Funded by Transnational Cooperation Programme Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020
Role in the project: Project partner/ Project Beneficiary
Period of Implementation: 2017-2019
Brief Description of the Project
The project tackles the common challenges of the BalkanMed area with regard to the distinct economic disparities in the region, the relatively low business competitiveness as compared to other European territories, the market fragmentation, and the necessity for a better integration of the socioeconomic links between the involved countries. The project’s main goal is to enhance the competitiveness of the exporting SMEs in the BalkanMed region through the development of conditions for expanding transnational collaboration. The goal will be accomplished by fostering the exchange of business information among the BalkanMed SMEs, by facilitating the cooperation and technology transfer processes in the eligible areas and through the development of digital tools for improving the integration of the local markets.
The project’s visible and tangible outputs jointly developed and implemented by the partners will be:
- BalkanMed E-Business pages platform providing information on exporting SMEs companies’ associations and clusters in the BalkanMed region
- Four informative and giving practical advice tools in support of SMEs’ competitiveness
- Five seminars with representatives of the business – one in each partner country
The project’s main output is the elaborated web platform, which contributes to the economic development in the eligible areas and will encourage cooperation between the economic operators in the involved countries.
The partners (from Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Republic of Macedonia and Albania), although representatives of territories with distinct peculiarities and needs, are all brought together with the aim to increase the internationalisation capacity and competitiveness of the local enterprises. The common goal, whenever jointly tackled, leads to better results and creation of synergies. It is therefore crucial to adapt a transnational approach in overcoming the common territorial challenges and to utilise knowledge and particular national experience from the eligible areas. Moreover, the project will enable collaborations of target group representatives from the five partner countries which will facilitate exchange of good practices, establishment of partnerships and creation of business networks which will additionally contribute to building SMEs’ capacity, to enhancing their effectiveness and improving the quality of offered products and services, all resulting in mitigation of the structural weaknesses of the local markets and in correction of the territorial imbalances.
The project implementation resulted in a new platform and tools for transnational business cooperation which are unique for the BalkanMed region and will open up new opportunities for integrated regional development and collaboration. The project completion will contribute to enhancing SMEs’ competitiveness, will provide more employment and business opportunities and establish conditions for local communities to benefit from the created added value.
B.1.2 Objectives of the project
Outputs of the project
The expected project outputs that will be delivered and available upon the project completion are the jointly developed and implemented initiatives that enhance SMEs competitiveness in the eligible areas, as follows:
1.) 1 BalkanMed E-Business pages platform providing information on exporting SMEs, companies’ associations and clusters in the BalkanMed region;
2.) 4 elaborated tools in support of SMEs’ competitiveness:
– Analysis of the export industries for SMEs, the existing associations and clusters and the possibilities for cooperation
– Handbook with good practices from existing clusters and implemented technology transfer examples
– Cluster development e-guide
– Technology transfer e-guide
3.) 5 seminars with representatives of the business – one in each partner country.
The project’s main output will be the elaborated web platform which will contribute to the economic development in the eligible areas and will encourage cooperation between SMEs, NGOs and public institutions in the involved countries.
The project outputs are consistent with the Programme specific objectives as:
1.) The developed tools and events will serve the needs of the business and the local communities in the eligible areas and will foster networking, exchange of knowledge and ideas, cooperation and partnerships in the BalkanMed area
2.) The elaborated platform will result in a better recognition of the registered target group representatives, hence contributing to increased cross-border trade and foreign investment flow to the eligible areas and will serve as an incentive to the development of a joint BalkanMed market
3.) The created tools and organized events within the project will strengthen the capacity of the involved target group representatives leading to reduced costs, improved competitiveness and new business opportunities
4.) The project implementation will contribute to enhanced understanding and overcoming the sociocultural barriers between the participating countries
B.1.4 Expected results of the project (direct and immediate effects resulting from the project)
The project outputs shall create the following direct and immediate results in the eligible areas within the project duration:
– At least 200 registered profiles of SMEs in the project platform per country (a total of 1000)
– At least 5000 unique visitors of the platform
– At least 5 SMEs participating in the project seminars with companies per partner (a total of 25)
– At least 200 users of the tools developed within the project per country (a total of 1000)