An economy that works can bring prosperity to a country. An economy that works for the people and the businesses can help them bring their endeavors to the next level and thrive. This is why the European Union is always aiming at enhancing the economy of all Member States.
A Social Economy Policy
The EU has a very unique strategy that focuses on enhancing the even more unique social market Economy. Social Economy allows for countries to grow faster, reduce poverty and eliminate inequality. Europe appears to be walking steadily towards a fully responsive social economy that responds to all the needs of the EU citizens.
As a result, more and more actions are being taken towards strengthening local, national, and international markets, to turn them towards the social economy. For that to happen, of course, it essential to start by adding more value to small and medium enterprises.
Small and medium enterprises or SMEs are the backbones of the European economy. Enhancing them and their employees means that Europe will set strong foundations for the future. It is essential, now that we appear to be passing on to the digital transformation era for good, to create a better environment for SMEs to thrive.
Among the many different policies that the EU appears to be ready to implement, funding and enhancing SMEs and the labor market appears to be at the very top of the list. Some of those policies are:
1. An internal market
One of the EU’s greatest achievements is the Single Market. As the engine that helps build a strong and fair EU economy, the Single market gives people access to goods, services, and capital that allows them to move freely and opens up more job opportunities for them.
The EU’s plan with the new policies is to make the internal market or Single Market even fairer and deeper. The goal is to make it more sustainable in the future, enhancing local economies.
2. Jobs, growth, and investment
The EU has always aimed at enhancing investments across Europe. The new Investment Plan for Europe will strengthen the European Economy and will create more job opportunities as well as generate new job positions.
This will be achieved by removing the barriers that exist between investments and potential investors, by advising on potential projects and most importantly by providing funding for projects that aim to enhance SMEs' bigger companies and the economy. By boosting investments the EU will manage to create new jobs.
These are just two of the policies the EU is working on implementing in the next few years. The scene appears to be changing often. However, the final goal remains the same. Funding opportunities are already beginning to appear through European Calls for proposals. Here are just some of the many different calls you can apply for as an SME owner or a stakeholder interested in being a part of the EU’s economy enhancement policy.
Programme: Horizon 2020
Deadline: 30/06/2020
Description: The call is open to all SMEs located in one of the EU member states or H2020 associated countries. The project fosters the use of advanced manufacturing technologies and related key enabling technologies (KETs) by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to upgrade their production processes towards resource- and energy efficiency.
To support this goal, the project aims at creating an open innovation ecosystem with a one-stop-shop web platform and has an open call for proposals for financial support (EUR 50.000 per SME) to - facilitate the access of manufacturing SMEs to technology services and facilities for clean production innovation and - enable cross-border cooperation with two international KET Technology Centres in clean production.
Call: Pan-European advanced manufacturing assistance and training for SMEs – INNOSUP-08-2020
Programme: Horizon 2020
Deadline: 01/12/2020
Description: The objective is to reinforce the competitiveness of manufacturing SMEs by providing easy and pan-European access to advanced manufacturing advice and expertise as well as training programmes. The services to be provided to the SME should be driven by its business needs and the implementation must be flexible and fast to better cope with the speed of innovation in advanced manufacturing and the SME requirements.
In Europe, SMEs are being supported and encouraged to take the next step towards innovation. More and more calls are being announced, focusing on helping SMEs thrive. If there is a good time to be an SME owner in Europe that is now. Scout the different calls, find the best funding for your business, and take your endeavors to the next level.
