This includes making finance systems more SME friendly, facilitating finance of start-ups, innovation and growth as well as measures to generate more risk capital investments.
Through the EU financial instruments of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme a sizeable sum of money has been made available to help SMEs across the EU to access loans and equity to grow and develop their business. These EU financial instruments are operated by the European Investment Fund in cooperation with national, regional and local financial institutions, which comprise the interface with the customer groups.
There are also other EU programmes with measures specially designed for SMEs: Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development, Jeremie programme and Eurostars project (more)