South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Poland-Denmark-Germany-Lithuania-Sweden (South Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2025-12-03

Description

Description (EN):

In the South Baltic Region, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are pivotal to economic growth, yet they face a significant challenge: internationalization. Despite their potential, a mere 34% of these SMEs engage in international business, with only 7% reaching non-EU markets. This underrepresentation is not due to a lack of capability but rather the complexities and hurdles of international expansion, such as financial constraints, insufficient market intelligence, and complex legal frameworks. SMEBEYOND is a strategic initiative designed to transform this landscape. Its primary objective is to empower SMEs within thematic areas of renewable energy, sustainable urban development, Water and Waste Management, Food Packaging, plasma technology and maritime in the South Baltic Region with the necessary tools, insights, and support for successful international ventures. The project aims to shift the current paradigm, increasing the number of SMEs engaging in international business, thereby enhancing regional economic vitality and global competitiveness. The project is structured around several strategic work packages (WPs), each contributing to a comprehensive support mechanism. A key output is the Cross-Border Innovation Methodology developed in WP3, designed to guide SMEs in successful international collaborations, with a focus on cross-border activities within the South Baltic Region and extending to other relevant international markets based on SMEs internationalization needs and market interests. SMEBEYOND will facilitate targeted matchmaking support and collaborations, aiming to support SMEs in establishing international contacts with challenge owners. A key component of the project to accommodate this, is by engaging the project partners into The International Cleantech Network (ICN). ICN is a global network of cleantech clusters, comprising 22 regional clusters from around the world. ICN boasts a vast network of stakeholders with over 7000 SMEs, 130+ Cities and 120 universities and research centers. It focuses on generating new business opportunities, enhancing competitive advantages, and creating value for companies, knowledge institutions, and local authorities across cluster regions. ICN is particularly beneficial for SMEs, offering a triple-helix structure for collaboration. ICN's global reach, with clusters in leading cleantech regions, provides SMEs with access to international markets and innovative technologies. This aligns with the goal of aiding SMEs in the South Baltic Region to expand their international presence. In addition, SMEBEYOND engages in advocacy with policymakers to refine legal frameworks and create a more conducive business environment for SME internationalization. This approach includes supporting innovation and R&D activities, essential for increasing SMEs' international activities. The core of SMEBEYOND's strategy is its emphasis on a cross-border approach, recognizing the diversity in economic, cultural, and business landscapes across the South Baltic region. This project underscores the value of a unified regional strategy for internationalization. By synergizing the resources, expertise, and networks of clusters throughout the region, SMEBEYOND is poised to cultivate a robust, competitive business ecosystem. This ecosystem is designed to facilitate cross-border collaboration and provide comprehensive support to SMEs. The combined strength of these shared networks surpasses what each cluster organization could achieve individually, thus amplifying the potential for regional SMEs to make significant inroads into global markets. SMEBEYOND envisions the establishment of the first concentrated South Baltic cluster network, where partners from each country collaborate to support SME internationalization. This network will act as a catalyst for joint efforts and cross-border collaboration, significantly contributing to the regional economy and the global success of South Baltic SMEs.

Thematic information

Urban development Renewable energy SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-A_SB_1) Innovative South Baltic - enhancing the level of innovation and internationalization of local actors

Priority specific objective: RSO1.3. Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 021 SME business development and internationalisation, including productive investments

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: CLEAN Cluster

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 29727538

Address: Frederiksborgvej, 4000 Roskilde Roskilde, Denmark

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Total budget: EUR 410 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 328 479.99

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 82 120.01

Sustainable Business Hub Scandinavia AB

Name: Sustainable Business Hub Scandinavia AB

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE556641295201

Address: Nordenskiöldsgatan, 211 19 Malmö, Sweden

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 280 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 224 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 56 000.00

OpenTech

Name: OpenTech

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE556781478401

Address: Mårtenstorget, 223 51 Lund, Sweden

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 199 999.70

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 159 999.76

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 39 999.94

Natureef Association

Name: Natureef Association

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 8513210132

Address: Cyfrowa, 71-441 Szczecin, Poland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 183 700.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 146 960.01

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 36 739.99

BalticNet-PlasmaTec

Name: BalticNet-PlasmaTec

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 250 275 699

Address: Brandteichstr., 17489 Greifswald, Germany

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 288 250.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 230 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 57 650.00

Klaipeda Science and Technology Park

Name: Klaipeda Science and Technology Park

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 142105464

Address: Vilhelmo Berbomo str., LT-92221 Klaipèda, Lithuania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Total budget: EUR 299 998.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 239 998.72

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 59 999.68

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Sustainable Business Hub Scandinavia AB

South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Partners and Projects info

OpenTech

South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Partners and Projects info

Natureef Association

South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Partners and Projects info

BalticNet-PlasmaTec

South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Partners and Projects info

Klaipėdos mokslo ir technologijų parkas

South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Partners and Projects info

CLEAN Cluster

South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Project acronym: South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Project ID: STHB.01.02-IP.01-0006/23

Project start date: 2024-07-01

Project end date: 2027-06-30

Project status: ongoing

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 662 548.10

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 330 038.48

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 330 038.48. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 001 - Enterprises supported (of which: micro, small, medium, large), Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 004 - Enterprises with non-financial support, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO087) Organisations cooperating across borders: 9.0
(RCO004Interreg) Enterprises with non-financial support: 30.0
(RCO116) Jointly developed solutions: 1.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR104) Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations: 1.0
(RCR84) Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion: 9.0

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Poland-Denmark-Germany-Lithuania-Sweden (South Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-12-03

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

49 / 49 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

356 / 356 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

South Baltic SMEs Advancing Beyond Borders (SMEBEYOND)

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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