European SME Week
The European SME Week aims to promote EU support to SMEs throughout the member states and to promote entrepreneurship as a career option. The scheme requires an innovative strategic plan and implementation.
THE CHALLENGE
DELIVERABLES
Strategic Consulting
Communications
Event Management
THE SOLUTION
LOW was appointed to provide strategic communications advice on the development of European SME Week in 2012 and has since integrated the scheme into the European Commission’s other enterprise promotional programmes such as the SME Assembly, the European Enterprises Promotion Awards and the Youth Start-Up Competition (YSC).
In 2016, LOW conceived and launched the prestigious Schumpeter ‘Innovation in Enterprise’ Lecture Series, which continues to be a highlight of SME Week and the SME Assembly. The invitation-only annual series, inspired by the ideas of pioneering twentieth century economist Joseph Schumpeter, is delivered by a world-renowned thinker whose lecture interrogates established discourse around enterprise and entrepreneurship, and provides thought-provoking proposals to reshape Europe’s culture of enterprise.
After successfully organising the Youth Essay Competition, the initiative evolved into the Youth Start-Up Competition, now running at full speed for two years under the European SME Week umbrella. Open to young entrepreneurs aged 18-25 from across Europe and COSME countries, it gathers innovative projects reflecting EU values. The top three finalists are invited to the SME Assembly in November to pitch their ideas on stage, where jury members and the audience select the final winner.
We launched the scheme with a networking reception in Vilnius using innovative, digital ‘contact technology’ to allow delegates and media to record details of everyone they met for future follow-up.
More information can be found on the EC SME Week website.