As part of the Horizon 2020 programme, the European Commission hand-picks potentially disruptive businesses to support through the SME Instrument.

Within the SME Instrument, the Overseas Trade Fair Participation programme supports innovative European SMEs in commercialising their cutting-edge technologies globally. It does this through bringing delegations of up to 15 European SMEs to major international Trade Fairs taking place across 11 countries outside the European Union, including Japan.

Only those SMEs with a disruptive innovative idea and a solid business plan are selected based on the criteria of expected impact (on the market, customers and competitors, as well as their ambition to go global), their fit with the trade fair and their commitment. Moreover, these SMEs have also been previously recognised for their excellence by being selected amongst the 7% out of 10 000 applications submitted per year to receive an SME Instrument grant of up to 2.5million EUR.

By accessing overseas markets the EU aims to allow these SMEs to leverage business opportunities outside the EU, further enhancing their growth potential.

After a thorough evaluation process, the SME Instrument – Overseas Trade Fairs team is proud to introduce you to the 10 EU Champions selected for FOE 2017, which will take place on 5-7 April, in Tokyo. You will find the EU SME delegation here and you are invited to come visit them during the duration of the trade fair, the OTF team and the EU SME delegation will be in booth #30-6.

You are also invited to come listen to them during the pitching session on 6 April from 3pm to 5pm (also at booth #30-6) and stay for the reception that will be held straight after at 5pm.

To attend the reception, please register here before the 27 March, and for more information on the EU Champions at FOE or a meeting request, please contact the SME Instrument – Overseas Trade Fairs team at overseastradefairs@sme-instrument-otfs.eu