EEPA 2023 National Winners - Improving the Business Environment and Supporting Internationalisation of Business

We have already had a look at the national winners in Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3 of this year’s European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA). Today it is the turn of the national winners in EEPA Category 4 – Improving the Business Environment and Supporting Internationalisation of Business. From 301 projects that entered the national competitions in 30 countries, 55 projects will now advance to the European stage of the competition, including 10 projects in Category 4.

EEPA Category 4: Improving the Business Environment and Supporting Internationalisation of Business recognises innovative policies and initiatives at national, regional or local level that make Europe an attractive place to start and operate a business and scale it up in the single market. The 10 national winners in this category will now compete for a place on the final shortlist – to be selected by the EEPA 2023 European jury.

And so, let’s take a closer look at the projects in Category 4 that were declared the winners in their respective national competitions. These are presented below in alphabetical order by country.

• Croatia: ZICER Startup Value Chain is unique start up ecosystem that takes a comprehensive approach to supporting start-ups in their growth and development.
• Czech Republic: INO:EX supports companies in innovating their products and services, for development and expansion into new markets, providing finance and giving them a head start over the competition.
• Estonia: Estonian Connected Health Cluster is a platform for the co-creation of health technology solutions and their placement on the market.
• Greece: Joint Research Activities Promoting Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the field of Internal Security develops and tests innovative internal security technologies and applications, in cooperation with small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises.
• Hungary: VALI.HU - The Personalised Business Information Website provides up-to-date information for SMEs on funding opportunities and other services.
• Lithuania: The Future belongs to Electronic Engineers promotes studies in the field of electronics among schoolchildren in Kaunas, thereby increasing the number of applicants to this discipline.
• Portugal: MAP | Early Warning Mechanism is an online, free tool that supports early-stage companies, avoiding their closure and the loss of jobs and skills, while also building the capacity of entrepreneurs.
• Spain: The Break Fellowship is an international network of 1,000 women entrepreneurs, providing an opportunity for them to develop key skills, and boost and internationalise their businesses.
• Sweden: The Arctic Game cluster and the projects Innovation Game and Innovation Game 2.0 support the gaming industry, focusing on internationalisation, attracting investments and enhancing the number of female game developers and entrepreneurs.
• Ukraine: Promoting Integrity Culture and Compliance Standards among Ukrainian SMEs is a collective action to promote ethical, responsible business and implant anti-corruption practices.

All the EEPA national winners will receive invitations to the Awards Ceremony at the annual SME Assembly in Bilbao in November, where the winners in each category will be announced. This year the event will be co-hosted by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. At the SME Assembly, the jury will also announce the winner of the Jury’s Grand Prize, which can be from any category - the Grand Prize goes to the entry that the jury consider to be the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe.

If you would like to find out more about the European Enterprise Promotion Awards, visit the Promoting Enterprise News Portal, where we will also publish news on the national winners in the other EEPA categories. To stay up to date on EEPA news, make sure to check in to the portal regularly, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.