business planet

Small and medium sized companies are the engine of Europe's economy, accounting for 80% of European jobs created in the last five years. In Business Planet, we talk to those entrepreneurs who have succeeded and find out how they did it.

Intellectual Property Rights in China

17/05 10:51 CET
How to protect your IPR in China

One of the biggest challenges for European small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is preserving their intellectual property. i.e. their products, their brand or their customers. To better…

- One of the biggest challenges for starting up business in China is IPR protection.
- A business needs to be prepared on IPR before it addresses the Chinese market. The China IPR SME Helpdesk has developed the appropriate free tools to support European SMEs in the protection and enforcement of their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
- Individual EU SMEs and SME intermediaries can submit China IPR enquiries directly to the Helpdesk via phone, email or in person, getting access to a panel of experts to receive free and confidential first-line advice. The can also obtain a wider advice on all relevant business activities in Chinese market through the help of EU SME Center, which is closely cooperation with IPR China Helpdesk.
- In 2011, EU Customs seized more than 114 million products, with a value of over €1 billion, suspected of violating intellectual property rights at the EU’s external borders.

Usefull links

The China IPR SME Helpdesk
www.china-iprhelpdesk.eu
Ask China IPR experts a question
question@china-iprhelpdesk.eu
TransAtlantic IP Portal
ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/ipr
Obtaining European funding
ec.europa.eu/small-business

Setting up a European SME in China

03/05 11:01 CET
The Great Call of China

What are the keys to success for a European SME opening up a business in China? Who do you turn to for help if you want to set up a business in Shanghai, China's economic hub? Find out in this edition of Business Planet. China is Europe's second largest trade…

- Developing and emerging markets are expected to account for 60% of global GDP by 2030.
- Europe is now China's largest trading partner and China is Europe's second largest. Many European SMEs are already present in China and there are opportunities for European businesses to reach new niche markets.
- Some of the main barriers for European Union SMEs in China include: poor language skills, a lack of information about the market, difficult bureaucratic procedures, a different business culture, legislation and regulations.
- If you need help to set up a business in China, you can turn to a number of organisations, either from your home country or backed by the EU.

Usefull links

ERAI
www.erai.org
EU SME Centre in China
www.eusmecentre.org.cn
China IPR SME Helpdesk
www.china-iprhelpdesk.eu
European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
www.europeanchamber.com.cn
Obtaining European funding
ec.europa.eu/small-business

Business Angels

19/04 11:45 CET
Angel dust magic for SMEs

Small and medium sized businesses that are innovative and have strong growth potential have a new group of friends to help make that happen. Business angels are individuals or networks of people who use their cash, their expertise and their contacts to help SMEs…

- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face significant problems finding finance they need to start, grow and compete in global markets. For SMEs with high growth potential, a business angel might offer a solution.
- A Business angel is a financially independent individual investor, investing directly his/her own money. A Business angel also provides mentoring, expertise, reputation and network and helps increasing the survival of start-up enterprises.
- Business Angels fill the ‘equity gap’ between financing coming from friends, family & founders and financing coming from venture capital funds – the range of investment is usually €50,000 - €200,000. Where business angels act in syndicates, or as co-investors, they can contribute to funding packages of €1-2 million.

Usefull links

More about Business Angels
ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/finance/risk-capital/business-angels
Réseau Business Angel Belgique
www.beangels.eu
Obtaining European funding
ec.europa.eu/small-business

Business transfer

05/04 11:16 CET
Moving on smoothly as companies change hands

Retirement, illness, career changes - every year 450,000 businesses in Europe change ownership. The problem is that 600,000 jobs are lost in the region every year because of difficulties in…

- Every year, 450,000 businesses- employing two million people in all -change hands in the EU. At the same time, some 150,000 firms shut down, that is 600,000 jobs lost, exclusively due to problems linked to business transfers.
- According to experts, it is six to eight times easier to work with an existing business than starting a completely new one.
- The European Commission supports the exchange of best practices between member states to reduce legal and administrative hurdles for business transfer.