Bridging4Growth

Results

Context and Problem:

SMEs in the Central Baltic region have faced major uncertainty in global markets due to post-COVID effects and ongoing geopolitical instability, including the war in Ukraine. These circumstances have made small and medium-sized enterprises reluctant to invest in exploring new export opportunities outside the EU. Many chose instead to protect their position in existing markets.

Bridging4Growth (B4G) addressed this challenge by helping SMEs overcome barriers to internationalisation. The project strengthened competitiveness, encouraged collaboration, and created pathways to new export markets. It specifically focused on greentech and smart sustainability sectors—areas where Central Baltic companies have strong expertise and growing international demand.

Idea and solution:

The project implemented a systematic approach to internationalisation support by combining export readiness training, market kits, matchmaking, and export missions. The project introduced:

• Exporters’ Kits for each target market (Great Lakes region in the US/Canada, Brazil, and Uzbekistan) containing practical guidance on IP, legal, communication, and financial aspects as well as local contacts and “soft-landing” opportunities.
• Local market experts who identified potential partners, buyers, and distributors, and supported matchmaking activities.
• Market seminars and joint marketing materials, including short company video pitches and translated presentations, to raise international visibility.
• Export missions and digital matchmaking events, giving SMEs direct exposure to potential clients and cooperation partners abroad.
  

Through these activities, 115 SMEs from the Central Baltic region participated in the project, receiving support and opportunities to expand into new international markets

Implementation and impact

The project’s impact was amplified by strong cross-border collaboration among partners:

• Business Tampere & Tehnopol led activities in the Great Lakes region (US/Canada).
• Norrköping Science Park coordinated efforts in Brazil.
• Cleantech Latvia led actions in Uzbekistan.

Each partner leveraged its own networks and expertise, creating a shared export platform for SMEs across Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and Latvia. This collective “Nordics” identity served as a powerful and trusted sales argument in global markets, reinforcing the region’s reputation for quality, technology, and reliability.

Through this cooperation, 20 new export sales or cooperation agreements were secured by Central Baltic SMEs in target markets. The project also established a sustainable export network that continues to support collaboration beyond the project’s end.

The 20 companies: