NRW.Europa2

ended

NRW.Europa2 is an Enterprise Europe Network node with three partners: ZENIT (co-ordinator), NRW.BANK and NRW.International. It covers the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The consortium supports primarily SMEs with regard to innovation, internationalisation and their competitiveness in the European Single Market. Other target groups include HEI, research institutes and multipliers. In order to help SMEs to meet changing and increasingly complex and demanding challenges, NRW.Europa2 offers specific impact-oriented services along the client journey. Lead principles in this context are: (a) client-centric approach, (b) no wrong door principle combined with selective mechanisms for in-depth services aimed at releasing clients’ potential to innovate and grow, (c) capacity building to increase SMEs’ ability to learn and enhance their competitiveness, (d) access to the EU innovation ecosystem, (e) initiation of business partnerships for SMEs within and beyond the ESM, (f) gateways for access to financeand funding, (g) provision of dedicated scale-up services, (h) complementarity with NRW’s smart specialisation strategy and the creation of synergies in the RIS (i) increased regional and European visibility and recognition, (j) stringent and efficient project management and monitoring of results (i.e. impact and added value of the services delivered). Activities related to innovation support are closely linked to the H2020-funded part of the Network. NRW.Europa2 actively contributes to 12 Sector Groups and follows all Thematic Groups (strong involvement in POD, A2F, Internationalisation, ScaleUp and PPI) and is a member of standing Working Groups, thus making best possible use of Network opportunities. NRW.Europa2’s activities are supported by the partners’ host organisations and regional ministries. A Stakeholder Network of some 60 regional and sectoral players facilitates access to clients and proximity to SMEs in the region.