Many Romanian SMEs (startups and scaleups) aim to expand their operations to foreign markets in hopes of diversifying their revenue streams and increasing their turnover.
However, in this expansion process, SMEs often face challenges such as identifying the right partners, navigating international regulations, or accessing appropriate funding sources.
In this regard, the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) supports SMEs by offering free assistance for internationalization, innovation, and access to new markets.
A concrete example of success is the Greek company BIOSOLIDS S.A., which, since 2012, has been producing organic fertilizers and soil improvers by composting biomass and solid waste for high-performance agriculture.
The company processes sludge collected from urban wastewater treatment plants, provides treatments for industrial wastewater, and uses waste and residues from domestic gardens, breweries, wineries, food processing industries, agricultural crops, wood, and livestock units at its composting facility in Pella, Greece—thus closing the cycle “from waste to soil.”
Relying 100% on circular economy principles, BIOSOLIDS recycles 22,000 tons of non-hazardous organic waste annually. To achieve this capacity and grow its business, the company has benefited from the support of Enterprise Europe Network since its early years.
The collaboration began in 2015 with BIOSOLIDS registering its profile in the network’s database to strengthen its international presence. In 2017, the company received assistance in securing funding for modernizing its production facility, which enabled it to acquire state-of-the-art equipment, improve energy efficiency, and significantly reduce its ecological footprint.
To stimulate growth and generate business opportunities, Enterprise Europe Network involved BIOSOLIDS in various events. As a result of these initiatives, BIOSOLIDS recorded a 57% increase in turnover and started exporting its products to Cyprus. The number of employees grew from two to 28, and the company follows a “zero waste to landfill” protocol, achieving a 99.7% recovery rate.
This example demonstrates that, with the right support, even businesses with a strong sustainable impact can access new markets and become significant players at the European level. You can read the full article “Turning Waste into Healthy Crops” here: https://een.ec.europa.eu/success-stories/turning-waste-healthy-crops.
The mission of MSP regarding innovation and international cooperation—facilitated through the PROSME project and Enterprise Europe Network—is to help SMEs develop their innovation potential, identify potential international partners, internationalize their businesses, and discover new business opportunities.
If you are an entrepreneur eager for scaling and internationalization, contact the MSP team to find the best innovation solutions.
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