The award was presented by the European Commission on Tuesday 20 November at the SME Assembly in Graz, Austria. A total of 19 entries (initiatives and programs) were submitted for the competition from across Europe.
Kasvu Open received the European Enterprise Promotion Awardfor supporting the internationalization of businesses. The European Commission’s annual European Enterprise Promotion Awards identify and reward the most successful promoters of enterprise and entrepreneurship across Europe. The award was presented on November 20 in Graz, Austria.
“The award indicates that the work we have done to promote the growth and internationalization of SMEs is of European significance. The goal of the Kasvu Open network is to make Finland the best business growth environment in the world, and the award confirms that we are on the right track,” says Uljas Valkeinen, the CEO of Kasvu Open.
The European Enterprise Promotion Award was presented in six categories, including the following: supporting the internationalization of business, promoting the entrepreneurial spirit, investing in entrepreneurial skills, improving the business environment, supporting the development of green markets and resource efficiency, as well as responsible and inclusive entrepreneurship. Awards were presented for the best proposal in each category. This year, 303 candidates from 32 countries participated in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards competition. Kasvu Open was the only Finnish candidate to make it to the top 19 finalists.
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Kasvu Open is the largest sparring program for business growth in Finland. Kasvu Open’s concept, developed in collaboration with the Central Finland Chamber of Commerce and the University of Jyväskylä, is based on confidential meetings between entrepreneurs and experts (so called millers) from various fields. Kasvu Open is funded by private investors. The millers participate in the program on a voluntary basis and share their expertise free of charge.
Kasvu Open’s sparring program has received recognition on previous occasions as well. In November 2018, President Sauli Niinistö presented Kasvu Open with the Internationalization Award of the President of the Republic.
Kasvu Open’s partners include: Nordea, Finnvera, Technopolis, Varma, If, BusinessJyväskylä, the Regional Council of Central Finland, Grano, the Municipality of Laukaa, the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers, Jyväskylä Fair Ltd, the City of Kitee, Lombard International, Innovestor, Vauraus Suomi, Jyväs-Caravan, Isku and San Francisco Oy.