1. Women's Entrepreneurship Group: purpose and scope Dorota Przyłudzka DG Enterprise Unit D2 – SME Access to Markets Rome, 18 March 2013

2. Why promote women's Entrepreneurship? Large untapped entrepreneurial potential

3. Obstacles to women's innovative entrepreneurship Study on women innovators and entrepreneurship (2008) 3 types of obstacles: 1.Contextual: educational choices, traditional views and stereotypes about women, science, innovation 2.Economic: innovation sector requiring substantial investment and women being seen less credible financially than men; 3.Soft: lack of access to technical, scientific and general business networks, lack of business training, role models and entrepreneurship skills

4. EU initiatives for women entrepreneurs European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Action Plan

5. European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors Launched in 2009 Preceded by Enterprise Europe Network Specific Action (10 countries) 270 entrepreneurs from 22 countries Inspire women to become entrepreneurs by raising their confidence and acting as role models Speaking at e.g. universities; engaging with media, business networks, employment initiatives

6. European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs Launched in 2011 17 countries, 170 mentors advise and support women entrepreneurs who have been running their business for 2-4 years

7. Entrepreneurship Action Plan (1) Adopted in January 2013 Women one of specific target groups Goals: empower women to become entrepreneurs; make potential women entrepreneurs aware of business support programmes and funding opportunities

8. Entrepreneurship Action Plan (2) Actions: Commission to create a Europe-wide on-line mentoring, advisory, educational, and business networking platform bringing together the existing two networks online EU Member States are invited: to design national strategies for women's entrepreneurship, publish annual updates on the state of women's entrepreneurship continue and expand the existing two networks implement policies enabling women to achieve an adequate work-life balance (with support of EU structural funds)

9. Women's Entrepreneurship Group established with full support of the other Sector Groups' Chairs and the Enterprise Europe Network Contribute to achieving the Commission's goals on women's entrepreneurship Focus on Enterprise Europe Network's priorities: business cooperation and technology transfer Partnership Agreements expected as outcomes

10. Discussion What do you expect from the Commission? Do you see any scope for synergies with existing Commission initiatives? Some of you were/are involved in the Ambassadors and Mentors networks, or other networks – would you like to share your experiences?

11. Thank you! Dorota Przyłudzka DG Enterprise Unit D2 – SME Access to Markets dorota.przyludzka@ec.europa.eu