Promoting Innovation in SMEs
Innovation is the key for productivity and long-term growth. Supporting innovation in SMEs can foster inclusive growth. SMEs are on average less innovative than large enterprises, but some of them can be or become highly innovative and can reach productivity levels above those of large companies. Companies which develop and use their internal strategic resources effectively (e.g. managerial and workforce skills, ICT, R&D, etc.), and collaborate with external partners in the innovation system, have better innovation performance.
SMEs however often face larger barriers on capital and labour markets than larger established businesses. It is for that reason that multiple policy measures have been adopted to target those firms and their opportunities to engage in innovation. Authorities can support innovation in SMEs by fostering a sound business environment, helping them to fund and develop and use their internal strategic resources effectively, and building an innovation system including supporting services and that is effective in the commercialisation of research and inclusive of a large range of SMEs.
News
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[Call Announcement] EUREKA launched a Danube region call for innovative projects
Are you an organisation based in Albania or Montenegro? From today until 30 June, you can apply for #researchfunding through this bottom up call, with no thematic restrictions !
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[Event Announcement] EIT Awareness Day - Western Balkans
Are you interested to hear more about EIT and KICs and see how you can get involved in numerous opportunities offered by the community?
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Small and medium sized businesses at the heart of Horizon Europe
Businesses can now get EU funding and support for innovation projects that will help them develop and expand into other countries – in Europe and beyond. The funding is available through the EU's Horizon...
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Events
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EU - EPO coop - IP Assessment - How to improve informed decision making
This online course comprises a series of three connected sessions on IP-related challenges and issues, with the main emphasis on technology and patenting. This special IP training workshop is a joint ...
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Meet the Serbian Startup Ecosystem
This event gathesr representatives from different entrepreneurial organizations, including InCenter, Science Technology Park Niš, Business Incubator Novi Sad, SwissContact, Serbia Innovates and Competition...
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Creative Business Cup North Macedonia 2022
Creative, innovative and officially registered startups and SMEs are encouraged to apply to the specific edition of the "Creative Business Cup" in North Macedonia. The cup is the biggest competition for...
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Organisations
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Women in Tech® is an international organization with a double mission: to close the gender gap and to help women embrace technology. The organization focuses on 4 primary areas that are a call for...
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The European Network of Innovation Agencies
This is a group of 29 organisations from 28 European countries has established an intense collaboration in the field of the implementation of national technology Programmes. This is to the benefit of ...
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Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana
CCIT employes 43 employees. It is one of few organizations in Albania having a special department – the Centre for Business Research and Training (ACBRT), dedicated to the development projects and trainings...
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Calls
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Job opening: Officer in Sustainable and Innovation Procurement
The Sustainable Economy and Procurement team at ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability is looking to fill the position of a Sustainable and Innovation Procurement Officer at its European Secretariat...
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This call aims at extending the Enterprise Europe Network to other global growth markets. Leading service-oriented business support organisations are invited to join the Enterprise Europe Network...
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Call for Albania-Montenegro cross-border projects
The IPA Albania-Montenegro Cross-border Cooperation Programme has launched its third call for proposals. Through projects implemented under this call, the programme aims to strengthen good neighbourly...
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Documents
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An Overview of the EU Funding and Support Instruments for Innovation in the Western Balkans
EU Funding is available for all types of companies of any size and sector including entrepreneurs, start-ups, micro companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and larger businesses. A wide range of...
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[WBC-RTI.INFO Newsletter] Promoting Innovation in SMEs
Innovation is the key for productivity and long-term growth. Supporting innovation in SMEs can foster inclusive growth. SMEs are on average less innovative than large enterprises, but some of them can...
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[Focus Article] - Funding and Supporting Innovation in the Western Balkans
Funding and Supporting Innovation in the Western Balkans The capacity to innovate, adjust and adapt to an ever moving and more competitive setting is more and more vitalto guarantee a sustainable ...
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Links
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Fund for Innovation and Technology Development of North Macedonia
The Fund supporst activities such as knowledge transfer, research on development and innovations for micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises to help achieve accelerated technological development. More...
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Investment and Development Fund of Montenegro
The Fund supports small and medium companies (credit and guarantee support is provided). Click here
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An engaging environment and services for development and commercialization of viable business ideas, as well as visibility in the market. For both new and existing companies of Kosovo*. Click here to ...
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Projects
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The flourishing ecosystem of technology transfer and innovation in the Western Balkans EU4TECH PoC (Western Balkans Proof of Concept Scheme) is an EU-funded project supporting technology...
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European countries face the formidable challenge of providing adequate, affordable and sustainable support to their ageing populations. Socially innovative approaches are required in order to manage the...
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For the European deep-tech start-up scene to grow sustainably and achieve its potential impact, access to real market problems and test beds is required. It is our vision to build smart spaces ecosystem...
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