Today, leaders of local and regional authorities discussed a topic which is of extremely high priority and relevance for European regions and cities in a webinar about "Making digital transition work for all SMEs".
Participants discussed the state of digital transformation in European regions, taking stock of the latest research showing an increasing digital divide across European regions and urban-rural communities, shared their views how public authorities of all levels can facilitate digital transition of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and showcased best practices and collaboration initiatives from the European Entrepreneurial Regions.
Eddy Van Hijum, member of the Council of the Province of Overijssel and CoR rapporteur on the SME Strategy, said that "despite growing budgets of EU programmes supporting digital transition, much remains to be done to improve their outreach and impact on the ground". Mr Van Hijum said that local and regional authorities and other territorial actors have a role to play in developing programme synergies, linking them with available EU funding and raising awareness about digital transition among SMEs in their territories.
Talking about the SME Strategy, Van Hijum outlined that “SMEs and family-run businesses in particular, in all our regions are the backbone of our communities and the backbone of our regional economy. They are responsible for many jobs, they are engaged in networks of education, training and innovation. They are our allies in digitalisation and to ensure a more sustainable future.”
Van Hijum continued that SMEs have been hardly-hit by the covid-19 crisis especially in segments like tourism, retail and manufacturing. He emphasised that Europe cannot recover unless SMEs recover. “Our SME strategy opinion was a call for action when it comes to supporting our SMEs to really think small first and deliver to this promise and also to act regional first.” He provided insight into supports in place in Overijssel, which include ways to stimulate the digitalisation of businesses with easy accessible SME-vouchers; organising digital workshops that connect IT-students with SMEs; facilitating investment in high speed broadband infrastructure in rural areas, and subsidising digital skills training of both employees and unemployed. He quoted from a recent study of the European Investment Bank, from which we learn that 57% of SMEs are not familiar with European funds or programmes with regard to digitalisation.
Michael Murphy, Councillor of Tipperary County Council and ECON Chair welcomed the important webinar bringing together key institutional and stakeholder representatives taking place at a crucial time in a pandemic recovery context. He welcomed in particular the speakers from the European Entrepreneurial Regions (EER). In the conclusion of the event, he said that, in order to meet the objectives of Europe's Digital Decade, public authorities in the EU need a multi-level, collaborative and inclusive approach to promote digital transition and digital cohesion in the EU, wisely using the resources of the MFF and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Mr Murphy said that the digital adoption and catch-up of existing SMEs should be among the top priorities in the new EU digital programmes. He continued that local and regional authorities are needed, acting in partnership with other ecosystem actors, to mobilise resources, build synergies and encourage the digital transition of our SMEs.
Ivan Štefanec MEP, (EPP/SK), member of the IMCO committee and President of SME Europe gave an insightful opening speech in the same event.