The Faculty of Commerce at the Bratislava University of Economics and Business (EUBA), in cooperation with Amazon, hosted the third edition ofSME(s) Without Borders on 11 November 2026. The event, held in the Aula of the Bratislava University of Economics and Business, once again brought together representatives of the business sector, public administration, and academia to discuss current challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in the European market.
We created a platform for expert discussions on the future of entrepreneurship, the competitiveness of Slovak businesses, and opportunities for their expansion into international markets. Building on the success of previous editions, the third year of the event focused primarily on identifying practical solutions to overcome barriers within the European Single Market, digital transformation, the use of artificial intelligence, and business sustainability.
The European Single Market and New Opportunities for Slovak Businesses
The conference was opened by Peter Drábik, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce at the Bratislava University of Economics and Business, who welcomed the participants.
The expert programme began with a discussion on how Slovakia can support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in an increasingly digital, sustainable, and competitive Europe. The discussion focused on the obstacles that Slovak companies face when operating within the European Single Market, as well as opportunities to create a simpler and more predictable business environment.
The discussion featured Peter Stano, Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, and Jakub Birka, Director General of the Research and Development Section at the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. The international dimension of the conference was further enhanced by an expert contribution from Juraj Hošták of the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the European Union, who outlined current priorities and challenges related to the EU Digital Single Market.
A significant part of the programme was dedicated to the panel discussion “The Single Market as a Domestic Market for SMEs”, which addressed practical challenges of cross-border business activities, export support, new regulatory requirements, and sustainability. The panel brought together representatives of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, EXIMBANKA SR, and the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO). Academia was represented by Paula Puškárová, Vice-Rector for Science and Doctoral Studies at the Bratislava University of Economics and Business.
Digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence, and Fair Rules for Business
The afternoon programme featured a discussion on the digital economy and its impact on the business environment. The panel “Fair Digital Rules Beyond E-commerce” focused on current European regulations, product safety, consumer protection, and the use of artificial intelligence in business development.
The discussion brought together Radoslav Štefánek, Government Plenipotentiary for Artificial Intelligence of the Slovak Republic; Emília Budišová from the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic; Emil Fitoš, President of IT Association of Slovakia; Filip Franek, Public Policy Manager CZ&SK at Amazon; and Monika Naďová Krošláková, President of the Business Alliance of Slovakia, who is also affiliated with the Faculty of Commerce at EUBA.
A practical perspective on business development through e-commerce was also provided by David Grinberg from SellerPortal, who highlighted the role of online marketplaces in supporting international business expansion.
Students and Their Projects Also Took Centre Stage
At the conclusion of the event, selected student projects developed during the semester were also recognised and awarded. The awards acknowledged the students' dedication, creativity, and ability to apply their academic knowledge to practical challenges.
The closing part of the conference also featured a prize draw for an Amazon Kindle e-reader, as well as informal networking opportunities that encouraged participants to establish new contacts and explore potential collaborations.
The SME(s) Without Borders conference once again highlighted the importance of cooperation between universities, the business sector, and public administration. The exchange of experiences, expert knowledge, and practical solutions plays a crucial role in creating a more favourable business environment and strengthening the competitiveness of Slovak enterprises.
We would like to thank all speakers, partners, organisers, and participants who contributed to the successful third edition of the SME(s) Without Borders 2026 conference.
More information: https://www.smeswithoutborders.com/
