Strategies for Enhancing Bulgaria's SMEs Competitiveness: Strengthening BSMEPA's Innovation and Internationalization Supporting Programs Dr. Anna-Marie Vilamovska Mr. Nikola Stojanov Mr. Stanislav Angelov Mr. Roumen Simov 2016/2017 Final KSP Reporting Workshop and Senior Policy Dialogue March 9, 2017
WHY WE WANTED THIS PROJECT AND THANK YOU! An exceedingly timely topic Bulgaria s ISSS & OP Competitiveness & Innovation EC s Investment Plan for Europe ( Juncker Plan ) A strong institutional collaboration created Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea Korea Development Institute (KDI) Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) Excellent academic-applied research Hanyang University Johns Hopkins University, The RAND Corporation
BULGARIA S ECONOMY STABLE OUTLOOK Bulgarian Economy - December 2016 2014 2015 2016 2017 12 11.4 10 8.8 8 7.2 6.9 6 4 3 3.1 2.5 2 1.5 0.9 0 0-2 -1.6-1.1 GDP Growth (%) Inflation (%) Unemployment (%)
SMEs IN BULGARIA: Share of total employment Large enterprises SMEs in 38.0% Bulgaria employ 76.1% Medium enterprises of all workers 22.1% Micro enterprises, 30.2% Micro enterprises 19.3% Small Small enterprises, 20.6% 23.8% Large enterprises, 23.9% Medium enterprises, 22.1%
SMEs IN BULGARIA: Value added SMEs deliver 62.0% of total Large enterprises value added 38.0% in the Bulgarian economy Medium enterprises 22.1% Micro enterprises, 19.3% Micro enterprises 19.3% Medium Small enterprises 20.6% enterprises, 22.1% Large enterprises, 38% Small enterprises, 20.6%
SMEs IN BULGARIA: Activity profile Low-tech manufacturing 10% Other, 7.2% Knowledge intensive services, 14% Less knowledge intensive services, 68.8%
SMEs IN BULGARIA: Structure 7.3% Small 1.4% Medium-sized 91.1% Micro, with a substantial share of solo entrepreneurs
SMEs IN BULGARIA: The issues The lowest proportion of firms in the high-tech manufacturing sector of all countries in the EU 28 (2013) Low productivity of the workforce (2015) Below the EU 28 average for innovation activity (2015) Below the EU 28 average for internationalization activity (2015)
SMEs IN BULGARIA: IN-HOUSE INNOVATION Netherlands 38.94% (EU28 Average) 28.68% Latvia Lithuania Bulgaria Hungary Poland Romania 13.85% 13.81% 11.61% 10.55% 10.13% 4.67%
INNOVATION STRATEGY FOR SMART SPECIALISATION (ISSS) 2014-2020 ISSS 2014 2020 Aim: focus investment to develop innovations in: - Mechatronics and clean technologies - Informatics and ICT - Industries for healthy life and biotechnologies - New technologies in creative and recreational industries National OP Innovation and Competitiveness (OPIC) 2014 2020 EUR 1.39 billion Priority Axis 1: Technological development and innovation European Structural and Investment Fund for Regional Development (ESIF) Priority Axis 2: Entrepreneurship and capacity for growth
SMEs IN BULGARIA INTERNATIONALIZATION Imported from another country Exported to another country Used a subcontractor based abroad Worked as a subcontractor for a company based Worked with a partner based abroad for Invested in a company based abroad None (Spontaneous) Don't know 5% 7% 4% 5% 6% 3% 2% 0% 1% 9% 14% 11% 30% 36% 49% 73% EU28 BG Activity of SMEs inside the EU
SMEs IN BULGARIA INTERNATIONALIZATION Exported to another country 4% Imported from another country 3% 7% Used a subcontractor based abroad 2% 5% Worked as a subcontractor for a company based 2% 4% Worked with a partner based abroad for research 1% 2% Invested in a company based abroad 0% None (Spontaneous) 1% Don't know 11% 20% 19% 69% 81% EU28 BG Activity of SMEs outside the EU
SMEs IN BULGARIA: INTERNATIONALIZATION CHALLENGES 37% 17% 16% 25% 5% The financial investment is too large 45% 14% 22% 11% 8% 36% 15% 14% 26% 9% Resolving cross-border complaints and disputes is too expensive 50% 13% 16% 8% 13% 32% 19% 17% 25% 7% The administrative procedures are too complicated 43% 7% 28% 9% 13% 28% 21% 20% 26% 5% Identifying business partners abroad is too difficult 39% 14% 20% 9% 18% 32% 16% 23% 26% 3% The company does not have specialized staff to deal with exports 27% 12% 34% 21% 6% 30% 17% 19% 26% 8% Delivery costs are too high 27% 16% 22% 18% 17% 28% 19% 19% 25% 9% Dealing with foreign taxation is too complicated or too costly 36% 16% 24% 12% 12% 27% 19% 23% 27% 4% The company does not know the rules which have to be followed (e.g. labelling) 21% 9% 43% 18% 9% A major problem (EU28) A minor problem (EU28) Not a problem at all (EU28) Not applicable (EU28) Don't know (EU28) A major problem (BG) A minor problem (BG) Not a problem at all (BG) Not applicable (BG) Don't know (BG)
SMEs IN BULGARIA: PRO-INTERNATIONALIZATION MEASURES AS SEEN BY SMEs Grants, subsidies or low interest loans Tax Incentives Support for finding business partners and networking Opportunities to take part in international trade fairs Information on market opportunities Information on rules and regulations Advice or training Other (Spontaneous) None (Spontaneous) Don't know 2% 3% 4% 10% 12% 11% 30% 23% 28% 22% 27% 23% 20% 20% 19% 19% 17% 23% 25% 23% EU28 BG
BULGARIA S SMALL BUSINESS ACT With sights on 2020, the act outlines the following targets: RISE IN THE NUMBER OF SMEs INNOVATAING IN-HOUSE TO 45,000 (30% INCREASE) INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SMEs IMPORTING FROM OUTSIDE THE EU WITH 4,000 (4,99% INCREASE) 4,500 MORE SMEs EXPORTING OUTSIDE THE EU (3.06% INCREASE)
The Bulgarian small and medium enterprises promotion agency (BSMEPA): Established in 2004 under the Ministry of Economy Support the entrepreneurship Strengthening competitiveness Aims to stimulate innovative activity and foster technological processes in SMEs Trade capacity building and promotion of SMEs internationalization
THE NATIONAL INNOVATION FUND (NIF) Created in 2004; managed by BSMEPA Provides SMEs with co-financing to promote R&D and develop innovation or improved products, services & processes. Maximum available grant is BGN 500,000 (EUR 255,624) per project. Encourages SMEs to co-operate with international partners within the EUREKA framework.
THE NATIONAL INNOVATION FUND (NIF) The projects applying for a grant must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply: Capacity of the applicant and the partners The applicant and the partners have the organizational and technical capacity to implement the project activities; Eligibility of project idea The project falls within one of the eligible areas for the competition session (Smart Specialisation Strategy) The applicant and the partners have suitable equipment to implement the proposed project; The applicant and the partners have the financial capacity to co-finance the project costs. The documents required as a proof of financial capacity and the evaluation criteria are governed by the Rules for Application and Evaluation of Project Proposals; The project activities do not include full development resulting in a market ready product/technology or service; The project description is sufficiently detailed and allow for evaluating the qualities and for monitoring of the project implementation;
THE NATIONAL INNOVATION FUND (NIF) Application session timeline: COMPETITION SESSION EVALUATION NEGOTIATION PERFORMANCE REPORTING MONITORING AND VERIFICATION PAYMENT
THE NATIONAL INNOVATION FUND (NIF) Application Session I (2005) II (2005) III (2006) IV (2006) V (2008) VI (2012) VII (2014) VIII (2016) Total Number of Project Applications 118 120 146 168 123 67 152 191 1086 Number of Signed Contracts 43 67 108 91 60 36 50 TBA 455 Ratio % Contracts Applications 36 56 74 54 49 54 33 TBA 51 Agreed Subsidy Amount (leva) 6 700 000 8 300 000 16 600 000 16 900 000 12 000 000 9 110 755 9 718 944 TBA 79 329 699 Payed Subsidy Amount (leva) 4 254 634 4 143 267 8 128 018 8 754 447 7 243 842 7 045 253 8 268 638 TBA 47 838 099
THE NATIONAL INNOVATION FUND (NIF) IMPACT STUDY FROM 2013 The panel followed firms three years after completing their projects: 79.3% of participating SMEs had introduced new products to the market 68% had increased their profit 65.5% had entered new markets
THE NATIONAL INNOVATION FUND (NIF) MAIN OBSTACLES IDENTIFIED: Volume of the financing Different scientist used as external experts for different projects objective criteria for qualification of the projects Evaluation of the market potential of the projects Monitoring, after the implementation of the project
INTERNATIONALIZATION PROGRAMS BSMEPA Support The Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency is providing support for the Internationalization of the Bulgarian SMEs through providing services and implementing instruments for strengthening the companies international positions, thus by organizing trade fairs participation, business delegations and trade missions abroad, B2B forums and conferences in the country and abroad, training seminars and maintaining on a daily basis the National Export web-based portal.
INTERNATIONALIZATION PROGRAMS PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS BSMEPA supports the SME participation in International exhibitions and fairs by covering the expenses for: exhibition area; stands construction; furniture and equipment; exhibitors catalogue; registration fees; events participation In the period 2010 2016 BSMEPA has supported the participation of 1550 SMEs at 140 National stands in the largest International exhibitions and trade fairs Over 75% of all sponsored SMEs reported to have entered new markets, while 32% reported they introduced an innovative practice in their processes, as a result of their experience abroad
INTERNATIONALIZATION PROGRAMS TRADE MISSIONS, B2B FORUMS In the period 2010 2016 BSMEPA organized 79 trade missions and business delegations in which took part 1236 SMEs Within the same period 63 Bilateral and International Business Forums in Bulgaria have been organized by BSMEPA, which have been attended by over 5000 companies The main purpose of these promotional activities is to help companies to establish business contacts with potential foreign business partners
INTERNATIONALIZATION PROGRAMS TRAINING SEMINARS For the last six years BSMEPA organized 150 export training seminars in which participated 3994 representatives of Bulgarian SMEs held in the 28 regions of the country. The events have been focused on: Basic export knowledge Target export markets Specific export marketing approach
INTERNATIONALIZATION PROGRAMS New Programming period 2014-2020 To ensure sustainability in providing services for the SME Internationalisation BSMEPA started to implement three projects funded by the Operational Programme "Innovation and competitiveness" 2014-2020: "Creating conditions for quality information - communication environment and interoperability of BSMEPA the purpose is to develop a Modern Digital Infrastructure to support the development and the internationalization of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Businesses "Creating conditions for sustainable development and successful integration of Bulgarian enterprises in the European and international markets by providing support for participation at international trade fairs and conferences "Organizing trade missions and forums for Bulgarian producers and foreign buyers"
INTERNATIONALIZATION PROGRAMS Main obstacles (self-reflection): Volume of the programs Which measure to use in order to achieve the best expenses/results ratio Criterias for qualification to use the services offered by BSMEPA. How to choose at which fairs to attend, having in mind the limited finances Monitoring of the results Promoting the right companies to the right markets
THE WAY AHEAD: Priority action points resulting from 2016/2017 KSP Project 1. Finalize BSMEPA s Business Matching Service Platform and link to EU Single Digital Market (B2B, B2C, B2G) 2. Implement an Advanced Technology Appraisal System in NIF 3. Introduce focused support measures for young (3yr <) growing companies with young (39 yr <) CEOs across programs 4. Introduce focused internationalization support measures for innovative SMEs 5. Seek fiscal expansion of successful measures, including regional action