Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket)

1. Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) Sweden – U S Entrepreneurial Forum 2009 September 16, 2009 The role of government in creating an entrepreneurial society Lena Rooth, Head of Unit, Business Support, Tillväxtverket

2. Tillväxtverket … New agency New Opportunities • include the areas of responsibility previously belonging Nutek and the Swedish National Rural Development Agency as well as the SwedishConsumer Agency’s tasks concerning commercial and public service • More and expanding enterprises • Sustainable and competitive business community • Development and potential for growth … throughout Sweden

3. Our offices • 11 offices in 9 locations • Head office in Stockholm • Director GeneralChristina Lugnet • For growth throughout Sweden

4. Our assignment • Promoting business development and entrepreneurship • Making things easier for enterprises • Co-ordinating development work • Promoting commercial and public service • Managing the structural fund

5. Promoting business development • Strengthen growth • Facilitate and encourage business development and entrepreneurship • Provide guidance to information for development and company start-ups EXAMPLES: • Programme for foreign-born entrepreneurs • Promoting women entrepreneurship • Environment-driven business development • Entrepreneur’s Guide • Business support • Enterprise Europe Network • Product development – small companies

6. Making things easier for enterprises • Measure and analyse the effects of rules • Collect ideas and proposals for new simplifications • Make things easier for everyone looking for information about starting and running a business EXEMPLES: • Better regulations for enterprises • Service for enterprise start-ups • Entrepreneur’s Guide • Business Link - Verksamt.se • The Start-Up Line

7. Financing of business development and growth • Responsible for the regional support mechanisms • Be complementary to the private market • Promotion activities within the different programmes

8. Capital MarketComparing private and public markets – some examples • Commercial bank loans 2006SEK 829 billion The netlending increased with SEK 86 billion between 2005 and 2006 • ALMI – total loans 2007SEK 3,2 billion • ALMI - new loans 2007SEK 1,4 billion • Venture Capital Comp. 2007:SEK 48, 8 billion Growth phases SEK 5,6 billion of which seed money approx SEK 200 million • Business Angels (estimated) SEK 2-3 billion/year

9. Government spending on financing? • Public financing to SME:s 2007: approx SEK 3 billion (exkl. venture capital) from Nutek – approx SEK 250 millionDefinition • Public financing means loans, conditional loans, guarantees, venture capital or grants directly to individuals or companies in order to facilitate start-up of companies or development of existing companies

10. Venture Capital investment by the Regional Structural Fund Programmes

11. Venture Capital SEK 2,5 billion

12. Financial Support Regional Business Support - Regional Investment Grants- Regional Employment Grants- Support for Business Development – County Administrative Boards to companies within the regional support areas- Budget for 2009 140 Mkr - Total investments 2008 SEK 1,5 billion System Management- ”Handbook for Regional Business Support”- Policy Development- Training- Statistics and Reporting - Development of further Support Systems 12

13. Regional Investment Grants 13 13

14. Regional Employment Grants 14

15. 15

16. Co-ordinating development work • Assist with knowledge and expertise • Spread experience and learnings • Support and co-ordinate development work throughout Sweden EXAMPLES: • Regional cluster programme • Urban area development programme • Programme for local and regional growth

17. Regional differences in innovation and entrepreneurship Source: Anderstig, Kempinsky och Wigren (2007).

18. Promote commercial and public service EXAMPLES: • Programme for developing commercial and public service • Support for commercial service • Support and co-ordinate co-operation between different players in order to achieve a good level of service throughout Sweden 18

19. Manage structural funds • To be the managing authority for the regional structural fund programmes • The eight regional structural fund programmes • The territorial co-operation programme Öresund - Kattegatt - Skagerrak EXAMPLES:

20. International affairs • Strengthen the international dimension in all programmes and activities • Support to SME in internationalisation processes • Crossregional och transnational programs, to support regional authorities activities in international programs and projects

21. Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) EU-Program - (2007-2013)

22. Enterprise Europe Network-sevices • Information and excpertise on EU-rules, internationalisation, EU-financing • Active international business contacts - in all EU regions • Service for cooperation in research and technology

23. Tillväxtverket • More and expanding enterprises • Sustainable and competitive business community • Development and potential for growth Thank you!www.tillvaxtverket.se Tel. +46 8 681 91 00