Programme with five main clusters: Digitalisation of the European Industry Challenges and Opportunities Funding and investment opportunities for SMEs Innovation management Internationalisation Aiming at excellence: Internal Network tools and process Monday 20 th November 11.00-14.30 14.30 15.30 15.30 16.00 16.00 17.00 Registration Meet & Greet Welcome lunch Opening Plenary Session Featuring: Kersti Kaljulaid, President of the Republic of Estonia; Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, European Commission; Kristin Schreiber, Director, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs and Julien Guerrier, Director, EASME. Keynote speaker: Kaidi Ruusalepp, Founder and CEO of Funderbeam. Moderator: Katrina Sichel matchmaking area Bilateral meetings Coffee break - Catering area Apollo 1 Artis 1 Apollo 5 Apollo 6 Artis 2 Apollo 7 Going global: how the EU helps SMEs to internationalise An update on the overall EU framework for supporting SME internationalisation, followed by a discussion on possible synergies and improvements. How can the EEN best work with the new European Innovation Council? provide updates on the setting up of the EIC and discuss how it can build on the work done by the EEN. The digital transformation of SMEs: key challenges SMEs are facing challenges in today's increasingly digitised business. This session will feature a panel discussion and exchange with the audience on what the EEN can do to best support them. POD without 'offers' and 'requests': build your website around what users actually want How can you have a website better meeting the needs of your clients? Crowdfunding options, skills, thesis and a scenario What is crowdfunding and how can it help your clients? This workshop explores how, including synchronising it with other financial instruments. Upgrading innovation management in SMEs focus on the key steps in the innovation management client journey.
17.00 18.00 AUDITORIUM Implementing the Vision The EEN's Vision document now needs to be turned into reality: this session will discuss how. Apollo 1 Linking Horizon 2020 and COSME EEN services How to better structure the link between EEN-COSME and Horizon 2020 activities for the benefit of the client SMEs. Bringing Merlin to a new era An interactive brainstorming on the state of play and future development of the Network's main IT tools. So, tell us your story This hands-on session gives the tools to tell a memorable story as well as inspiration and ideas on how to use stories in your work. Making the connection: engaging with Eureka and Eurostars Improve your understanding of what Eureka and Eurostars offer and how working together can help your clients. Digitalise your retail business Find out about the latest e-commerce practices and technologies in Europe and case studies. Help your clients embrace new opportunities arising in the retail sector. Is international cooperation the new innovation? Get to know EU projects dealing with SME internationalisation, including Business Beyond Borders, Gateway/Business Avenues, Innovation Centres and many others! 19.30 23.30 Networking Dinner at the Seaplane Harbour Dress code: Cocktail dress & smart attire
Tuesday 21 st November 9:00 9:30 9.30 10.45 catering area Welcome Coffee matchmaking area Apollo 1 Artis 1 Apollo 5 Apollo 6 Artis 2 Apollo 7 Bilateral meetings Re-shaping EEN Single Market Services to address new challenges This workshop will show how the EEN can reshape its Single Market Services as part of the implementation of the Vision, including areas to focus on to generate more impact and client engagement. SME Instrument business acceleration services An insight into these services and the Network's role in them. Innovation Masterclass: Innovation Strategy look at how to better implement innovation management support and assessment, including through a new practical tool: the Innovation Strategy Canvas. How to help SMEs to gain access to finance and give a successful pitch This workshop focuses on a critical aspect an SME faces when planning an investment decision: the relationship with the potential investor. EEN meets Watify: SME digital transformation and why it matters Inspire your clients to transform their businesses with the help of the Watify campaign. The workshop will also identify how the campaign can better interact with the Network. Social media with dignity and grace More Network partners than ever are using social media. Colleagues will share their experiences and provide insights into what works and what doesn't and the latest tools. Other experiences and ideas welcome! 10.45 11.15 Coffee break - Catering area 11.15 12.30 Boost your brokerage events and matchmaking Best practice and lessons learned from a range of Network partners. Scale-up Lab - helping ambitious businesses to grow and scale showcase what the Network is doing to Breaking the silos, bringing multiple EU services to the business community Presentation of the EU Open4business campaign organised Seeking business impact synergies with Interreg Europe Learn how a Network partner can achieve Digital Innovation: analysing a company's digital innovation explore how to make use of the Digital Innovation Quotient Design Thinking parts 1 & 2 11.00 13.00 This workshop consists of and links two must haves of modern business development: business model
help businesses scale up, including the work of the new Scale-up Thematic group and the work of Scale-up Advisors. since 2015 in cooperation with the EEN local partners of the target countries. Focus will be on innovations introduced in 2017. In this session we will explore together with the EEN partners who hosted the events the lessons learned and the way ahead for 2018. business impact for their clients through the Interreg Europe project NICHE, including the use of the IMP³rove Assessment tool. and how to best build it into the broader service portfolio the Network offers to highly innovative companies. concept and design thinking method. We will discuss how to use them both for the biggest impact on our clients. 12.30 14.00 Lunch break - Catering area 14.00 15.15 Tapping innovation potential This will cover two aspects: the Innovation Radar: an EU initiative identifying and monitoring high potential innovations, and ways in which EEN can work with technology centres to help SMEs take up advanced technologies. Partnering process: your roadmap for a successful client journey explain how the partnering process work and promote best practice. Helping SMEs to digitalise: good practices from EEN host organisations Many host organisations have developed services to help SME clients to digitalise, digitalising themselves at the same time. Representatives from Chambers of Commerce & Industry will discuss what they have learnt. It's good to go green: helping SMEs benefit from the green economy This workshop will look at the opportunities available from resource efficiency and clean energy and how EEN members can encourage clients to use these. Public Procurement for Innovation demand-driven R&D&I opportunities Share your ideas and experience in this interactive round table session. Connect with the world showcases for BCC cooperation An interactive workshop showcasing cooperation with third countries through projects and success stories.
15.15 15.45 15.45 17.00 17.00 19.00 Coffee break - Catering area Closing Plenary Session and Best Practice Awards Closing speech: Kristin Schreiber, Director, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Moderators: Katrina Sichel & Susanne Baden A special moment to relax Cocktail and catch-up with Network colleagues Wednesday 22 nd November 9:00 9:30 9.30 10.30 10.30 10.45 catering area Welcome Coffee matchmaking area Apollo 1 Artis 1 Apollo 5 Apollo 6 Artis 2 Apollo 7 Bilateral meetings National Hungary catering area Coffee break EEN pilot projects information session:enhancing participation of women in the H2020 SME Instrument and opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sharing economy Thematic Group executives: state of play Thematic group kick-off Circular Economy National Meeting: Czech Republic Buddy2 Match meeting 10.45 11.30 National Germany National France Sector Group Creative Industries Sector Group Maritime LATAM BCC meeting 11.30 13.00 National Poland Thematic group Access to Finance
Speakers' Corner Monday 20 November 15:30-16:00 Speaker: ARCTIK SPRL/ DG ENV Business support tools for environmental innovation and management for the circular economy Tuesday 21 November 10:45-11:15 Speaker: EUOSHA EEN OSHA Awards promoting safety and health at work in SMEs 12:30-13:00 Speaker: Technopolis Group H2020 project: Capturing innovation impulses from emerging economies 13:30-14:00 Speaker: ECHA 10 years of REACH achievements and challenges 15:15-15:45 Speaker: Small Business Standards (SBS) The voice of European SMEs in standardisation