Access to finance
14 November 2009by Ina Dimireva -- last modified 28 July 2012
An overview of the sources of funding available to SMEs in Sweden.
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Public finance
Indirect support
ALMI Företagspartner AB is a state-owned company offering business development and financing – with fewer demands for collateral but at a higher rate of interest than ordinary bank loans.
Its two principal services – financing and business development – focus on the following:
- company loans;
- micro loans (for companies with smaller capital requirements);
- innovation loans (to develop innovation projects);
- export financing.
The Industrial Fund (Industrifonden) is a long-term investor offering equity capital or loans to Swedish companies with the potential to grow in the international market.
Direct support
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) runs programmes to maintain a competitive economy in all parts of Sweden. Here are some examples:
- Product development for small companies;
- Supplier programme for the vehicle industry;
- The Power of Action with IT for IT skills development and secure electronic business processing;
- Environmentally-driven markets aimed at expanding companies;
- Production lift (production advice for manufacturing industry SMEs).
More on financing and support from the Agency for Economic and Regional Growth
ProViking is a research programme which supports new product development methods.
ProViking - application portal
ProEnviro is a research programme aimed at manufacturing processes with a focus on reducing their environmental impact.
Research grants from ProEnviro
The Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) is a state authority promoting growth and prosperity throughout Sweden. The authority's main responsibility is in the area of innovation linked to research and development. It provides support through a number of programmes.
FOKUS Verifiering (FOCUS Verification) is an initiative to enable verification of the commercial and technical feasibility of an idea, and to provide intellectual property protection for research results.
The Swedish Energy Agency supports the development of ideas which can be of commercial value within the energy industry.
Swedish Energy Agency publications
EU financing
Enterprise Europe Network lists a selection of financial support options from the EU that may be of interest to entrepreneurs.
Private finance
One way of gaining access to capital is a loan. As collateral for a loan, a company's movable property may be secured by way of a corporate mortgage (limited floating charge).
Many banks offer loans to small and medium-sized companies. The banks that are members of the Swedish Bankers' Association have a common website.
The Knowledge Foundation offers support to small and medium-sized companies via two programmes: one is research-oriented ; the other is expertise/skills-oriented.
CONNECT Sweden links entrepreneurs with the financial, technical and business development resources, such as venture capital and private investors (business angels), to create and develop high-growth companies in Sweden.
Business support organisations can advise businesses on how to find financing.
Source: Your Europe