SMEs in Southern and Western Finland granted EUR 4 million for international growth

The Government has granted EUR 4 million to be used for business development aid under the SME growth accelerator programme in Southern and Western Finland. The programme is intended particularly for SMEs in the early stages of their growth to make them better equipped to pursue growth and internationalisation.

Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) was granted EUR 2.2 million and Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Central Finland EUR 1.8 million of the total appropriation. ELY Centres grant development aid to applicant SMEs in their respective regions for eligible projects under the growth accelerator programme. The objective of the programme is to increase the number of growth-seeking SMEs through internationalisation. Information on the programme content, aid criteria and application of aid for eligible projects will be available on the websites of ELY Centre by the beginning of April.

The Government decided to allocate the entire national appropriation reserved for business development aid in 2020 to the regions of Southern and Western Finland, in other words the Häme ELY Centre and the ELY Centre for Central Finland, because the structural funds available in these regions are insufficient compared with the number of SMEs with growth and internationalisation potential. The SME growth accelerator programme is also to be implemented in Eastern and Northern Finland under the Structural Funds programme.

The regional SME growth accelerator programme is part of a more extensive export and international growth programme included in Prime Minister Marin’s Government Programme. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is currently making preparations for this programme.

Inquiries:
Sirpa Hautala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 063 684