however given the myriad of support programmes it may be difficult for smes and entrepreneurs to access integrated solutions to the challenges facing their enterprises ie they have to apply to a number of different programmes to integrate all of the servicesassistance they need to implement a project activity that might require employee training rd support and investment for example the business ownership rate is below the eu average and the sme landscape is overly dominated by microenterprises with weak skills and capacity net annual growth in the stock of smes is slow earlystage survival rates of new enterprises are very low relative to international standards and the valueadded innovation and investment contributions of smes are below the eu average as is their use of modern technologies there are also significant regional disparities in the density and performance of smes and levels of entrepreneurial activity