Competing in the Single Market - SMEs and ... - Erhvervsstyrelsen

EU countries (innovation relay centers). In addition to business support institutions, there are anumber of publicly-funded organisations whose mission is to provide financing/financial supportto SMEs. There has even been a burst in the establishment of science or technoparks, where hitechfocused SMEs can establish themselves – benefiting from temporary tax reductions and thegeographical proximity to a number of other SMEs like themselves (encouraging clustering). Anoverview of these institutions in each country is presented in Table 16 below. It should be pointedout that this listing stakes no claim to being exhaustive or complete. Rather it hopes to provide arepresentative overview of the landscape for SME policies in each of the B4 countries.Table 16: Organisations Supporting SMEs in the B4ESTONIAAgency/OrganisationEnterprise EstoniaMain Responsibilities- founded, by the Ministry of Economic Affairs,in the year 2000 with the aim of promoting thecompetitiveness of the Estonian entrepreneurialenvironment and businesses.- provides financing products, counselling, co-operationopportunities and training for entrepreneurs, researchestablishments and the public sector.Export Crediting and GuaranteeFoundation KredExTartu Science Park, Tallinn TechnicalUniversity and business incubators (4)Small- and Medium-sized EnterprisesAssociation (EVEA)- actively operates in six areas: enhancement of thecompetitiveness of Estonian enterprises in foreignmarkets, inclusion of foreign direct investments,development of tourism export and internal tourism,elaboration of technological and innovative productsand services, development of Estonian enterprises andentrepreneurial environment, and enhancement ofgeneral entrepreneurial awareness.- Upon EU accession, Enterprise Estonia will becomeone of the implementing institutions of the EUStructural Funds in Estonia, being the main providerof support and development programmes, directedtowards entrepreneurs- develops Estonian exports by giving guarantees andcredits mainly to SMEs- coordination and implementation of scientific researchand innovation- assistance in finding info, partners or market,investors or financial opportunities- services (business consulting, etc.) to companies andentrepreneurs starting science/technology enterprises- provides its members with favourable consulting,marketing and other services and protects theirinterests in Estonian legislation63