Opening remarks by the organisers.

The COVID-19 pandemic emptied city centres and city streets, it has disrupted supply chains and travel. It also let firms to reassess their business models and modes of work, moving business online and connecting workers remotely to their workplaces. Going forward and moving beyond the crisis requires firms to operationalise and commercialise new ideas, new technologies and – more generally – a renewed focus on innovation. How can innovation policy help SMEs thrive and how does policy need to be adapted to suit different cities and regions?

To combat the economic impact of measures aimed to curtail COVID-19, countries rolled out unprecedented policy responses to support viable firms facing extraordinary – but temporary – challenges. While support measures were aimed to bridge the gaps arising from firms having to close operations or facing significant falls in revenue during COVID-19, there are lessons to be learned for SME policy going forward. What are the measure that were put in place in this crisis that can be applied to SME support in the post-COVID-19 environment? What will be the consequences of debt build-ups for SMEs as support measures are unwound? What needs to be done to mitigate a sharp increase in SMEs bankruptcies?

SMEs and entrepreneurs often have to tackle specific barriers and require support to face a level playing field. The cities where they operate can play a crucial role in providing this support by e.g. strengthening local networks and broadly the local business ecosystem, or by providing targeted support for cluster development. What can cities do to strengthen their local businesses and attract new ones? What roles will SMEs play in the recovery from the current crisis and in revitalising urban business and commerce areas?

Vast efforts are underway to support the recovery from the current pandemic and to “build back better”. The ambition is to leverage the green and digital transitions for better economies rather than a return to the “old normal”. ICT firms are often concentrated in a few leading cities and more broadly the uptake of digital technologies is less the smaller a firm. What lessons can policy makers learn from the growth of Nairobi’s “Silicon Savannah”? The green and in particular the circular economy can provide opportunities for new and existing SMEs but in public discourse the focus is often on the disruptions that necessary changes will bring to people’s lives and jobs. How can cities help firms leverage those opportunities? Are there links between the green and the digital transitions that can be exploited?

Traditional shopping streets (high streets) are the heart of liveable, walkable and attractive neighbourhoods. Online shopping and COVID-19 put pressure on high streets and some are even facing an existential crisis. How are these shopping streets responding to pressures? What can (and should) urban planners and policy makers do to help high streets remain places that attract people? The keynote explored these questions with a focus on place attraction and leveraging the new ”sun model” of shopping choices.

The policy speed session provided a forum for participants of the conference to present their cities, regions or countries approach to helping SMEs and cities in the “new normal” that follows the COVID-19 pandemic. Short pitches were given by policy makers, practitioners and academics.

Location has always mattered for the success of SMEs. In turn, the flourishing presence of small businesses often define the characteristics of a neighbourhood and its local community. What do cities do for their SMEs and entrepreneurs? What can national governments do to support their cities? Representatives from OECD cities of different sizes and different continents presented their own efforts and discussed among each other and with the audience what can and should be done to foster SMEs and create the right space for entrepreneurs.

COVID-19 has caused a profound shift in the lived experiences of cities. The urban fabric is flexible and continuously morphing to accommodate the needs of its inhabitants. People and firms have adapted quickly to face the challenges of pandemic, and are learning to live with them in the longer term. How will cities need to adapt their planning? Will we need to rethink how space is used for different purposes? What can be done to shape cities into places that foster a conducive ecosystem for SMEs and entrepreneurs?