Image
Call for non-exporting and non-regularly exporting businesses
Published on 22 October 2018
Italy
Emilia-Romagna
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The specific objectives of action 3.4.1 are to increase the number of regional businesses which regularly export and to raise the contribution of foreign trade to regional GDP. The core aim of the call is to support non-exporting and not regularly exporting Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSME) based in Emilia-Romagna in designing and implementing a two-years structured internationalisation pathway, targeting maximum two markets/countries. Eligible applicants are both single non-exporting MSMEs having an annual turnover of at least 700.000 €, and formally established networks of independent non-exporting MSMEs possessing the same features. Following the publication of a specific call for proposals, applicants are required to submit projects outlining a structured two-years internationalisation pathway, based upon an export plan targeting maximum two countries. MSMEs that already have developed an export plan shall submit it together with the application. MSMEs that do not, may include the development of an export plan as part of the project activities. Regional contribution
-Projects submitted by single MSMEs:
Minimum cost of projects: 50.000 €
Regional contribution: 40% of eligible expenditures, max 100.000 €
-Projects submitted by formal networks of MSMEs:
Minimum cost of projects: 50.000 €
Regional contribution: 40% of eligible expenditures, max 100.000 € for each participating MSME, with an overall ceiling of 400.000 €
-Projects submitted by single MSMEs:
Minimum cost of projects: 50.000 €
Regional contribution: 40% of eligible expenditures, max 100.000 €
-Projects submitted by formal networks of MSMEs:
Minimum cost of projects: 50.000 €
Regional contribution: 40% of eligible expenditures, max 100.000 € for each participating MSME, with an overall ceiling of 400.000 €
Expert opinion
This is a good example of a straightforward and flexible scheme that directly aims at boosting the number of businesses that have regular export capacities. More specifically, non-exporting and not regularly exporting MSMEs are supported in the region of Emilia-Romagna in Italy based on the companies’ specific needs and challenges they themselves have identified in the project proposals. Both individual applicants as well as consortia are welcome to apply and eligible activities include the development of a detailed export plan for the participant(s). As the scheme ended only recently, wider impacts on SME competitiveness are yet to be seen, but the 200 companies receiving grants indicates the popularity of such export schemes among MSMEs. Provided that the necessary funding is available, such flexible programs could definitely inspire policy-makers in other contexts as well. Attention should be paid to the selection procedures, however – as the practice itself highlights, good quality proposals might not always filter out the companies with the most growth and internationalization potential.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
The overall budget for action 3.4.1 is 15 million Euro for the period 2016-2020.
N.3 staff are in charge of managing the measure and further 3 staff are in charge of payment procedures (audit reports and payments), though not exclusively for this measure
N.3 staff are in charge of managing the measure and further 3 staff are in charge of payment procedures (audit reports and payments), though not exclusively for this measure
Evidence of success
Direct access to regional grants by 200 MSMEs not exporting and not used to apply to regional calls. MSMEs will develop new capabilities benefitting from consultancies and support services. The high number of applications received bears witness to the fact that the introduction of a support measure for non-exporting MSMEs was highly needed
So far, there are no SMEs impact analysis nor information
2016 has just been reported and 2017 is in the process of being reported
So far, there are no SMEs impact analysis nor information
2016 has just been reported and 2017 is in the process of being reported
Potential for learning or transfer
The added value and potential for transfer of the measure is to be identified in its flexible nature, i.e. leaving to applicants themselves the task of identifying their way to foreign markets. Therefore, under the same measure very different companies’ needs can be accommodated.
The measure is a way to encourage non-exporting MSMES to assess their potential for export and to experience some business contacts in foreign countries
It allows Region ER to reach a large number of companies without a large staff, which is also possible in other regions.
It allows over time the development of a free and competitive market of business support services for internationalisation, transferable to any European region. In case of not well developped support services in a region the Good Practice allows also the development of such support services but requires the full political backing
The measure is a way to encourage non-exporting MSMES to assess their potential for export and to experience some business contacts in foreign countries
It allows Region ER to reach a large number of companies without a large staff, which is also possible in other regions.
It allows over time the development of a free and competitive market of business support services for internationalisation, transferable to any European region. In case of not well developped support services in a region the Good Practice allows also the development of such support services but requires the full political backing
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Emilia-Romagna Region
Italy
Emilia-Romagna
Contact
Project Assistant