The first annual conference of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), will be held in Strasbourg (France) between November, 24th and 26th, bringing together representatives of the 550 partners of the Enterprise Europe Network, a Community network that offers support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

For the first time, representatives from the different partners of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) form all the European Union, will meet for its Annual Conference, organised by the European Commission, the Strasbourg and Bas-Rhin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Ministry for the Economy, Industry, and Employment.

This conference is an opportunity to consider ways of improving services to businesses. The main lines of work concern the development of SMEs in the Internal European Market, co-operation, innovation, regional development, and intellectual property rights in the context of business internationalisation.

The objective of this meeting is to give network partners the information and the tools that they need, so that the service provided to SMEs can be as efficient and relevant as possible. Financing SMEs, innovation, co-operation, and internationalisation will be at the heart of discussions between the 550 partners of the Enterprise Europe Network.

Enterprise Europe Network, “Europe closer to your Business”

The Enterprise Europe Network was set up by the European Commission in February 2008, as a key instrument of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), which focuses on supporting SMEs in their growth and innovation activities. It was born of a combination of two principal business support bodies: the Euro Info Centres and the Innovation Relay Centres. These latter bodies have combined their efforts to offer a one-stop service to businesses.

The Network offers a whole host of services, such as:

• Providing information and practical advice on market opportunities, European legislation and policies relevant to a company or sector. Helping SMEs to find suitable business partners using its business and technology cooperation database, providing information on tender opportunities and international networking.
• Developing the research and innovation capacities of SMEs by helping to create synergies with other research actors, foster technological cooperation and holding brokerage events.
• Helping SMEs to share research results, participate in research programs and apply for funding, particularly from the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).
• Involving SMEs and business actors in the policy-making process, by transmitting feedback to the Commission and monitoring the implementation of EU policies in the field of competitiveness and innovation.

When they use this network, businesses receive a personalised level of service that is adapted to their needs. The objective is to enable them to develop their potential for innovation, to help them break into new markets, to inform them about Community regulations, and to allow them to benefit from policies put in place within the European Union.

With 550 contact points spread out over Europe, the Enterprise Europe Network aims at always being within easy reach of SMEs.