STRENGTHENING OF INNOVATIVENESS AND COMPETITIVENESS OF SMEs WITH EUROPEAN GRANT FUNDS / JAČANJE INOVATIVNOST I KONKURENTNOSTI MALIH I SREDNJIH PREDUZEĆA EVROPSKIM GRANT SREDSTVIMA

Abstract

Horizont 2020 programme, used by European Union to fund aims from Innovation Union and EUROPE2020 strategies, enables small and medium enterprises (SME) to strengthen their innovativeness capacities and potential with main goal of putting innovation on market. SME Instrument is unique programme for funding of SMEs’ innovative actions aiming to strengthen their presence on global market and increase of competitiveness. Having in mind that in Europe more than 99% companies belong to SME category, and that BiH has paid participation in this programme, this means that domestic SMEs can apply for these funds. During 2014 were submitted over 6000 project proposals, but little over 500 were funded. This is telling us enough on interest of European SMEs for participation, but also about programme as ideal source of funds for realisation of innovative ideas.