The European internal market consists of 25 EU Member States and 457 million consumers. In this single market goods, services, capital and people can move freely across national borders. However, finding the right international business partners is difficult, complex and time consuming.

The STIMUTRAN-SME concept of matching is from ‘contact to contract’. We will bring you in contact with potential business partners and we will assist you with turning the new business contacts into actual business. If you participate in this project your company will receive assistance with implementing international business cooperation activities. This assistance is provided by the Transnational Matching Centres (TMCs).

 

TMCs are established to offer advice and assistance to your SME during all three phases of transnational business cooperation:

    1. Preparation for international business cooperation; including developing an export plan;

    2. Partner search phase; through participation in STIMUTRAN-SME matching events;

    3. Implementation phase of your international business cooperation.

The TMCs have specific responsibilities during each phase of business cooperation.

 

The Transnational Matching Centres are able to translate complex information into practical activities for SMEs. Experience has shown that in many cases SMEs have difficulty with understanding and interpreting the different legal text which are applicable to their operations. Providing information (e.g. directives, sector and country analyses) only will therefore not be sufficient in most cases. For example, an SME which already knows that its product must comply with specific directives (CE mark, food labelling, dangerous substances etc.) will need assistance with applying these directives to its product(s); i.e. the actual steps which must be taken in order to comply.  

 

TMCs provide a one stop transnational business cooperation service for SMEs. The level and intensity of the TMC services will depend on the need of the individual SMEs. Most of these services are free of charge due to the financial contribution of the European Commission.