Doc. 7967
10 December 1997

New technologies in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Birraux and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       In the European Union, some 15 million enterprises, or more than 99.8%, can be classified as "SMEs" since they meet the criteria in respect of size (employing less than 250 workers), turnover (less than 40 million in ECU per year) and independence (less than 25% of their capital or voting rights is held by a large enterprise or a group). SMEs account for 2/3 of the total number of jobs and economic activity in the EU.

2.       The Assembly's report on promoting small and medium-sized enterprises in central and eastern Europe (Doc. 7948) underlines the importance of these enterprises for economic development in this region.

3.       It is therefore of Europe-wide concern that SMEs are assured access to new technologies in order to be competitive on local and world markets.

4.       A recent EU-study covering 500 SMEs that had created 112.000 jobs between 1989 and 1993 shows that the main reason for this growth were product quality and innovation.

5.       High technology exports by OECD countries has increased from a share of about 17% in 1980 to more than 26% in 1993.

6.       The main vehicles for the introduction of new technologies in SMEs are:

       the interaction with suppliers and customers and the technical analysis of competitors' products;

       acquisition of new equipment and machinery;

 movement of personel;

 interaction with research and development activities and with technology brokers-extension services;

7.       The Assembly therefore calls on member governments:

i.       to carefully analyze the different policy measures that can promote and facilitate the absorbtion of new technologies by SMEs;

ii.       to pay special attention in this context to the importance of personel mobility in particular between R-D environments and SMEs.

iii.       to facilitate the absorbtion of new technologies by SMEs through the creation and/or strengthening of demonstration activities and capacities (technology buses, etc.)

iv.       to assure a fiscal and regulatory policy framework that favours innovation and new technology development in SMEs.

Signed : ¹

Birraux, France, EPP/CD

Caccia, Switzerland, EPP/CD

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Gjellerod, Denmark, SOC

Lambergs, Latvia, EDG

Lekberg, Sweden, SOC

Melcak, Czech Republic, SOC

Melnikov, Russia, UEL

Newall, United Kingdom, EDG

Olrich, Iceland, EDG

Pasko, Ukraine, EDG

Raskinis, Lithuania, EPP/CD

Speroni, Italy, NR

Tiuri, Finland, EDG

Yablonsky, Ukraine, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      PPE/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      GDE: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group