On 21-23 October, 800 participants from 60 countries came together in Finlandia Hall, Helsinki to discuss and shape the future of EU business support for SMEs. Business advisers, industry experts and policy makers explored how to enhance business support for Europe’s ambitious small businesses, at this year’s Enterprise Europe Network Annual Conference. Sustainability, internationalisation and access to finance for innovative companies and scale-ups, were at the top of the agenda.
At the opening session, we had a Finnish speaker line-up, with
- Alexander Stubb, Vice President of European Investment Bank (EIB)
- Timo Pesonen, Director General for Internal Market, Industry, Enterpreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
- Elina Holmberg, Senior Director of Business Finland
- Suvi Haimi, CEO and Co-founder of Sulapac
- Timo Huotari, CMO of Prometec
- Olli Marjalaakso, Sales Director of OiOi.
The three Finnish companies have received the support and advice of the Enterprise Europe Network.
Alexander Stubb said: ”Our aim is to increase access to funding for SMEs. The digital revolution will change our economy and the way we work and the Enterprise Europe Network will play a role in helping to make European companies ready for this.”
Timo Pesonen said: “The Enterprise Europe Network is helping businesses adjust to the new challenges of digitalisation and sustainability. These priorities will be reflected in the European Commission’s SME Strategy, reinforcing the role of the Network at the heart of Europe’s SME support.”
Julien Guerrier, Director of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises said: “The Network is a crucial resource to help European SMEs innovate and grow internationally. This year’s event lays the foundation for its 3000 experts to help new generations of innovative and environmentally conscious SMEs prosper on the global stage.”
During the annual conference, welcome party and network dinner, we introduced Finnish Network company clients to our colleagues, read more here.
The Enterprise Europe Network is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized businesses with international ambitions. Since 2008, it has helped 3 million SMEs innovate and grow internationally. The Network is active in more than 60 countries worldwide. It brings together 3,000 experts from more than 600 member organisations – all renowned for their excellence in business support. The members of the Enterprise Europe Network are organisations such as chambers of commerce and industry, technology centres, and research institutes.
In Finland, there are three member organizations in Enterprise Europe Network: Business Finland, Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce and Turku Science Park.
The Network is funded by the European Commission and managed by the Executive Agency for Small & Medium- sized Enterprises (EASME).
