France’s software sector has resisted the economic crisis and is innovating and creating jobs, with SMEs driving the industry, says a new report.

France’s small biopharmaceutical and life science companies have been weakened by the financial crisis and had to face a drastic drop in investment in 2009.

With traditional forms of lending to SMEs in short supply, the UK's Forum of Private Business says that a move away from bank lending could help many firms.

More than 2,000 UK technology companies have bid for grants to fund proof of concept projects, in a competition organised by the Technology Strategy Board.

After the proposed Small Business Act, now it’s the turn of the European Commission’s wealthiest department – the regional policy directorate – to do its bit for SMEs.