SME EnterPRIZE: Generali celebrates 9 Sustainability Heroes in Brussels

• Generali and leading experts assessed over 6,600 SMEs drawn from across Europe to find 9 'Sustainability Heroes'
• SDA Bocconi - School of Management Sustainability Lab launches the second edition of a dedicated White Paper exploring the challenges Europe's SMEs face in their sustainability journey

Brussels - The second edition of Generali's SME EnterPRIZE, a flagship initiative designed to promote a
culture of sustainability among European SMEs, was brought to a close today in Brussels after a one yearlong
search for Europe's most sustainable SMEs.

Generali crowned the 9 'Sustainability Heroes' drawn from over 6,600 small and medium-sized businesses
from across Europe, at an event featuring senior policymakers, leading academics and thought leaders, as
well as SMEs themselves.

Generali, together with an expert scientific committee with members from academia, business and think-tanks
assessed applicants on the grounds of their social, environmental and community commitments, including the
implementation of notable sustainability initiatives in their business activities. The aim is that they can become
an inspirational model for fellow entrepreneurs and be ambassadors of sustainability.

The event also saw the presentation of a dedicated White Paper produced by SDA Bocconi - School of
Management Sustainability Lab. The research, which interviewed over 1,000 European SMEs, highlighted that while more of Europe's SMEs had implemented sustainable business models, others were falling behind - a worrying polarisation. It also explained that while NRRP plans were boosting efforts from small and medium
businesses on their sustainability journey, barriers to progress, such as access to sustainable finance remain.

The research explores the progress small and medium-sized businesses have made in
implementing sustainable business models, the challenges they face, and what the wider policy-making and
financial communities can do to create a greener and more inclusive economy.

Generali is marking the second edition of its SME EnterPRIZE project by calling for Europe to show the
courage and vision needed to harness the potential of small and medium-sized businesses. SMEs collectively
represent more than half of Europe's GDP and 99% of companies in the EU, they are the foundation of the
European economy and are essential drivers of sustainable transition. However, with businesses under strain,
now is the time for Europe to double down on keeping on a sustainable path. That means keeping
environmental and societal goals, and SMEs, at the heart of major policy initiatives, from the Capital Markets Union, to the EU recovery plan, to the recently announced SME Relief Package and upcoming energy market reforms.

Generali Group CEO Philippe Donnet commented: "It is a very challenging time for many small and medium-sized businesses that have had to face crises impacting the entire world over recent years. Europe has made great strides in putting environmental goals and social commitments at the heart of the economy. We must continue to push forward, now more than ever. We have to keep SMEs front and center in all major policy initiatives in order to meet the EU's green and economic ambitions that are at the heart of building a sustainable and resilient future for all."

Generali Group General Manager, Marco Sesana stated: "This project is part of our 'Lifetime Partner 24: Driving Growth' strategy. Our commitment as a responsible insurer is to foster the sustainable transition and SME EnterPrize is a flagship project to help achieve this goal. Today in Brussels, at the heart of the European Union - we have brought together experts, policymakers and the SMEs themselves for a discussion on the road ahead while celebrating success. We simply cannot achieve the inclusive and green future that all of us in Europe share, without SMEs."