SMEs are the backbone of the economy. According to the European Commission, they “represent 99% of all businesses in the EU”. The majority of new jobs and innovative ideas come from SMEs and they are relatively more flexible in adapting to changing global business environment. The pace of technological change, which influences economic and societal development is increasing every day and SMEs are key in determining Europe’s position in catching up with that change. Policies of the European Commission in the field of “Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs” indicate there is a great emphasis on “digital transformation”, “corporate social responsibility” “SME internationalization”, as well as “access to finance for SMEs”.
Indeed, in the framework of the GT4SME project, consortium partners will have a focus on four topics that are crucial for SME-transformation and -growth: digitalization, internationalization, financial access and positive impact. Through dissemination activities and project deliverables, project consortium aims to provide SME-educators with know-how and a framework around these topics that can be used to help SMEs and individual entrepreneurs develop their businesses in a sustainable way.
The project has officially started on 01.11.2019 and will end by 31.10.2021. During this 2-year period, consortium partners will (further) learn about above-mentioned four topics and exchange knowledge, expertise and good practices from their own regions. They will work on these topics based on real life cases to facilitate work-based learning.
The project will result in increased knowledge and capabilities for SME-educators in particular and will have a wider impact on other stakeholders that include SMEs, entrepreneurs and innovators, entrepreneurship-ecosystem practitioners, as well as policy makers.
The 2nd meeting of the project will be held virtually. During the first thematic TPM, partners will focus our discussion and exchanges of good practices and information on the topic of Access to Funds. The core of the TPM is the practical workshop with a case SME from emerging and developed markets. We aim to acquire an understanding on the (future) needs of SMEs and how to develop and package valuable consulting products / services.
The 2nd TPM is to pave the way for a successful project continuation in terms of partners agreeing on basic definitions of each topic, gaining more understanding of each topic, as well as establishing a basis for the future workshop.
Visit GT4SME project website to learn more about the project and to connect to consortium.
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