Transnational Perspectives for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
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Transnational Perspectives for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises How Interreg B supports SMEs Dear Readers, Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of the European economy. This category accounts for more than 98 per cent of all enterprises and makes up two thirds of all jobs in the private sector. If we want to maintain our competitiveness and promote intelligent, sustain- able and inclusive growth in line with the objectives of the “Europe 2020” strategy it is therefore particularly important to support SMEs. Transnational cooperation (better known under the name of Interreg B) can play an important role here. Although Interreg is a relatively small support programme, the examples presented in this brochure nevertheless show how it is possible to successfully implement a large spectrum of measures with Interreg B which serve to promote and support SMEs. They range from the joint development of seals of quality, measures dealing with age management in enterprises through to tapping bigger markets in very different areas. In all these cases, the projects benefit from the transnational dimension. Until recently SMEs have less formally been involved as project partners in transnational coope- ration, but were mainly target group and beneficiaries of project activities and their achievements. There is a greater focus on SMEs in the new programming period 2014–2020 and its alignment with the “Europe 2020” strategy: The involvement of for-profit companies is now explicitly encour- aged in all six Interreg programme areas with German participation. We therefore seek with this brochure to show project stakeholders such as towns, cities and regions, but also SMEs themselves, the added value that this transnational cooperation can offer small and medium-sized enterprises. I hope you find this brochure of interest. Harald Herrmann Director and Professor of the BBSR 3 INHALT Preface 2 1. Introduction 4 2. Fields of Action for the Support of SMEs in Transnational Cooperation 5 2.1 European and German Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Policies 5 2.2 Interreg B: SMEs as Actors and Target Group 6 2.3 Key Fields of Action of SME Support 6 3. Added Value for SMEs from Transnational Interreg Projects 17 4. Added Value for Sustainable Regional Development from Transnational SME Projects 25 5. Transnational Promotion of SMEs within the Scope of Interreg 28 4 1. INTRODUCTION Europe’s municipalities and regions are increas- Transnational cooperation is designed to contrib- ingly focusing on strengthening the competi- ute to a closer-knit Europe in social, economic tiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and geographic terms. The current programming (SMEs).1 They have become involved – often in period focuses on the fields of action and objec- cooperation with chambers of commerce, public tives of the Europe 2020 strategy – whereby the research institutes and other intermediary organ- EU strives for smart, sustainable and inclusive isations – with start-up consulting, the running of growth.3 Starting from specific geographic chal- technology centres and incubation units, initia- lenges, transnational cooperation programmes tives for training and retaining a skilled workforce, concentrate on a limited number of funding pri- projects regarding sustainable management and orities, in particular innovation, reduction of CO2 efficiency of resources or the creation of com- emissions, the environment, transport, climate pany networks and clusters.2 change and governance.4 These activities for fostering SMEs can be This shows clearly that Interreg addresses major enhanced by cooperation at a European level. framework conditions for SMEs and takes impor- Examples include the exchange of experiences tant future markets for Europe’s enterprises into across national borders, the joint development account. Whereas different regulations existed of tools and service offerings and the creation of in the past, the express aim of all Interreg pro- networks. The enterprises themselves also bene- gramme areas currently involves the participation fit when geographic borders, bureaucratic obsta- of profit-oriented enterprises. cles and individual knowledge barriers in inter- national projects are overcome, enabling them to A large number of projects already dealt with the win over new cooperation partners and tap new funding of SMEs during the 2007–2013 program- markets. ming period and in some cases projects were actively determined by the enterprises them- The European Union supports this networking at selves. This publication provides examples of a European level aimed at “European Territorial “good practice” in this respect. It aims to show the Cooperation” – better known as Interreg – within benefits of SME participation for the SMEs them- 1 SMEs are enterprises which its regional policy. In transnational cooperation selves as well as for the respective projects and employ less than 250 persons and achieve an annual turn- – Interreg B – the cooperation of municipalities to give tips and advice for all those who are over of € 50 million maximum and regions, scientific institutions, associations planning their own project activities. or an annual balance sheet total of € 43 million maximum. and also enterprises in cross-national programme Their definition, however, areas forms the focus of interest. A total budget of differs in the individual studies, statistics etc. approx. EUR 1.4 billion is available for the pro- 2 Cf. Daniel Zwicker-Schwarm gramming period 2014–2020 for projects involv- (2013): Kommunale Wirtschaftsförderung 2012: ing German stakeholders with their partners in Strukturen, Handlungsfelder, the six programme areas Alpine Space, Danube Perspektiven, Berlin (Difu- Papers) Region, Central Europe, North-West Europe, 3 European Commission (2010): the North Sea Region as well as the Baltic Sea A Strategy for smart, sustai- Region. Interreg projects provide less funding nable and inclusive Growth, COM(2010)2020 final, Brussels compared with EU funding projects but are able 4 BBSR (2014a): Europäische to launch innovations and to advance creative transnationale Zusammenar- pilot approaches. What is more, they make it beit 2014-2020. Überblick über die sechs neuen INTERREG possible to unite strategy and actual implemen- B-Programme mit deutscher tation in situ and to promote a joint transnational Beteiligung in der Strukturfond- speriode 2014-2020 awareness. 5 2. FIELDS OF ACTION FOR THE SUPPORT OF SMEs IN TRANSNATIONAL COOPERATION Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form workforce. Almost half of the funding provided for the backbone of the European economy. They business support in the 2007–2013 programming account for more than 98 per cent of all enter- period, for instance, went directly to SMEs within prises and make up two thirds of all jobs in the the European regional policy.8 private sector.5 The term “SME” encompasses quite different enterprises: micro-enterprises with The Horizon 2020 programme, the successor few employees as well as “seasoned” small- and of the Framework Programme for Research medium-sized enterprises, craft businesses and Technological Development, also supports rooted in a specific locality but also internationally investments in research and development. The oriented world market leaders, so-called “hidden “Cooperation” programme secion focuses in champions”. In times of economic crisis, small particular on Europe-wide associations between and medium-sized enterprises have proved to be private-sector enterprises and public research an important stabilising factor in the economic institutes.9 The EU programme for the Competi- structure of many regions in Europe. tiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium- sized Enterprises (COSME) provides funding for At the same time, SMEs are particularly affected SMEs for the start-up and growth phases and by the consequences of technological and eco- promotes the use of information and communica- 5 European Commission (2011a): nomic structural change, whether the challenges tion technologies as well as measures to in- Thinking Big for Small Busi- nesses. What the EU does for of digitalisation, increasing international competi- crease energy efficiency and the use of renew- SMEs, Brussels tion or ever faster cycles of innovation. In order to able energy sources. It also supports Europe- 6 Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung GmbH grasp the opportunities inherent in such changes, wide cooperation between enterprises, research (ZEW), Prognos AG und these enterprises need to acquire new qualifica- institutes and administrations as well as enter- Institut für Mittelstandsfor- 10 schung an der Universität tions and to strengthen their capacity for innova- prise clusters. Mannheim (ifm) (2011): tion. It is true that it is often impossible for SMEs to Systemevaluierung “KMU-innovativ”. Begleit- und offset negative trends in individual business areas The German Federal Government outlined its tar- Wirkungsforschung zur with growth in other areas; SMEs have fewer gets and fields of action regarding SME support Hightech-Strategie. Abschlussbericht, Mannheim resources in terms of systematic long-term busi- in a new initiative launched in 2011. The Federal und Berlin ness development, and engagement at an interna- Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the 7 European Commission (2008): tional level involves very particular challenges.6 Federal Ministry for Education and Research in Communication. Think Small First. A “Small Business Act” particular