The EU SME Centre held its official Phase V kick-off meeting on Friday 7 November 2025 among its key stakeholders, with participants joining online from Europe and China. Representatives from the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) at the European Commission, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), the EU Delegation to China, the consortium partners and the associated partners of the EU SME Centre took part.
The meeting was moderated by Mr Igor Kalinic, Head of Sector 2 (Competitiveness and Internationalisation) at EISMEA. A tour de table intoducing all participants was followed by opening remarks from Ms Natalia Martínez Páramo, Head of Unit I.02 (SMP/SME Pillar, Internal Market and Support to Standardisation) at EISMEA.
The consortium partners and associated partners of the EU SME Centre Phase V outlined their organisations’ specific contributions to the project. Mr Lorenzo Riccardi, Chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC), underlined the value of the consortium’s continuity, complementarity, and expertise, with CICC continuing its role as coordinator and liaison between EISMEA and all partners in Phase V.
Presentations were given by Mr Lorenzo Riccardi (CICC), Mr Adam Dunnett, Secretary General of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC), Mr Marco Bettin, Director of the Italy-China Council Foundation (ICCF), and Ms Sara Medina, Board Member of Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação (SPI), on the activities undertaken by each implementing consortium partner and their specific role.
Together, partners will continue delivering the Centre’s range of activities, including market access publications, technical assistance with business enquiries, training, advocacy, partnerships, and outreach.
