Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – Europe

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) refer to businesses whose size falls below certain thresholds in terms of employees, revenue, or assets, which vary by country or industry. SMEs are typically defined by:

• Small enterprises: Fewer than 50 employees and either a turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding €10 million.
• Medium-sized enterprises: Fewer than 250 employees and either a turnover not exceeding €50 million or a balance sheet total not exceeding €43 million (EU definition).

SMEs play a crucial role in economies by driving innovation, creating jobs, and contributing to economic growth, and often benefit from specific support programs and regulations tailored to their size and resource constraints.