One thousand six hundred twenty-nine companies express strong support for the SME of the Year Award 2023, a flagship reference in the global awards landscape that recognizes the vital role of small and medium-sized enterprises in Spain. Organized annually by Banco Santander in collaboration with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the program highlights SMEs as engines of wealth creation and job generation, underscoring their significance in national economic resilience and regional development. This year marks the seventh edition of the award, reflecting growing interest and participation as the event expands to capture the evolving contributions of SMEs across Spain and beyond. The initiative emphasizes measurable outcomes such as sustainable employment, inclusive growth, talent development through education, and a strategic focus on internationalization, including exports and entry into new markets, alongside ongoing efforts in innovation and digital transformation and social responsibility projects. (citation attribution: Banco Santander, 2023)
Regional participation remains robust, with Barcelona leading in registered companies, followed by Madrid and the Balearic Islands. Across 50 provinces, the program garners attention from 52 regional Chambers of Commerce and 13 Banco Santander regional offices, signaling a broad consensus on the value of SMEs to local economies and communities. Provincial juries will convene in the coming days to identify five winners across multiple categories: Provincial SME of the Year Award, Internationalization Second Place, Education and Employment Second Place, and two Innovation Second Place prizes, including Digitalization and Sustainable Company Second Prize. The mix of categories mirrors the diverse contributions of SMEs—from workforce development and digital readiness to cross-border growth and responsible business practices. (citation attribution: Spanish Chamber of Commerce, 2023)
Winners at the provincial level will advance to the national stage, competing for the 2023 National SME of the Year Award to be announced in the first quarter of the following year. The national event will also recognize the four second-prize categories tied to the nation’s SME landscape, further highlighting the breadth of SME impact across sectors and regions. This progression ensures consistent visibility for firms as they scale, innovate, and participate in national and international markets, reinforcing the narrative that small and medium enterprises form the backbone of robust economies while driving export activity, talent pipelines, and community development—principles that resonate with audiences across Canada, the United States, and other global markets. (citation attribution: National SME Council, 2023)