Priority Axis 1: Smart investments in research, innovation and competitive entrepreneurship

Specific objective: RSO1.3. Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments

Intro
Cross-border cooperation activities within this Specific objective are to directly support the SMEs in the Programme area in order to raise their competitiveness, sustainable growth and subsequently job creation. The Programme plans to encourage their cooperation and exchange in entrepreneurial skills, digitisation and technological advancement, the creation of cross-border value chains, exchanging best practices in generating and developing and marketing their products, and especially in competing on the new, cross-border markets and by simplification of legal and regulatory framework, accessible and easy finance, ensuring adequate infrastructure and education, and business support services.

The proposed list of actions will be addressed through Small Project Fund (SPF).

Types of actions

  1. Supporting local SMEs to face challenges related to their size, limited resources (such as skills and finance) or industry and market conditions
  2. Improving the capacity of micro and small entrepreneurs such as family farms regarding marketing, branding, e-business, competitiveness including education and training in entrepreneurship skills
  3. Developing and supporting existing business clusters and/or networks of SMEs in applying ICT, innovation and new technologies to develop and promote common products for local cross-border and international market
  4. Implementing joint pilot actions to introduce product and/or process innovations
  5. Supporting actions related to development of innovative products and services (e.g., patents, industrial design, trademark and innovation etc.)
  6. Promoting and introducing (international) certifications and standards of existing and new products and services
  7. Cross-border development, adaptation and exchange of best practices in digitisation and application of new technologies, processes, products or services to be directly used by the enterprises.

Allocation: 10,000,000.00 €

Main target groups
The actions of this specific objective are to be implemented as a direct support to the micro and small enterprises from all three participating countries through Croatian agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investments (HAMAG BICRO) who will manage the SPF project.