Encouraging SMEs to benefit from the work of ACTS
The SMARTS project has been established to increase the participation of small companies in ACTS projects and to encourage them to exploit the results of ACTS research. SMARTS aims to encourage SMEs to participate as full partners or sub-contractors in ACTS projects, as well as to use new broadband technologies generated by ACTS research. Both technological and non-technological companies are being targeted, so that new broadband technologies can be extended into new applications and taken up in the form of products and services. Three activities form the basis of SMARTS: - A "participation broker" service which matches SMEs offering new services to those seeking them; - A News and information service provides SMEs with details of relevant ACTS activities; - A campaign which actively promotes opportunities for SMEs to participate in advanced communications activities. The SMARTS project is run by a consortium of SMEs from around Europe, with partners from Central and Eastern European countries. During the lifetime of the project (January 1996 to December 1998) it is hoped to involve some 5,000 SMEs as users of ACTS technologies.