Reading Time: 7 minutesRecorded live for the first time at the 7th Digital for SMEs (D4SME) Roundtable, this special episode is hosted by Shayne MacLachlan and Alix Philouze.
Category: Regions
Building the ecosystem around the rules: What AI startups actually need from policy
Reading Time: 3 minutesThere is a version of the AI policy debate that treats regulation and innovation as fundamentally opposed – where every compliance obligation is a drag on startup growth, and the choice is between protecting people and building companies. That is too simple. How can governments close the gap between AI policy ambition and operational reality so that early‑stage AI companies can genuinely innovate, scale and compete?
Time, certainty, and the cost of capital: What the OECD’s latest SME finance Scoreboard means for America’s small businesses
Reading Time: 4 minutesSmall and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) don’t ask for special treatment. They ask for a fair shot, and the ability to plan. How can the uncertainty gap be closed and what lessons can be drawn from what the US Chamber of Commerce is doing to help?
When energy shocks hit home
Reading Time: 3 minutesSince late February 2026, the escalation of conflict in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Can faster, simpler and more trusted building renovations turn energy shocks into a catalyst for greater resilience and long‑term security?
Housing an ageing society: Lessons from France’s overseas territories
Reading Time: 4 minutesBy 2030, Guadeloupe and Martinique are expected to have between 70 and 80 elderly people for every 100 people of working age, compared with around 60 in mainland France. This highlights the particularly rapid pace of demographic aging in these territories.
What lessons can be drawn from housing in France’s overseas territories to manage this transition effectively?
Putting industrial policy in its place
Reading Time: 4 minutesAfter years in economic exile, industrial policies are back in a big way. Industrial policy interventions increased 20-fold in the past decade, as governments seek to rebuild competitiveness, support emerging technologies and shore up supply chains. This is true in OECD countries, but also in developing countries which use it more intensively. Many of these are adopting a place-based approach: between 2019-22, regional industrial policy support rose by over 50% as a share of GDP in 11 OECD countries. But why?
“How many hours, how many pages?” The hidden cost of cybersecurity for SMEs
Reading Time: 4 minutesFor large companies serving millions of customers, cyber threats are an unfortunate reality. They operate complex digital infrastructures, handle vast amounts of sensitive data, and usually have dedicated cybersecurity teams and resources to manage these risks. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), however, face a very different reality. Many handle sensitive customer information but cannot afford a dedicated cybersecurity specialist. As cyber threats grow more frequent and sophisticated, how can SMEs protect their data without the resources of large companies?
When unemployment rises, people reach for entrepreneurship: how can governments help them?
Reading Time: 4 minutesAs the UK labour market adjusts to a new economic reality, recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows unemployment rising to around 5.2%, its highest level since 2021. This shift reflects broader global patterns, where hiring is slowing and many traditional roles are being reshaped by automation and artificial intelligence. While numbers alone do not always capture the real picture, history tells us that periods of disruption have often acted as catalysts for reinvention. That is also true of what we are experiencing now.