Strengthen the SME landscape: Crafts drive sustainable growth

“We welcome the fact that the Commission wants to remove obstacles for the establishment and expansion of Startups and Scale-ups. However, the Commission's narrow definition of innovation with its focus on high technology and Scale-ups fails to recognize the innovative strength of the craft sector and SMEs as a whole. The skilled crafts sector is a key driver of innovation in Europe, Innovation does not only happen in start-ups and scale-ups. Many existing SMEs are also developing new solutions, utilizing modern technologies and thus making a decisive contribution to technology transfer in the regions.  

Their contributions therefore also deserve support, when it comes to starting a craft business and business succession. The Commission should support closer cooperation between research, industry, start-ups and the craft sector with concrete measures.  

It raises concern when funds earmarked for SMEs are increasingly channeled towards start-ups and scale-ups. In the negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial Framework and the Competitiveness Fund, balanced support is needed for both established small and medium-sized craft enterprises and start-ups. The aim must be to strengthen Europe's entire innovation landscape and promote innovation of all kinds. 

Many craftsmen and women are already demonstrating how innovative they are: Roofers are using the Internet of Things to install moisture measuring devices on the roof to determine when the roof needs to be replaced. SMEs in the construction sector are analyzing samples of air particles using artificial intelligence. In the planned EU Innovation Act, craft businesses and SMEs must be thus defined as innovative companies from the outset. The performance of existing craft SMEs must not be taken for granted. On the contrary, they must be relieved of additional burden.”