MICRO: Enhancing Competitiveness of Micro-enterprises in Rural Areas Module No 10: EU wide tools and resources for rural micro-enterprise development Prepared by the Consortium for the project: “Irish Rural Link – National University of Ireland Maynooth- CDI – EEO GROUP SA- IHF asbl – IDP - Internet Web Solutions SL”

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II Overview How many slides? 14 slides in total How long to read and listen? 15 minutes (not including exploring the links provided within slides) What is the benefit? See aim and expected learning in following slides

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II Unit Aim This unit aims to increase understanding of the resources and financing opportunities available to support micro-enterprises to expand to international markets

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II Expected Learning Outcomes At the end of this module you will be able to: Identify and take advantage of financing opportunities that could support further expansion of micro-enterprises Navigate and use the various tools offered by the EU in support of micro-enterprises

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II Introduction To promote entrepreneurship and to support SMEs and micro-enterprises, the EU provides key support networks, tools and resources: A. SME Internationalisation portal – information on foreign markets B. Access to Finance portal – assistance in finding financial support Both of them are available in the 24 official languages of the European Union

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II A. SME Internationalisation Portal (1/5) One of the European Commission priorities is to enhance SMEs’ access to new markets outside the Internal Market The SME Internationalisation Portal enables SMEs to: Access a wide database of support services providers Find links and EU sources of specialized support

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II A. SME Internationalisation Portal (2/5) The SME Internationalisation Portal gives practical help to European companies to internationalise and expand their market beyond national and EU boundaries Through the Portal SMEs can find service providers: To support internationalisation To get information on funding opportunities within the EU Programmes framework

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II A. SME Internationalisation Portal (3/5) The SME Internationalisation Portal offers: Details of support service providers able to help SMEs penetrating target countries: National Agencies, Local Autorithies, Institutions etc. Information on the offered services Links to other EU-backed sources of advice

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II A. SME Internationalisation Portal (4/5) In order to foster Portal accessibility, it is possible to filter information by: Country of origin Available services in other Countries Services provided by European Union Institutions Available services in the specified market Then, it is possible to perfect the research by defining the type of internationalisation, the type of services sought and the language of interest

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II A. SME Internationalisation Portal (5/5) Service providers can use the Portal to: Sign up in order to be included in the database Find partners in other Countries https://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/access-to-markets/internationalisation/support-tools_en

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II B. Access to Finance Portal (1/4) The European Commission recognises SMEs difficulty in accessing finance and the primary role access to finance plays for SMEs innovation and growth. For this reason, the Commission works to improve the financing environment throughout Europe. The Access to Finance Portal is a practical tool to help SMEs to apply for loans and venture capital.

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II B. Access to Finance Portal (2/4) SMEs can support their growth and innovation through: Business loans Microfinance Guarantees Venture capital Thanks to the Access to Finance Portal it is possible to find financial opportunities in every EU Country

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II B. Access to Finance Portal (3/4) The Access to Finance Portal provides SMEs across Europe with: A list of financial intermediaries Detailed information and direct contacts of financial intermediaries The possibility to find the most suitable funding opportunity according to their own circumstances

Sources and resources in support of micro-enterprises II B. Access to Finance Portal (4/4) The Access to Finance Portal is user-friendly since it is possible to filter information by: Country and Region of financial intermediaries Enterprise size Type and amount of financing sought Field of activity and investment focus http://europa.eu/youreurope/business/funding-grants/access-to-finance/index_en.htm

Thank you for your attention  End of Module Thank you for your attention 