The COSME program aims to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of EU enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It has a budget of €2.3 billion from 2014-2020 to improve SMEs' access to finance, access to markets, business environment and framework conditions, and promotion of entrepreneurship. Some key instruments include financial facilities to provide loans and venture capital to SMEs, the Enterprise Europe Network of over 600 business support organizations across 54 countries, and initiatives to reduce administrative burdens, develop skills and foster new markets.

1. COSME (Competitiveness for SMEs)
and the Enterprise Europe Network
Belfast, 27 May 2014
Luis CUERVO SPOTTORNO
SME access to markets
DG Enterprise and Industry - European Commission

2. 2
 70% - 88% of businesses regard administrative
difficulties in other EU Member States as
‘important’ in deciding cross-border trade
 37% of European citizens would like to be self-
employed, as compared to 55% in the United
States and 71% in China
 400,000 - 700,000 SMEs are unable to obtain a
loan from the formal financial system
 25% of SMEs in the EU export outside national
markets and only 13% export beyond the EU
(average)
The issues

3. COSME (2014 – 2020)
 Strengthen competitiveness and
sustainability of EU enterprises - SMEs
 Encourage an entrepreneurial culture and
promote the creation and growth of SMEs
 Target audience: SMEs, Entrepreneurs, Business
Support Organisations, regional and national
Administrations
€2,3 billion for 2014 – 2020

4. COSME
Budget share per objective:
1) Improving access to finance (min 60%)
2) Improving access to markets (+/- 21,5%)
3) Improving framework conditions (+/- 11,5%)
4) Promoting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial
culture (+/- 2,5%)
Calls for tender OR calls for proposals for 2/3/4

5. 5
Objective 1: Improving access to finance
OBJECTIVES
 Streamline financial instruments,
 Develop EU-wide venture capital market
 Support cross-border lending
 Improve information on EU finance for SMEs
INSTRUMENTS
• An equity facility to invest in SMEs in expansion
phase
• A loan facility to provide guarantees to cover
loans for SMEs

6. Zero bureaucracy for SMEs
Apply directly to banks and venture capital funds

7. 7
Previous success ?
• With a budget of 1.1 billion EUR for financial instruments
under the former programme (CIP) – we have achieved:
• €14 billion of loans for SMEs
• €2.3 billion of venture capital for SMEs
• More than 240,000 SMEs have been helped to access
finance.

8. 8
Objective 2: Improving access to markets
SUB-OBJECTIVES
 One-stop-shop for SMEs
 Dissemination of information on SMEs on how to
internationalise
 Mapping and filling gaps in support services
 Training programmes for SME managers
INSTRUMENTS
 Enterprise Europe Network
 Analysis (eg. studies on EU business support abroad)
 On-line portals (e.g. Your Europe Business portal, new
portal on access to markets outside EU, China IPR
helpdesk; EU SME Centres)
 Awareness raising campaigns, training sessions
 Exchange of best practices, workshops

9. 9
The Enterprise Europe Network
 +/- 600 business support organisations in 54 countries
 Objective: help European SMEs internationalise
 Has helped to conclude more than 9,000 cross-border
partnership agreements
Enterprise Europe Network in Northern Ireland:
http://www.enterpriseeuropeni.com/inx/
In the UK:
http://www.enterprise-europe.net/
Worldwide:
http://een.ec.europa.eu/

10. The EEN Network in the UK and
Northern Ireland
10
• East England
• London
• Midlands
• North East England
• North West England
• Northern Ireland
• Scotland
• South East England
• South West England
• Wales
• Yorkshire
Services:
 free business advice and
support
 networking events & promotion
 innovation services
 guidance on EU funding
 feedback to Commission on SME
priorities /constraints
 business/research partnering
 database access (business
opportunities and technology
profiles)

11. EEN performance in the UK
• SMEs participating in local events:
• 16581 (2008-10); 18338 (2011-12); 10314 (2013)
• SMEs receiving advisory services:
• 5392 (2008-10); 7653 (2011-12); 4565 (2013)
• SMEs participating to brokerage events/company
missions:
• 1454 (2008-10); 1634 (2011-12); 864 (2013)
• Partnership Agreements signed:
• 166 (2008-10); 508 (2011-12); 244 (2013)
11

12. EEN outcomes in Northern Ireland
• SMEs participating in local events:
• 2272 (2008-10); 879 (2011-12); 492 (2013)
• SMEs receiving advisory services:
• 1016 (2008-10); 318 (2011 – 12); 331 (2013)
• SMEs participating in brokerage events /company
missions:
• 176 (2008-10); 136 (2011-12); 125 (2013)
• Partnership Agreements signed:
• 26 (2008-10); 27 (2011-12); 10 (2013) 12

13. EEN best practice in Northern Ireland
• http://www.enterpriseeuropeni.com/inx/about/case.asp
• http://een.ec.europa.eu/success-stories/scoring-across-board
• Some best practices:
 Northern Ireland SME identifies a German partner to help grow exports
in their market
 Digishare360 Brokers Digital Technology Link with Poland
 New projects strengthen Northern Ireland's position as global centre for
cyber security and biogas
 Technology Transfer - N. Ireland and the University of Bari
 EEN helps Biogas Consortium – ATBEST
 Company Mission – Printed Electronics in Sweden
13

14. 14
Objective 3: Improving framework conditions (1)
SUB-OBJECTIVES
 Reduce administrative burden
 Support smart regulation (SBA/SME test, competitiveness
proofing, fitness checks)
 Strengthen MS industrial policy coordination
 Reinforce the use of the 'Think Small First' principle
INSTRUMENTS
 Statistical analysis, benchmarking, policy monitoring (e.g.
Annual EU Competitiveness Report, EU SME Performance
Review, SBA country factsheets)
 Workshops and best practice exchange between policy
makers (e.g. HLG on reduction of administrative burden,
SME Envoys)

15. 15
Objective 3: Improving framework conditions (2)
OTHER OBJECTIVES
 Foster the emergence of competitive industries.
 Stimulate development of new markets Competitive
business models.
 Enhance productivity, resource efficiency, sustainability and
corporate social responsibility.
INSTRUMENTS
 Support to Clusters
 Sectorial policies: e.g. tourism, KETs, digital-economy,
construction…

16. 16
Objective 4: Promoting entrepreneurship
SUB-OBJECTIVES
 Develop entrepreneurial skills, especially amongst new
entrepreneurs, young people and women,
 Develop mentoring schemes
 Promote social entrepreneurship
INSTRUMENTS
 Workshops and exchanges of best practices (European
Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs)
 Training (Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs exchange
programme, trainings for teachers)
 Promotion (e.g. education for entrepreneurship and self-
employment at school and university)
 Awareness-raising (European SME Week)

17. Thank you for your attention!
Find out more:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosme/
http://een.ec.europa.eu/
http://europa.eu/youreurope/business/funding-
grants/access-to-finance/