'Innovation Kitchen': 2018 edition of the SME Instrument report reveals ins and outs of the EU's business acceleration program

摘要

The 2018 edition of the SME Instrument report reveals the ins and outs of Europe's most selective innovation funding programme for small and midsized businesses and presents its success stories. Since its start in 2014, the SME Instrument has invested 1.3 billion Euro in a unique selection of 3,200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to get their breakthrough innovations faster on the market. With a network of 750 international business coaches and a growing community of global business and finance partners, the SME Instrument is giving business support and coaching to get companies ready to scale up and go global. Companies funded under the SME Instrument can participate in dedicated matching events with selected world-leading companies, corporates and procurers, as a distributor, client or supplier. They can also benefit from access to top European trade fairs and conferences. The Business Acceleration Services also include liaison to venture-capital programs, invitations to exclusive investor gatherings and other opportunities to explore new ways of tapping into financing, distribution and marketing channels. The SME Instrument is part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot that supports top-class innovators, entrepreneurs, small companies and scientists with funding opportunities and acceleration services. The main focus of the EIC pilot is on radical, market-creating innovations to improve productivity and international competitiveness and generate new jobs and higher standards of living.