincentives for innovation.