Voorbeeldprojecten van Internationaal Onderzoek

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Final evaluation of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme

The objective of the study is to evaluate the Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme (EIP) on issues such as relevance, coherence and synergies, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. The evaluation concentrates on three main blocks in EIP: Financial Instruments, Enterprise Europe Network and Eco-innovation. It should also address the activities aiming at supporting innovation. The information is collected on the basis of an internet survey, a telephonic survey and in-depth interviews.

Commissioned by: DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission
Organisation: EIM Business & Policy Research
In cooperation with Center for Strategy and Evaluation Services (Lead)

SMEs and subcontracting

The overarching objective of the study was to provide a broad overview of the fundamental aspects characterising subcontracting currently affecting European SME subcontractors.

The report provides an overview of qualitative and quantitative information about the phenomenon of subcontracting in general. In addition, subcontracting practices have been studied in three sectors: the automotive sector, the shipbuilding and marine equipment sector, and the construction sector.

Three sources of information have been used. First, an extensive review of existing documentation on subcontracting and SMEs has been conducted, both at international and at national level in the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

Second, a limited number of questions have been included in a telephonic survey among a representative sample of more than 8,000 SMEs. Finally, a number of interviews with experts has been carried out, both comprising general of experts and sector experts.

Commissioned by: DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission
Organisation: EIM Business & Policy Research
In cooperation with International Network for SME Studies (INSMES)

The Annual Report 2009 on European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

In this project EIM developed an in-depth study preparing the "Annual Report 2009 on European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises", to be carried out in the context of the framework contract ENTR/2007/040-1 for the provision of Economic Studies in support of SME Policy development and implementation. The overarching objective of the assignment is to identify and analyse the current situation of European small and medium-sized enterprises, including EU-27, and the recent policy development they face.

The assignment consists of 2 parts. Part 1 consists of the preparation of an annual report, Part 2 comprises an up-to-date overview and fact-based analysis of recent SME policy developments at country level and the status of the Small Business Act (SBA) implementation at country level.

The following are be covered:

- 27 EU Member States;

- 10 Non-EU Member States viz. Albania, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Israel, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia and Turkey.

Next to that, attention has been paid to SME developments in Japan and the United States.

Commissioned by: DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission
Organisation: EIM Business & Policy Research
In cooperation with International Network for SME Studies (INSMES)

Study on representativeness of SME business organisations in the Member States

This 6 month study consists of a survey of the structure of the SME sector in the EU Member States, and how this determines the structure of SME organisation and representation. It analyses the structure of the SME sector for each Member State, identifies the relevant SME organisations at national level - together with those representing specific categories such as craft or social economy enterprises, women or ethnic minority entrepreneurs etc - and assesses their representativeness.

The two main objectives for the project are

- to achieve a better insight into and understanding of the structure of the SME sector, and thereby the representation of SMEs, in the EU Member States, in particular the new Member States;

- to collect information enabling to a strengthened dialogue with SME stakeholders in order to better implement the "Think small first principle" and the measures proposed by the "Small business act" for Europe.

Commissioned by: DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission
Organisation: EIM Business & Policy Research
In cooperation with International Network for SME Studies (INSMES)

Internationalisation of European SMEs

EIM conducts this in-depth study in the context of the framework contract" Economic Studies in support of SME Policy development and implementation. The European Commission needs to obtain a clear and conclusive view of the current state of internationalisation of SMEs in Europe. The overall goal has been described the Commission as to improve the information for political decision-making in this area. The two main tasks are:

- a telephone survey with 9225 completed interviews with SMEs in 33 European countries in 26 sectors of economy and 4 size classes.

- economic analysis and policy options and recommendations based on the results of the survey and additional information.

Commissioned by: DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission
Organisation: EIM Business & Policy Research
In cooperation with International Network for SME Studies (INSMES)

Cyclicality of SME Finance

The European Commission, Directorate General Enterprise and Industry has granted EIM the "Cyclicality of SME finance" study which is to be carried out in the context of the framework contract "Economic Studies in support of SME Policy development and implementation". The project will consist of a focused literature survey covering international studies on SME financing, identification and analysis of existing data sources and running econometric models to estimate the relation between 'finance' and the business cycle.

During this study, EIM Business & Policy Research in the Netherlands joined forces with CSES in the UK.

The aim of the study covers the following three elements:

- Studying to what extent the supply of loan and equity financing to SMEs is dependent on macroeconomic fluctuations;

- Studying the effect of Basel II and the use of mark-to-market principles1 on the pro-cyclical relationship between the general business cycle and the supply of finance;

- Considering whether pro-cyclical patterns in the supply of capital should result in exploring the possibility to develop appropriate policy measures, given the importance of adequate supply of finance for SME development.

Commissioned by: DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission
Organisation: EIM Business & Policy Research
In cooperation with C Center for Strategy and Evaluation Services (CSES)

Good practices on social protection of new entrepreneurs

SMEs and standardisation in Europe