BIG SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Enterprise Europe Network is the largest business support network in the world, established by the EC DG Enterprise and Industry to help small and medium-sized enterprises in all EU matters affecting their business. Launched in 2008, it joins and builds on the former Euro Info Centres (1987 - 2007) and the Innovation Relay Centres (1995 - 2007). Enterprise Europe Network is unique both in terms of its wide geographic reach and of the wide range of integrated services it provides to SMEs and other business actors. This is made possible thanks to the coordinated action of nearly 600 local partners in over 40 countries all over the world - in the 27 EU member states, in the candidate countries (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey), in the members of the European Economic Area (Iceland and Norway) and other participating third countries (Armenia, Chile, China, Egypt, Iceland, Israel, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Syria, and USA). Host organizations of the Network are chambers, development agencies, universities, and technology & research centres.
In Bulgaria the Enterprise Europe Network is represented by a consortium involving the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the regional Chambers of Dobrich, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Vratsa, and Yambol, the Business Centres in Ruse and Sandanski, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the GiS Transfer Centre in Sofia, headed by the coordinator organization the Foundation Applied and Research Communications (Sofia). The partners’ collaboration ensures coverage of all Bulgaria’s regions.
The main objective of Enterprise Europe Network is to support enterprise, and especially SMEs to increase their competitiveness on the European and world markets.
For the provision of services to its clients the Network partners are collaborating by information exchange via a specialized intranet-based instrument and common databases. On a local level, each Network partner cooperates with associated experts in various fields who are involved when servicing clients so that the concept of “No Wrong Door” is applied.
To achieve its objectives the Network develops and offers to SMEs a wide range of integrated services on the principle of the “One-stop-shop”.
Information on EU market
Information on EU policies affecting businesses, national legislation based on Acquis communautaire related to economic activities and products
Information on the functioning and the opportunities provided by the EU market
Information on standards, products certification and СЕ marking, intellectual property rights, custom formalities and procedures, eco criteria for products, etc.
Entering international markets
• Assessment of the products’ market potential and marketing services
• Assistance in partner search by exchange of cooperation requests of offers and demands in the common database
• Organizing of international business events including during fairs and exhibitions
• Assistance for individual business meetings or visits to potential partner companies, incl. with the purpose of experience and staff exchange
Technology transfer and innovations
Assistance in technology development and transfer – assessment of the production technology and research for new appropriate technologies facilitating the innovation processes
Assistance in partner search and financing for new technologies development and innovative products and services
Assistance for the market realization of R&D activities – transfer to EU partners of new products and processes, technology partners search, establishing of high-tech joint ventures
Regular provision of information on technology offers and demands in the specific company field based on subscription form
Organizing business cooperation events aimed at technology and know-how transfer between innovative companies
Access to financing
Information on EU financing instruments and programs and on the application procedures
Consulting in preparation of projects to apply to the EU Structural Funds programs, FP7 for R&D, the National Innovation Fund and other financing programs
Two-way street between entrepreneurs and EU decision makers
Enterprise Europe Network is designed also to act as the DG’s Enterprise and Industry main instrument to obtain feedback from the economic actors.
The Network provides the Commission with regular feedback on the difficulties SMEs face operating in the EU and on the effectiveness of the EU programs and other issues resulting from implementation of the EU policies. All this will help shape EU law that is more business-friendly and will stimulate growth and competitiveness across the EU.
The Network assists the EC in its public consultations when assessing the impact of the existing policies and when preparing to introduce new ones related to SMEs. This is performed by surveys of companies’ opinions and recommendations and analyzing the feedback received.
The Network is there to support the European Commission and help it to help business.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Stara Zagora
Stara Zagora 6000, 66, G.S.Rakovski Str.
Tel./fax +359 42 626297, 626033, 646194
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www.chambersz.com
