DEBUTING

Our name is our mission: we “debut” with a new issue (gender equality as an SME competitiveness factor) addressed in a new way (via clusters) in a policy context.

SMEs have difficulties to understand the business rationale behind gender equality. And where they do, they are often challenged by “how to do it in practice”. There is a massive need for capacity building for SMEs to develop gender-inclusive business models and a gender-friendly work culture. The policy level needs to create a better framework to implement measures to support SMEs stay competitive, innovate and create new market opportunities. Clusters, as recognized “agents of change”, are a perfect tool to support SMEs to adopt such measures, being key actors in the design and implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategies.

DEBUTING aims to improve 10 policy instruments to (better) address gender equality in industry supporting at least 10% of clustered SMEs to become more competitive by 2026. We want to:

• increase the business capacities for 7500+ SMEs by enabling them to develop more innovative business models through a more inclusive culture.
• raise awareness via clusters on the potential in adopting gender equality approaches
• increase the efficiency of existing measures, design new ones, more innovative and improve monitoring and evaluation with adequate indicators.
• increase the awareness and capacity of policy makers and clusters to address gender equality in industry as a critical factor for SMEs to grow and become more competitive.

DEBUTING is about 11 partners from 10 regions determined to make a change in their policy instruments through an orchestrated ensemble of activities. These consist of 33 interregional policy learning events, minimum 22 best practices exchanged, 80 regional stakeholder group meetings involving 87 organisations. Our ambition goes beyond the project, aiming to put the learnings and the collaborative relations developed at the service of a Smarter Europe.