Pannon European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation’s (Pannon EGTC) INTER VENTURES - "Policies to promote the internationalization of SMEs for more competitive regional ecosystems in border areas of the EU" Interreg Europe project is coming to an end.

The main goal of the project is to promote the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises in the border regions of the European Union, under the leadership of the Pannon EGTC and with the cooperation of 8 European partners (German, Spanish, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish), thus contributing to the increase of their competitiveness. Within the framework of the project taking place between 2019-2023, the partners share their experiences on the subject and elaborate on the final document called the Action Plan for each of the five regions included in the partnership, on how policy instruments could be used to help the internationalization of businesses.

Pannon EGTC’s Action Plan focuses on the creation of a program that helps less prepared SMEs to become international and to have a direct impact on the Hungarian-Croatian cross-border cooperation program between 2021-27 (HU-HR CBC) to achieve the publication of calls for proposals (such as the B-light program), which help the internationalization of businesses.

The closing event of the project, which will be held in Pécs, at the Kodály Centre  (7622 Pécs, Breuer Marcell sétány 4.) on November 3, 2022, starting at 10 a.m. However, given the hybrid nature of the event, it will be possible to join online.

As part of the closing event, there is going to be a conference called ”Cooperation of SMEs for internationalization”. The conference will be held in English.

The planned program of the conference:

  • 9:30-10:00 Registration
  • 10:00-10:15 Welcome
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (presenter to be confirmed)
    dr. László Őri, President of Pannon EGTC and Baranya County
  • 10:15-10:30 Introduction of the project INTER VENTURES
    dr. Péter Merza, Director of Pannon EGTC
  • 10:30-10:50 The future of Interreg Europe
    Laurentiu David, Senior Policy Officer, Interreg Europe Secret
  • 10:50-11:20 Internationalization of SMEs in the HU-HR CBC Programme: B-light+
    György Márton, Managing Director, regional development expert, Logframe Consulting Office
  • 11:20-11:45 Succes story in the B Light Grant Scheme
    Dr. Fedor Ferenc, managing director, GEOCHEM Ltd.
  • 11:45-12:15 Coffee break
  • 12:15-12:45 SME Cooperation in the DE-NL CBC Programme and impact of new EU-regulations
    Martijn Spaargaren, programme manager, Euregio rijn-maas-noord
  • 12:45-13:15 Two-tier support system for the internationalization of SMEs in Burgos
    Beatriz García Val, Society for the Development of the Province of Burgos (SODEBUR)
  • 13:15-13:30 Closure
  • 13:30-14:30 Lunch


The event is free, but prior registration is required. You can access the conference online at our youtube channel: https://youtu.be/0h0UD9y4-J4 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us: https://www.pannonegtc.eu/contacts

We hope to welcome you in person or online at the event!