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business planet

business planet

Small and medium sized companies are the engine of Europe's economy, accounting for 80% of European jobs created in the last five years. In Business Planet, we talk to those entrepreneurs who have succeeded and find out how they did it.

    Intellectual Property Rights in China

  • businessplanet: How to protect your IPR in China
    17/05 10:51 CET

    How to protect your IPR in China

    One of the biggest challenges for European small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is preserving their intellectual property. i.e. their products, their brand or their customers. To better…

  • - One of the biggest challenges for starting up business in China is IPR protection.
  • - A business needs to be prepared on IPR before it addresses the Chinese market. The China IPR SME Helpdesk has developed the appropriate free tools to support European SMEs in the protection and enforcement of their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
  • - Individual EU SMEs and SME intermediaries can submit China IPR enquiries directly to the Helpdesk via phone, email or in person, getting access to a panel of experts to receive free and confidential first-line advice. The can also obtain a wider advice on all relevant business activities in Chinese market through the help of EU SME Center, which is closely cooperation with IPR China Helpdesk.
  • - In 2011, EU Customs seized more than 114 million products, with a value of over €1 billion, suspected of violating intellectual property rights at the EU’s external borders.

Usefull links

    Setting up a European SME in China

  • businessplanet: The Great Call of China
    03/05 11:01 CET

    The Great Call of China

    What are the keys to success for a European SME opening up a business in China? Who do you turn to for help if you want to set up a business in Shanghai, China's economic hub? Find out in this edition of Business Planet. China is Europe's second largest trade…

  • - Developing and emerging markets are expected to account for 60% of global GDP by 2030.
  • - Europe is now China's largest trading partner and China is Europe's second largest. Many European SMEs are already present in China and there are opportunities for European businesses to reach new niche markets.
  • - Some of the main barriers for European Union SMEs in China include: poor language skills, a lack of information about the market, difficult bureaucratic procedures, a different business culture, legislation and regulations.
  • - If you need help to set up a business in China, you can turn to a number of organisations, either from your home country or backed by the EU.

Usefull links

    Business Angels

  • businessplanet: Angel dust magic for SMEs
    19/04 11:45 CET

    Angel dust magic for SMEs

    Small and medium sized businesses that are innovative and have strong growth potential have a new group of friends to help make that happen. Business angels are individuals or networks of people who use their cash, their expertise and their contacts to help SMEs…

  • - Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face significant problems finding finance they need to start, grow and compete in global markets. For SMEs with high growth potential, a business angel might offer a solution.
  • - A Business angel is a financially independent individual investor, investing directly his/her own money. A Business angel also provides mentoring, expertise, reputation and network and helps increasing the survival of start-up enterprises.
  • - Business Angels fill the ‘equity gap’ between financing coming from friends, family & founders and financing coming from venture capital funds – the range of investment is usually €50,000 - €200,000. Where business angels act in syndicates, or as co-investors, they can contribute to funding packages of €1-2 million.

Usefull links

    Business transfer

  • businessplanet: Moving on smoothly as companies change hands
    05/04 11:16 CET

    Moving on smoothly as companies change hands

    Retirement, illness, career changes - every year 450,000 businesses in Europe change ownership. The problem is that 600,000 jobs are lost in the region every year because of difficulties in…

  • - Every year, 450,000 businesses- employing two million people in all -change hands in the EU. At the same time, some 150,000 firms shut down, that is 600,000 jobs lost, exclusively due to problems linked to business transfers.
  • - According to experts, it is six to eight times easier to work with an existing business than starting a completely new one.
  • - The European Commission supports the exchange of best practices between member states to reduce legal and administrative hurdles for business transfer.

Usefull links

Previous editions

  1. Eco-labels: a smart strategy
  2. Promoting female entrepreneurs
  3. Rising to new challenges
  4. Green light for green clusters
  5. Financing for the future
  6. Helping minorities into the EU job market
  7. Protecting the environment can be profitable
  8. Business Planet battles bankruptcies
  9. Setting up business in Latvia
  10. New 'business hotel' scheme revives French region
  11. Inheriting a business: how to make it a success
  12. Taking business into Welsh schools
  13. Women entrepreneurs could be answer to crisis
  14. Greek business clusters together to find strength in numbers
  15. Business parties in Swedish countryside
  16. Meeting targets
  17. Boosting Women Entrepreneurs
  18. Incubating Spanish business
  19. Cooperative and competitive
  20. Go green, get growing
  21. Venture capital, a risky business?
  22. Wired to the world
  23. EU grants for eco-innovation
  24. Micro-credit brings organic growth in Ireland
  25. Meet the EU's female ambassadors for business
  26. Two's Company in Belgium

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Students protest in VenezuelaStudents protest in Venezuela 23/05 16:42 CET

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Water monitor lizard invades Thai Parliament HouseWater monitor lizard invades Thai Parliament House 23/05 16:38 CET
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