Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network (http://een.ec.europa.eu/), established in 2007, is the primary support tool for the European Commission in assisting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). It is the largest network with representation in over 50 countries, including 27 Member States and 27 Third countries. Its main mission is to support innovation, green and digital transition, enhance the resilience of SMEs, and promote their development and internationalization.

The Network is co-financed by the European Commission within the framework of the Single Market Programme (SMP) 2021 – 2027, providing a comprehensive range of free support services for information, education, guidance, and networking for businesses, functioning as a one-stop-shop.

In Cyprus, the Network is represented by a Consortium consisting of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) as the Coordinator and members include the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), the European Office Cyprus, and the Energy Office.

Detailed services offered include:

• Information and guidance on compliance with the regulatory framework of the Single Market.
• Information and support to identify suitable funding programs and tools (public grants, private capital/investors, European Programs).
• Information and organization of informational seminars on new policies, regulations, and standards of the European Union.
• Organization of educational seminars for skill development in operational growth and innovation management.
• Facilitation of access to international markets and the search for reliable business partners abroad.
• Organization of business meetings and international networking events during international exhibitions.
• Creation and promotion of Cypriot business, technological, and research proposals to develop foreign collaborations.
• Technology and knowledge transfer – Search for innovative technologies and solutions from abroad to improve products, services, and processes.
• Awareness activities on Intellectual Property issues.
• Promotion of Public Consultations of the EU regarding proposals for new policies and legislation, and collection of opinions from local businesses, promoting results to the EU for analysis and processing to shape a more functional and comprehensive legislative framework for SMEs.

For the purpose of offering advisory and partnering services to SMEs, an EEN Expert is conducting a Needs Assessment for a company. Each local EEN Expert is essential to gather information about the local company, allowing for an examination of its needs and objectives and the identification of actions that will assist the company in achieving its goals. This information includes the company’s size in terms of employees and turnover, its products or services, target market, competitors, competencies, advantages, innovations, challenges faced, potential threats, obstacles, and areas where the company requires improvement.

EEN have had many success stories in helping businesses in this way. Typical outcomes of advisory and partnering services include:

• Market Improvement (position, market share, turnover)
• Increase of the potential to enter into new markets
• Increase of the added value associated with company’s products or services
• Cost savings making the company more competitive
• Job creation or maintenance
• Quality improvement (quality of products or services, satisfaction of company’s clients, company’s legal compliance
• Adoption of an innovative technology or process, Improvement of company’s innovation strategy or innovation management capacity

The Network is also running the largest online database of business opportunities in Europe. It contains thousands of business, technology and research cooperation requests and offers from companies and research and development institutions. The database is accessible for free. Any interested company can subscribe to receive alerts on new requests and offers. Take a look at current opportunities HERE.

Take your business to the next level, contact the EEN Cyprus now: https://eencyprus.org.cy/en/

Local Network contact point:

Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
38, Grivas Digenis Ave., Chamber Building, Ground Floor,
1066, Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel.: +357 22 889749/69/52, Fax.: +357 22 661044,
E-mail: eency@ccci.org.cy
URL: https://eencyprus.org.cy/en/

The members of the Consortium actively participated in the following activities of the Network:

• Sectoral Working Groups: Agri-Food, Digitalization, Renewable Energy Sources, Mobility-Transport-Automotive Industry, Construction, Policing, and Creative Industries
• Thematic Working Groups: Single Market, Sustainability, Communication, Quality
• Participation in centralised and decentralised trainings (organised by the Agency or the European Commission and by the Network)
• Annual EEN Conference
• Contribution to or participation in EU campaigns organised and run by the European Commission