Conducted in conjunction with the platform’s soon-to-be-launched SMEs Go International Technical Assistance Facility, the study revealed that, while the majority of companies surveyed (86 percent) experienced some degree of impact, 24 percent felt a major impact.

SMEs are the driver of the European economy and the SMEs Go International initiative will support them to develop business projects in partnership with local stakeholders in non-EU markets by providing tailored support.

Given the rapidly changing situation around COVID-19, the survey identified three key areas in which that support will be most urgently needed:

• understanding the challenges and opportunities in third markets;
• developing new and innovative business models; and
• assistance in digitalisation.

More details on these and other key findings of the survey are published here.

Some of these challenges will now be addressed by the SMEs Go International Technical Assistance Facility at launch.

Original source: https://www.clustercollaboration.eu/news/eccp-survey-identifies-key-needs-smes-meet-covid-19-challenges?utm_source=European+Clusters+Collaboration&utm_campaign=632dfb715a-Monthly_Newsletter_June_2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5e3869609c-632dfb715a-545327794