Solutions and best practice examples

Get inspired by COVID-19 response actions from European SMEs, clusters and institutions

NETHERLANDS: FAQ of entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 13 May 2020.

The government of the Netherlands is attempting to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 by taking measures to help businesses that are affected by the pandemic. Within this context, COVID-19 Crisis Frequently Asked Questions document for entrepreneurs has been developed and published, encompassing topics such as financial difficulties, employers, self-employment, start-ups, international business...

Blog on cluster collaboration and COVID-19

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 12 May 2020.

Orkestra, the Basque Institute of Competitiveness, has recently featured several articles on the effects of COVID-19 on the European economy. Their #Beyondcompetitiveness blog has been a useful source of information on the activities and status of European clusters in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak, social movements, industrial competitiveness, and policy implementation across Europe. As a...

LITHUANIA: Online catalogue of suppliers of protective equipment

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 12 May 2020.

Enterprise Lithuania gathers the Lithuanian business community to combat the consequences of COVID-19 by preparing a regularly updated catalogue of Lithuanian manufacturers that can supply various personal protective equipment for healthcare personnel and communities. In this catalogue, companies that can provide disinfectant, disposable coverall, face shields, protective clothing, reusable face...

Webinar on Leadership during the COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 12 May 2020.

A webinar for the exchange of case studies among peers has been set up by The European Society for Association Professionals (ESAE) on the 14th of May from 16:00 to 17:00 (CET). The event will include discussions on the effects of COVID-19 on leadership and provide an opportunity to hear what other peer leaders are doing. The goal is to exchange views and learn from each other. These activities...

Webinar on cities and their role in post COVID-19 recovery

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 12 May 2020.

EASME, the European Commission's Executive Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises, is organising a webinar on the 14th of May 2020 (11:00 CET) to discuss how technology and innovation can be used to rebuild the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. The topic of discussion will be the Post-Pandemic Recovery Plans in Cities: Turning the Crisis into an Opportunity - Rethinking Growth. The webinar...

GERMANY: Service hotline to support SMEs during COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 12 May 2020.

Due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many European SMEs are struggling to stay afloat and adjust. The Enterprise Europe Network team at ZENIT GmbH (Zentrum für Innovation und Technik in NRW) is adjusting its approaches in order to befittingly help their clients in several ways. For example, by helping small businesses with accessing funding for the rapid implementation of home...

Sending health professionals across Europe

Submitted by Veronika Muller on 11 May 2020.

The European Commission is celebrating the cooperative actions taken by Romanian health professionals that travelled to Italy in order to assist in the current outbreak of COVID-19. The medical team was led by Major Joe Stroescu, comprising of three nurses and 11 doctors (lung specialists, anaesthetists and experts in intensive care and emergency medicine). All members of the team worked side-by...

ITALY: JRC develops respiratory valves for ventilator masks

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 11 May 2020.

On EuropeDay, Antonio Piscia, an Italian technician and member of the European Joint Research Centre (JRC), was celebrated for his efforts and support to hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis. He had designed valves which can be used for emergency ventilator masks. The valves were then produced by the Italian company Isinnova by converting snorkelling masks. The JRC’s technical workshop is also...

Good Practice Guide for Temporary Emergency Facilities

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 11 May 2020.

The COVID-19 outbreak is placing overwhelming pressure on healthcare infrastructures across the globe. Since early 2020, swiftly and on a massive scale, convention and exhibition centres have become part of the front line in fighting the disease, from serving as ICU hospitals to conducting thousands of tests a day. Many members of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) and the...

ROMANIA: Clusters support local communities during COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 11 May 2020.

Asociatia SMURD Galați is the management entity of the Innovative Health Cluster called Dunărea de Jos from the city of Galați in Romania. Asociatia SMURD Galati aims to develop the cluster and promote information and technology transfer to increase the performance of Smal and Medium Enterprises by collaborating with Research, Development, and Innovation entities (RDI). Asociatia supports the...