BalticSupply (BS) is a transnational project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) Programme. The project addresses the problem that very often markets in the BSR are too small and the fact that SMEs encounter a number of access barriers to European supply markets. These barriers cause competitive disadvantages for Baltic SMEs and their regions compared to suppliers and regions acting in larger regional contexts. BS pursues an integrated and proactive approach to shaping the future of SME Supply clusters focusing on 3 key sectors (Maritime Industries, Energy and Health) and tries to link innovation policies and competitiveness strategies in the BSR in general. Focusing on the demand of services within these sectors, BS aims at improving SME’s attractiveness, innovation and productivity on North East European Supply markets connecting the BSR with the North Sea Region (NSR). BalticSupply closely cooperates with the corresponding North Sea Supply Connect project pursuing the same objectives under the North Sea Region INTERREG Programme: • to extend knowledge for better SME performance on Baltic supply markets in the 3 key sectors; • to increase the impact of regional economic innovation policy on SMEs by involving these in new supply markets;• to promote North European integration by building economic bridges between the BSR and the NSR; and• to enhance competitiveness and market support of Baltic SMEs. Based on analyses of regional economies as well as of international supply and procurement markets the partnership concluded that there is a clear need for SMEs to identify new business opportunities and to cooperate across regional boundaries for sustained success on interregional supply markets.For this purpose the projects created as main results• the “European Business Support Network” (EBSN) as a personalised network partnership;• the internet-based service and collaboration platform www.eubizz.net;• a portfolio of facilities and services to support SME innovation, market development and training for enhanced SME competitiveness as innovative suppliers to buyer companies at international level.The project takes its offset from a well-balanced partnership including public authorities, knowledge institutions, economic and business development agencies, science parks and Chambers of Commerce. The wide geographical spread, competencies of the partners and their knowledge ensure that the developed business portfolio will contribute to strengthening the regional Baltic Sea economy. The partnership was reinforced by a political advisory group made up of high level and experienced politicians representing the countries participating in the project. Achievements: In its initial phase in 2010 main achievements of the BS project include the establishment of comparative data bases on Baltic Sea wide representation of the 3 pilot cluster industries (i.e. maritime, energy, food industries) selected for the development of innovative promotional tools for SME internationalization. Furthermore data bases on existing cluster organizations as well as on services provided by those organizations to their SME clients could be established and made available to project partners to benchmark their own service portfolios. A better understanding of interregional supply markets including procurement policies employed by contracting companies was achieved through targeted analyses carried out for each of the 3 focal clusters. Reports have also been published on electronic company registers as well as supply tender portals available to SMEs in search for new international market opportunities.In 2011 the partnership engaged in a comprehensive process of development of services for SME promotion on interregional supply markets. An agreement was reached to launch a new service platform comprising both online services as well as personally delivered offline services. BS and NSSC project partners established a service portfolio including the following 9 service categories: 1. Offshore cluster cooperation; 2. Information services for food industry suppliers; 3. Conferences and business events; 4. Services for matchmaking and brokerage; 5. Training and mentoring services; 6. Supplier information on e-learning services; 7. Search for international business partners; 8. Online self-assessment tools for SME suppliers; 9. Tender Services. Responsibilities to develop and deliver such services have been assigned to 9 service groups. For long-term service delivery the "European Business support Network" (EBSN) was launched also operating the on-line platform www.eubizz.net.The EEN company register has been integrated into the eubizz.net and several local contact points are now cooperating with EBSN. The year of 2012 was dedicated to pilot operation of the EBSN and of www.eubizz.net. For this purpose the service groups established the online services on www.eubizz.net and engaged in a number of offline activities, e.g. the organization of conferences and workshops on SME internationalization, the formation of SME and innovation networks, e.g. to serve the emerging offshore market, the organization of business matchmaking and brokerage events, the formation of an interregional tendering partnership for a large-scale fish farm project in Lithuania as well as the provision of information on international supply markets on www.eubizz.net. The partnership published the "EBSN Business Plan 2012+" and some 20 BS and NSSC partners committed to continuous operation of the EBSN and www.eubizz.net by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.