On June 28, at the Spark Venue in Brussels, we hosted the first annual SME2B Business Forum Europe. For 2023 edition of this SME Forum, we focused on the need for New Energy for SMEs and Mid-Caps, meaning an approach to our economy that can reinvigorate European companies as they adapt to the many crises happening in parallel today and the challenges ahead of them. The event had Amazon as its Premium Partner, and SME Connect supported it.
Mr Markus Jerger, Executive Chairman of our German member Der Mittelstand, opened the SME forum. BVMW and the newly elected President of our European Confederation of SME Associations. He set the scene for the event by reminding attendants that SMEs are the backbone of the European economy, but they need to know they are being listened to and supported in this trying time to stay committed to delivering prosperity for Europe.
He was followed by our first keynote speaker, Mr Othmar Karas, the First Vice-President of the European Parliament. He strengthened the message by emphasizing the absolute need for European SMEs to stay competitive in the global market.
Our third keynote speech was given by Mr James Waterworth, Amazon Director of EU Public Policy, who gave the audience insights on the company’s commitment to and agenda for solutions that can keep the European economy and its SMEs successful.
We then launched the first dialogue, which focused on the the aspect of SMEs’ and Mid-Caps’ competitiveness under Green Deal conditions. It was opened by Mrs Outi Slotboom, Director for Strategy & Economic Analysis at DG GROW of the European Commission, who spoke about the need for a transition to a green economy that is apt to include SMEs so that they are thriving.
Our Secretary General, Mr Stefan Moritz, moderated this Dialogue 1, which included various views.
Mr Paul Rübig, Member of the Governing Board of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology, Member of the Employers Group at the EESC, and former long-time MEP, stated that the history and strengths of SMEs must be used as a jumping board for the transition and not discarded by forcing changes that might not be fit for purpose.
Mr Michał Boni, Senior Research Associate Martens Centre for European Studies, former Polish Minister of Labour and Social Policy (1991), Minister of Public Administration and Digitalisation (2011-2013), and former MEP in 2014-2019, shared his views that only working with SMEs and other social partners, change can really take place. A centralist approach should be avoided as it is more likely to lead to a loss of time and inadequate results.
Mr David Osimo, Research director at The Lisbon Council and co-author of “Green, Digital and Competitive”, framed the broader picture by examining how the three elements in his book’s title can go together if SMEs are incentivised to innovate.
Two additional members of our confederation also joined the debate, with Mrs Annalisa Guidotti, Director of Public Affairs at CONFAPI, and with Mr Alexandre Montay, Executive Delegate of the Movement of M-ETI. They both focused on their respective countries, Italy and France and provided a snapshot of the challenges their members are facing while being overwhelmed with multiple challenges. Once again, they agreed that support must come through incentives and not through policies that steer the market.
The second dialogue of the SME forum moved the focal lens to the international situation.
Moderated by Dr Horst Heitz, Secretary General of SME Europe, it included Mrs Marina Kaas, Vice-President of European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME, as well as of our Estonian member association EVEA, Mrs Svitlana Mikhaylovska, Deputy Director General of European Business Association Ukraine and Mrs Wincate Muthini, Programme Director of the Pan-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Our first two guest speakers focused mostly on the many problems caused by the invasion of Ukraine and how it is destabilising the region. SMEs need further support to ensure they can keep up and be ready for when the time of rebuilding comes. Our third speaker focused on the opportunities that the African market offer for cross-continental trade between companies (you can find out more on our platform, African European Entrepreneurs).
The third dialogue of the SME forum examined how new technologies can help the Green Deal transition. It was chaired by Mrs Anette Galskjøt, CEO of our member, the Danish Export Association.
The panel included Mr Jürgen Tiedje, the Head of Unit Industrial Transformation of the Directorate-General Research and Innovation of the European Commission, who reminded the audience that the public sector could support SMEs as they invest in innovating and coming up with new solutions, but it should be done in a way that is most effective for both parties.
Mrs Algara Castle, the eFuel Alliance Head of EU Affairs, and Mr Walter Hueber, CEO at Kitepower, both delved into how the technologies from their sector, e-fuels and airborne wind energy, could provide results to make our economy and energy production sustainable even if they are not as well known, and at times supported, as other solutions.
Mr Wouter IJzermans, the Executive Director of BEPA, the Batteries for EU Partnership, and Dr Arthur ten Wolde, the Executive Director of Ecopreneur.eu, as well as Mr John Braeckeveldt, President of our member European Business Association Georgia, instead looked at how cooperation with the purpose of developing sustainable solutions can bring SMEs together in finding their path, and more can even be done when they are in a dialogue with public institutions.
After a short coffee break, we heard from MEP Brando Benifei, Member of the Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, and on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and Rapporteur of the AI-Act. He argued that SME-led technological innovation could make the economy of Europe thrive. Legislation hence needs to support a green transition that allows companies to be both smart and competitive.
Our SME forum concluded with our fourth and final dialogue. It presented an overview of what digital solutions are out there to help the green transition. it was chaired by Mrs Anna Klissouras, Principal for EU Public Policy and SME Ambassador at Amazon.
MEP Lukas Mandl, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for the relations with the Korean peninsula, Vice Chair of the EP-Subcommittee on Security and Defence, and member of the Committees AFET and LIBE, offered a broader political perspective, reminding the audience that digital solutions are appearing worldwide and European companies must be allowed to keep up the pace of the global markets.
Our Members joined the debate in the form of our Treasurer and Secretary General of the Austrian Business Association OGV, Mr Stephan Blahut, and Mrs Iris Brokamp, Secretary General of Eurojuris International as moderator. They were vocal about the need for SMEs who face a daily crisis and, with more crises piling up, they need easy-to-access solutions or be put in a position to let their entrepreneurial spirit flourish and come up with their own.
The panel included entrepreneurs like Mr Frank Riemann, CEO of Fairdoy Ltd, and Mr Tomas van der Heijden, Co-Founder & CEO at Briink as well as the more academic perspective of Professor Marcello Colledani, Professor at the Polytechnic University Milan and Coordinator of Digiprime, who all focused on presenting of existing and upcoming digital technologies, like AI applications, and what their strengths can bring to SMEs, as well as what limitations need to be overcome.
This concluded a great day that surely put new energy into our work to support SMEs across Europe. We thank all our speakers and guests for joining us in a great day of discussion and learning that will be conducive to more actions to help companies in Europe get the best deal to overcome the ongoing crises.
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