SMEs are Serbia's economic backbone, yet many dynamic, fast-growing companies remain invisible to policymakers and the public as B2B "hidden champions." Serbia's fragmented SME landscape keeps high performers isolated.
In 2022, CEVES launched the SME100 Expo to create a nation-wide platform promoting, connecting, and empowering top SMEs while advocating for reforms in finance, green and digital transitions, and the business environment.
During the project, CEVES identified and engaged leading SME exporters and innovators (“SME100 Champions”) through hard, verifiable criteria. It awarded "Super Champions" excelling in specific areas, organizes annual Expo-Conferences in regional hubs (Kragujevac 2022, Niš 2023, Čačak 2024), and provides continuity through the annual SME Barometer. CEVES acts as convener and policy advocate, linking SMEs with government, donors, IFIs, and the business community.
Key results:
- Events enabled leading SMEs to recognize each other as a broader community rather than isolated islands, providing unique opportunities for policymakers, donors, and stakeholders to hear directly from entrepreneurs driving Serbia's growth.
- Three annual SME100 Expo-Conferences organized in regional hubs gathered over 800 participants.
- Recognition of "Super Champions" – SMEs leading in sustainable growth, export sophistication, and green innovation.
- Launched thematic side-events: ESG integration and green competitiveness workshops (2023).
- Established continuity through the annual SME Barometer for follow-up, monitoring, and advocacy. 25 SME100 initiatives articulated, with 6 already adopted or partially implemented (notably in Workforce development and Access to finance).
- In Workforce development, regional dual-education centers were established, scholarships for deficit profiles increased, and procedures simplified for hiring foreign specialists.
- In access to finance, CEVES prepared detailed calculations and advocacy proposals for introducing a tax credit to support SME investments.
- In business environment reform, the „Think Small First“ principle and SME Test were integrated into Serbia's SME Development Strategy 2023-2027, though implementation remains limited.
- In Green transition, priorities were identified but implementation remains at an early stage due to financial and institutional constraints.
