SME(s) WITHOUT BORDERS

Connecting business, academia and policy.

Third edition · 11 November 2026 · Bratislava
Assembly Hall, the Bratislava University of Economics and Business

8:30 - 9:00
Registration

All guests are required to register online before the event.

9:15 - 9:30
Opening Remarks

Welcome Address by the Dean

Speaker

Peter Drábik, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce at the Bratislava University of Economics and Business

9:30 - 10:00
Opening discussion

How Can Slovakia Help Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Grow in a More Digital, Sustainable and Competitive Europe?

The opening discussion will bring together European, national and academic perspectives on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. It will focus on how Slovakia can make better use of the Single Market, digitalisation and the green transition to support the growth and expansion of domestic companies.

Barriers Limiting the Growth of Slovak SMEs in the Single Market
Simpler and More Predictable Conditions for Doing Business and Cross-Border Growth
The Role of European and National Policies in Supporting SME Competitiveness

Speakers

Peter Stano, Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovakia
Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic

10:00 –10:20
Coffee Break

10:20 –10:35
Expert Talk

The EU Digital Single Market

A perspective from Brussels on the future of the EU Digital Single Market.

Key EU initiatives shaping the Digital Single Market
Current discussions and priorities among EU Member States
New opportunities and challenges for Slovak SMEs operating across borders

Speakers

Juraj Hošták, Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU

10:35 - 11:50
Panel Discussion

The Single Market as a Home Market for SMEs

The discussion will focus on whether the Single Market works for SMEs as a genuine home market, and on the practical barriers facing Slovak companies when expanding into other Member States.

cross-border barriers, differing national rules, and initiatives to simplify the Single Market, including the “Terrible 10” and the 28th regime
export support and the practical role of public administration in supporting SME expansion
new packaging and sustainability requirements: PPWR, EPR, Digital Product Passport and environmental claims
skills and costs associated with the green transition

Speakers

Vladimír Šimoňák, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic
Adrián Grolmus, Head of the Waste and Geology Section at the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic
Paula Puškárová, Vice Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies at the Bratislava University of Economics and Business
Martin Schaner, Director of the Marketable Risk Insurance Department at the EXIMBANKA SR
Daniel Ondruš, Head of Foreign Trade Department at the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency

11:50 - 13:00
Lunch

Lunch & Networking

13:00 - 13:15
Business Story

Technology gets a second life

The story of Slovak company Furbify will show how e-commerce and digital marketplaces can be used to build a trusted business in refurbished electronics, expand into international markets, and at the same time support the circular economy.

building customer trust in online sales
using e-commerce and online marketplaces to expand into international markets
connecting digital entrepreneurship, affordable technology, and sustainability

Speaker

Furbify

13:15 - 14:30
Panel Discussion

Fair Digital Rules, Not Just for E-commerce

The discussion will focus on how to shape digital rules so that they protect consumers, create a level playing field in the market, while remaining practical and cost-effective for SMEs.

Digital Omnibus, DMA and DSA: simplifying digital regulation and its practical impact on businesses
AI as a tool for growth, expansion and more efficient management of regulatory obligations
Online marketplaces as export infrastructure and their role in relation to sellers and customers
Product safety, customs controls, product data and a level playing field vis-à-vis imports from third countries

Speakers

Radoslav Štefánek, Government Plenipotentiary for AI at the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
Emília Budišová, Director of the Industrial Policy Department at the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic
Monika Naďová Krošláková, President of the Business Alliance of Slovakia
Emil Fitoš, President of the IT Asociácia Slovenska (ITAS)
Filip Franek, Public Policy Manager CZ&SK at Amazon

14:30 - 14:35
Prize Draw

Don't miss your chance to win an Amazon Kindle! Every participant will automatically receive a raffle ticket upon registration at the venue.

Make sure you're in the room when the winner is announced – only participants present during the draw are eligible to claim the prize!

14:35 - 14:40
Student Awards

Students who have worked on a project throughout the semester will be recognised for their efforts, with small prizes awarded to selected participants.

14:40
Cocktail reception

Main Partner

Partners

Under the auspices of

About Event

SME(s) without Borders, organised by the Bratislava University of Economics and Business together with Amazon, returns for a third year. Two editions have shown that the appetite is there — not for another discussion of what's broken in the Single Market, but for concrete, practical proposals to fix it. That remains our objective: tangible solutions and actionable outcomes for the small and medium enterprises that drive Central Europe's competitiveness.