SMEs not seeing benefits of green stimulus[fr][de] 

Ben Butters, director of European affairs at Eurochambres, said small and medium-sized business (SMEs) need clear signals from policymakers in order to spark innovation in the European economy. 

"Green elements of the stimulus packages have not yet trickled down to SMEs," he said, adding that small firms can become an effective way of bringing new green technologies to market. 

"Innovative small businesses are the pioneers when it comes to green technology. They could do a lot more if the infrastructure was in place," says Butters. 

EIT can link industry and academia 

He says there needs to be a smaller gap between research institutions and industry in order to enable quicker transfer of new technologies to market. The recently-established European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT ) could play a key role in solving this problem, he added. 

"The EIT has potential to bridge this chasm. We are hoping the governing board will maintain the focus on SMEs as a priority," Butters said. 

In its first call for proposals for Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), the EIT stressed that the new partnerships will create new opportunities for SMEs and will strengthen links between higher education, research and business. 

Experts in technology transfer have pinpointed small businesses as an efficient route for getting innovations to the marketplace (EurActiv 16/4/09). Eurochambres echoed this view, noting that SMEs are faster moving than established firms because "their more streamlined decision-making structures mean they can take risks and make decisions very quickly". 

Butters said the public sector can set an example for the whole economy by pressing ahead with initiatives in areas like e-procurement. He cited Spain as a country where the public and private sectors have incorporated technology into their daily routines by submitting tax returns electronically. 

SMEs to sell green tech in new markets 

Emerging markets will become a key area for innovative European SMEs, according to Butters. Eurochambres runs a business and technology centre in India, part-funded by the EU, and its work is leaning towards helping European firms involved in green tech to market their products there. 

"This is a good example of where the EU can drive European competitiveness," he said. 

Meanwhile, several chambers of commerce are now recruiting advisors who can help companies at all ends of the innovation scale to reduce their carbon footprint. 

"These can become the first port of call for companies looking for information on energy efficiency in their own offices," Butters said.