The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Impact Report 2022-2025, examines how the network has supported SMEs across Europe in areas such as innovation, sustainability, digitalisation, internationalisation, and access to finance. The report highlights the impact of EEN services across multiple industrial ecosystems, including textiles, with strong results between 2022 and 2025: 78% of supported SMEs secured funding, 91% implemented sustainability actions, and more than 80% improved competitiveness and resilience. The report also explores how ecosystem-specific support is helping textile companies adapt to sustainability pressures, skills shortages, and growing international competition.  

Key insights

• Textile SMEs received targeted support for sustainability and circular transition
  The report highlights how textile companies are increasingly seeking support to meet sustainability requirements while remaining competitive in global markets. Enterprise Europe Network initiatives focused on helping SMEs navigate EU sustainability and green transition rules, while also supporting circular approaches in fashion and textiles.  
• MARINA TEX case study demonstrates international partnership building
  The report presents Bulgarian clothing manufacturer MARINA TEX as an example of how EEN support facilitated international business collaboration. Through the Plovdiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the company was connected with Danish sportswear supplier CHOPAR, leading to an initial order of 1,200 sports garments across six designs and discussions around a longer-term partnership.  
• Skills development and workforce retention emerged as key priorities
  To address workforce and competitiveness challenges, the Network supported textile SMEs through initiatives such as Erasmus+ projects FEA-VEE and SiT Sustainability. These activities focused on vocational education, sustainability training, and modernisation of textile practices. MARINA TEX also participated in workshops addressing training needs and sustainable business practices.  
• Energy efficiency and sustainability funding opportunities were promoted
  The report highlights how EEN advisers shared opportunities such as the EENergy grant scheme to support energy efficiency improvements and sustainability transitions in textile SMEs. 
• International matchmaking continues to support textile ecosystem growth
  The report underlines the role of initiatives such as Fashion Match, Torino Fashion Match, Textile Connect, and B2B Sustainable Solutions Match in connecting SMEs, brands, suppliers, and innovation stakeholders across Europe and beyond. These initiatives combine B2B meetings, workshops, trade fairs, and fashion showcases to support internationalisation and market visibility for textile businesses.  
• Social inclusion and circular business models are increasingly integrated into textile support activities
  The report also highlights textile-focused initiatives such as Manufy and re.store, which connect brands with sustainable suppliers and promote textile upcycling and social inclusion. According to the report, re.store upcycled more than 7.1 tonnes of textiles and provided EUR 60,000 to social partners within four years.  
• Strong overall impact across the SME ecosystem
  Beyond the textile sector, the report notes that over 80% of participating SMEs improved competitiveness and resilience, while nearly 70% reported stronger innovation capabilities and more than half expanded international partnerships and market reach.  

The report highlights the growing importance of integrated business support systems in helping textile SMEs navigate sustainability, circularity, skills development, and internationalisation challenges. It also demonstrates how cross-border partnerships, targeted advisory services, and ecosystem-based collaboration can support long-term competitiveness and resilience within the European textile sector.

For full details, readers can refer to the entire EEN report here.