The SME Assembly is the most significant event for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. The conference takes place once a year during the European SME week. Together with the network of SME envoys, the assembly creates the governance structure of the small business act.
The 2023 SME Assembly
The 2023 SME Assembly will take place from 13 to 15 November 2023, hosted in conjunction with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event will take place in Bilbao, with the option for additional delegates to attend online.
The Assembly will feature high-level panels and interviews, expert round tables, interactive workshops, informative masterclasses and numerous networking opportunities. These will help stimulate Europe's enterprises and equip them with the right tools for the transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.
See the SME Assembly 2023 programme – please note this is subject to change and will be updated accordingly.
Updates about the programme and speakers are announced on social media and the promoting enterprise news portal .
European SME Week
The SME Assembly takes place during European SME Week. The European SME week is the annual campaign to promoting entrepreneurship in Europe, aiding access to support, informing about resources, and encouraging new business ventures.
SME Assembly and European SME Week on social media
You can keep up to date on European SME Week and SME Assembly news and events on X (formerly Twitter). The Commission also posts more widely about the importance of SMEs for Europe on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. See all relevant social media accounts and hashtags below.
Social media accounts
- Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): @EEPA_EU
- Related X (formerly Twitter) accounts: @EU_Growth @EU_EISMEA and @EEN_EU
- LinkedIn: EU Business and EISMEA
- Facebook: EU Growth and EEN
SME Assembly hashtags hashtags
The official 2023 event hashtags are #SMEassembly2023 and #EEPA2023.
European SME Week hashtag
The official hashtag for European SME Week 2023 is #SMEweek2023.
New Promoting Enterprise App for an improved SME Week experience
Our updated Promoting Enterprise app for 2023, enabled by SwapCard, will enhance your European SME Week and SME Assembly experience with its many novel features, extending European SME Week's benefits far beyond its three days.
SME Assembly participants and others interested in entrepreneurship and SMEs in Europe can now connect with each other year-round.
With an array of improved features, the updated app serves as a platform for anyone interested in European enterprises, entrepreneurship and SMEs, offering a space to network, make contacts and leverage synergies.
The app features valuable information on policy topics, European SME Week activities, European Enterprise Promotion Awards updates, opinion polls, discussion forums and much more.
Find out more by signing up for the Promoting Enterprise app.
Earlier SME assemblies
- 2022 SME Assembly video and Schumpeter lecture 2022
- 2021 SME Assembly video and Schumpeter lecture 2021
- 2020 SME Assembly video and Schumpeter lecture
- 2019 SME Assembly video and programme (587 kB)
- 2018 SME Assemby programme – connect.share.innovate.
- 2017 SME Assembly - start. scale. spread your wings. (270 kB)
- eMagazine from 2017 SME Assembly (21 MB)
- Graphic recording from 2017 SME Assembly (15 MB)
- 2016 SME Assembly - Helping Europe's entrepreneurs reach new heights (377 kB)
- 2015 SME Assembly - Europe works for SMEs: forward. together. (507 kB)
- 2014 SME Assembly - Growth through enterprise: exploiting the opportunities ahead (380 kB)
- 2013 SME Assembly – Encouraging a Europe of enterprise (2 MB)
- 2012 SME Assembly – Helping SMEs go for growth (1 MB)