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"If the IRC network did not exist... |
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... we would have to invent it." A recent strategic study finds that Innovation Relay Centres meet a real need. But creative development of the network could produce significant improvement in its performance, especially where 'innovation dissemination deficits' persist, the study concludes. |
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Keeping watch for new ideas |
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How does a small company keep abreast of new technology? A 'technology watching' service from the Northern England and Nord Manche IRC is helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to tap on-line resources - and is attracting attention from all over Europe. |
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The quest for excellence |
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Industrial benchmarking means searching for best practices that produce superior performance. In the case of the publicly-funded IRC network, benchmarks will also create a platform for collaboration and a tool for marketing the transnational technology transfer service. |
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Long-term relationships prove fruitful |
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The IRC Environment Thematic Group has hosted another successful technology brokerage event at the environmental technologies trade fair, Envitec. It brought together organisations from across Europe, encouraging several new transnational partnerships. |
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Contact! Lift off! |
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Information technology is dominated by large companies, so small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need help to make research and marketing arrangements with foreign collaborators. Six IRCs combined to support partnering meetings at CeBIT, the giant German trade fair. |
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Going digital |
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Two Innovation Relay Centres have helped a German printing firm to benefit from software and process methodology developed by a small Greek software house. With this assistance, the German company has re-engineered and 'digitalised' its business - helping it to work faster, smarter and cheaper. |
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On the scent of food quality |
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Assistance from the IRC network gave the Greek firm Biodynamics access to a cutting-edge sensor technology, and expanded the European market of Alpha MOS, its French creator. The partners' 'electronic nose' promises to revolutionise food quality control. |
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Workplace integration and efficiency |
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Norwegian manufacturer Prima Trondheim wanted to improve competitiveness by increasing the participation of disabled workers in production and quality management. Through the IRC network, it found a Spanish organisation with exactly the right know-how. |
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July 2001 
