Support for the Internationalization of SMEs 2

What is the National Project “Support for the Internationalization of SMEs 2”?

The National Project “Support for the Internationalization of SMEs 2” is implemented under the Operational Programme Research and Innovation, Priority Axis 3, Investment Priority 3.2, Specific Objective 3.2.1. The project focuses on increasing the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and enhancing their ability to seize opportunities offered by the EU’s internal market.

The beneficiary of the project is the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), a subsidized organization under the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic. The project partner is the Slovak Business Agency (SBA).

The main goal of the project is to strengthen the internationalization capacities of Slovak SMEs by presenting their entrepreneurial potential and providing free presentation, cooperation, and advisory services. The overall aim is to increase their participation in international cooperation.

Main activities of SARIO within the project:
 

Activity 1
Participation of Slovak enterprises in presentation events

This activity provides organizational and expert support to SMEs through participation in national exhibitions abroad and international cooperation events in Slovakia and abroad.

Activity 2
Development of capacities and tools to support the internationalization of SMEs in Slovakia
 

This includes support for professional education through the Export Academy and the development of supply chains to increase the involvement of Slovak SMEs in subcontractor networks by enhancing their competencies.

Main activities of the Slovak Business Agency (SBA) within the project:
 

Activity 3
Individual support for SME internationalization, operation of Trade Points, and involvement in EU programmes
 

This activity supports individual SME participation in international events, provides advisory services through regional Trade Points, promotes alternative trade and support platforms, and helps SMEs engage in EU programmes.

Activity 4
Promotion of electronic entrepreneurship tools for SMEs
 

This activity includes advisory services related to digital entrepreneurship and online business tools.

Within the National Project, SARIO provides the following forms of support (details available on dedicated subpages):
 

• Support for participation in national pavilions at international fairs and exhibitions
• Support for participation in business missions in Slovakia and abroad, helping SMEs implement their international strategies more effectively
• Support for participation in sourcing and cooperation events, enhancing partnerships with foreign entities and strengthening SME competitiveness and sustainability
• Support for capacity building through Export Academy seminars
• Creation of an interactive database tool to provide an overview of current supply chain structures across various industries and services in Slovakia
• Identification of long-term customer requirements, market gaps, and untapped SME potential, aiming to increase production volume and exports from Slovak SME production sites