The 22nd INSME Annual Meeting, titled “Driving SME Competitiveness: Innovation, Sustainability and Growth”, will take place in Heraklion, Crete, from 12 to 13 October 2026.
The event will bring together policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, financiers, business support organisations, and innovation ecosystem actors to discuss how SMEs can strengthen their competitiveness, adapt to emerging challenges, and seize new opportunities for sustainable growth. The meeting will provide a platform for exchanging experiences, sharing good practices, and fostering dialogue between businesses and the wider ecosystem supporting SME development.
The conference focuses on the key drivers shaping SME competitiveness through five thematic panels. Discussions will address the transformative potential of AI, robotics, and automation; the opportunities and challenges associated with the green transition; the role of universities, research centres, and clusters in supporting innovation and technology transfer; access to appropriate financing for innovation, growth, and internationalisation; and the contribution of SMEs to tourism, territorial attractiveness, and local economic development. Check the programme here.
Source:
