While the Bridging4Growth initiative comes to an end – this is only the beginning for the companies

Addressing uncertainty with practical export support

In recent years, many SMEs in the Nordic and Baltic regions have faced growing uncertainty in global markets. Post-pandemic effects and geopolitical instability have made companies cautious about investing time and resources in expansion beyond the EU. And that’s how Bridging4Growth was created, to address this hesitation. The aim was clear: to lower the barriers to internationalisation and support SMEs in taking concrete, well-prepared steps into new markets, particularly within greentech and smart sustainability, where international demand is strong and Central Baltic expertise is high.

The target was set on markets that the project partners had some ties to, and landed in three areas: Brazil, The Great Lakes Region (U.S. & Canada) and Uzbekistan. All markets with high potential for the companies. In total, 115 SMEs from Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia took part in Bridging4Growth.

Meeting the market in real life

A core part of the project was giving companies direct exposure to their target markets. And this we achieved through a number of 7 business delegations, where the participating companies got the chanse to meet potential customers, partners and key stakeholders on site. These delegations were one of the highlights and most valuable things in the project for the participants. Both to understand local expectations, business culture and being able to physically meet the right people.

The delegations were closely supported by our X local market experts, who not only helped prepare the companies ahead of the visits, but also joined several of the delegations and acted as a guiding hand on the ground. Together with tailored mentoring, the experts supported companies in sharpening their market approach, identifying concrete business leads and establishing relevant local contacts. To prepare for the delegations the companies also had our tailored Export Kits for each target market.

Working over borders – a great success factor

A defining strength of Bridging4Growth was its cross-border structure. Each partner organisation led activities in one target market, while sharing knowledge and networks across the consortium.

• Business Tampere and Tehnopol led activities in the Great Lakes region
• Norrköping Science Park coordinated efforts in Brazil
• Cleantech Latvia led activities in Uzbekistan

This clear division of responsibilities allowed the project to combine strong local market access with a shared regional approach. Together, the partners built a common “Nordics & baltics” identity that proved to be a powerful and trusted value proposition in international markets, associated with quality, innovation and reliability. Through this collaboration, Central Baltic SMEs secured 20 new export sales or cooperation agreements in the target markets. Beyond individual deals, the project also established a sustainable export network that continues to support collaboration between companies and business support organisations after the project’s formal end.

Long-term impact beyond the project period

In addition to measurable results, Bridging4Growth has strengthened the international readiness of participating companies. SMEs gained practical market knowledge, new contacts and increased confidence to operate in distant markets. Many companies report a stronger strategic mindset and greater preparedness for continued international growth. The project’s methods, tools and cooperation model will live on through the partners’ regular operations. Export support activities initiated during Bridging4Growth are already being continued in several regions, and the consortium remains committed to building on the experience and results achieved together.

What happens next?

Bridging4Growth also serves as a foundation for the next step. Building on the lessons learned and the networks established, the partners are now continuing their collaboration through the Leap4Growth project. Leap4Growth expands the focus towards new high-potential markets in Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on Vietnam and the Greater Bay Area via Hong Kong. With a similar hands-on approach, the project aims to support a new group of Central Baltic SMEs in taking concrete steps towards export and international growth.