Series R: Evaluation report for the BSR Go-abroad project

The report "Evaluation report for the BSR Go-abroad project" has been published in has been published in Novia's Publications and Productions, series: Reports 5/2026 in June 2026.

Summary

Project overview: The objective was to strengthen the resilience of micro-SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region by promoting increased trade and collaboration within the region. The activities equipped micro-SMEs with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to implement effective internationalisation strategies and build strong local value chains. The project piloted an internationalisation programme for micro-SMEs, resulting in a practical blueprint of tools and recommendations to support local trade and value chain cooperation in the BSR. The blueprint was made available to micro SMEs, business development organisations, and local authorities across the region. In the end, the project supported 258 micro-SMEs.

Purpose of the evaluation: The main focus of the evaluation was twofold: 1) to evaluate and to adjust and validate the internationalisation programme and its content during the project, and 2) to evaluate and confirm an increase in the participating companies’ internationalisation readiness.

Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed to capture both quantitative and qualitative data, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the need for adjustment of the programme and its impact. The evaluation combined data from the Screening Tool, questionnaires, and participatory workshops and meetings.

Findings: The findings indicate that the programme was successfully developed, piloted, and refined through a systematic evaluation process, resulting in a coherent and transferable programme for supporting internationalisation. Participating micro SMEs demonstrated clear improvements in internationalisation readiness, particularly in market understanding, strategic planning, networking, and the development of an international mindset. The programme contributed to reducing uncertainty and strengthening firms’ capacity to take concrete steps toward entering international markets. In addition, the partners enhanced their advisory capabilities, developed shared methodologies and tools, and strengthened crossborder collaboration. Overall, the results underline that effective internationalisation support for micro-SMEs requires an integrated approach that combines knowledge, practical tools, continuous coaching, and strong collaborative networks.

Foreword

When the BSR Go-abroad project was initiated, the ambition was clear: to support micro-SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region in taking their first or next steps towards internationalisation in a way that felt realistic, relevant, and practically achievable. From an evaluation perspective, this also meant designing a process that would not only measure outcomes at the end of the project, but also continuously inform how the programme should evolve in response to real needs, experiences, and constraints faced by participating companies.

Following the programme closely throughout its development and piloting phases has provided valuable insight into what internationalisation support for micro-SMEs really requires in practice. It became evident early on that readiness is not primarily a matter of knowledge, but of confidence and the ability to turn ambition into concrete action. Many participating companies entered the programme with uncertainty rather than defined strategies, and one of the most meaningful observations has been how structured support, practical tools, and continuous coaching helped transform that uncertainty into strategic direction.

This report reflects a learning process that has been shared between companies, business coaches, experts, and project partners. The evaluation has been less about judging success against predefined targets and more about understanding how and why certain approaches worked, where adjustments were necessary, and what can be carried forward into future initiatives. The close integration between programme delivery and evaluation has been central in allowing these reflections to take shape.

The intention of this report is therefore not only to document outcomes, but to capture experience and lessons learned. I hope that the reflections, results, and lessons presented here will be useful to practitioners, policymakers, and organisations working with micro-SMEs, and that they contribute to a deeper understanding of how internationalisation support can be designed in a way that is both structured and practical-centred.

Vaasa, 30th April 2026.
Henrik Virtanen

Information about the publication

Henrik Virtanen, Evaluation report for the BSR Go-abroad project

Publisher: Novia UAS, Wolffintie 33, 65200 Vaasa, Finland
© Novia UAS and Henrik Virtanen

Novia Publications and Productions, series R: Reports 5/2026

Cover image: "Aerial view of the modern neighborhood Jatkasaari of Helsinki, Finland. Modern Nordic architecture." By Lev Karavanov, Adobe Stock (license)

ISBN: 978-952-7526-74-3 (Online)
ISSN: 1799-4179

CC BY 4.0