Objetivo This project will create a valuable information service to stimulate innovation within an industry dominated by SMEs. The pilot system created during the project will demonstrate the value of the information resource, and will then attract wider participation.The small boat industry (covering leisure and commercial craft) comprises a significant element of the economy in several regions of Europe. Innovation by boat builders, and by their suppliers, is essential for improved competitiveness and raised employment. In addition, there is growing interest throughout the European Union (and within the Commission) in the worldwide opportunities for short-sea shipping. A significant element of the short-sea shipping market concerns small, fast craft, which would be included in the target area of this project.This project will stimulate innovation by providing firms with information they need to justify investments in new products, processes and services. Recent analysis by MTD has shown that boat builders lack three key types of information:1. Where to procure specific components and systems2. How to access technological expertise3. Whether to exploit new market opportunitiesThe project will target these information resources, drawing on a wide range of existing raw data sources. As manager of Europe's University Enterprise Training Partnership (UETP) for the maritime industries (under the former COMETT programme), MTD has worked with many firms and institutions across Europe. Some of these organisations are now partners in this project. All the partners within the project are active within their national boat building industries, and can work closely with the potential users of the information service.The target is to achieve a user-base of 200 companies at the end of the pilot phase, consisting of an average of 50 users in each participating country. After 2 years operation the target is to attract users from the whole of Europe, with a user-base of 1000 companies. This information service is dedicated to the needs of this particular sector, and can be made available at low cost, so a high penetration among the potential user-base is fully justified.Almost all firms in the industry are classified as SMEs, and this presents particular problems in terms of measures to encourage innovation. The format of the information service will be designed to suit the needs of such firms. Both on-line (Internet) and off-line (CDROM) access will be supported, with matching user interfaces. This mirroring will help smaller firms to migrate to the on-line facility. After completion of the pilot phase, the commercial structure will provide incentive the ongoing maintenance and expansion of the service.The proposed project will build a pilot system, using a base of existing knowledge and experience, which demonstrates a needed information service. This pilot will demonstrate how an information resource can effectively promote innovation among firms within the European small boat and leisure craft industry. The network can then expand to cover all the boat-building regions of Europe. Programa(s) IS-IMPACT 2 - Programme (EEC) for the establishment of an internal information services market, 1991-1995 Tema(s) 1 - Business and industry projects Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinador Marine Technology Directorate Ltd Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 19 Buckingham Street WC2N 6EF London Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (4) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo Instituto Superior Tecnico Seccao Autonoma de Eng. Naval Portugal Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Marinetech South Ltd Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS Grecia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Heroon Polytechniou 9 Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Technical University of Denmark Dinamarca Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos
