Objective The general ways in which we as a society communicate is rapidly changing these days. The internet has had a profound impact on this matter, not only as a new media for publishing but also as a tool for handling the underlying data to be published in a whole new way. This evolution has given room for new players in the field of the graphic business, and it has increased the pressure on the European printing industry. Furthermore decreasing margins of profit and a demand for intensive investments in new technology simply threatens the existence of many of the smaller and middle-sized enterprises of the industry. Net-Print Europe aims to demonstrate that through a dynamic network based on calibrated production and web technology. SMEs can reach the economy of scale and competitive advantages of large enterprises, and thereby act efficient upon the present situation. The main focus will be on the process of analysing, planning, matching requirements for-and implementing the necessary tools to be a member of the resulting "Virtual Corporation". The final outcome of Net-Print Europe will be a packaged business case ready for further dissemination in the printing industry of the EU.Objectives:The overall objective of Net-print Europe is, by means of best practice, to create the technical and administrative platform for a graphic virtual corporation based on the key areas: distributed production, cross-media publishing and unified on-line customer entrance.Strategic business and technological objectives of Net-print Europe:a) Improve the competitiveness of the SMEs, notably more cost-efficient production, decreased investment on off-set printing equipment and increased return on investment.b) Identify and implement optimal solutions in: Workflow and colour management, Media asset management, E-business and production management, based on a common WAN-network. Technology implementation will be followed up by adequate organisational changes and training.Work description:The project has 4 phases:.Analytical phase will identify specific user requirements reflecting SMEs' future business processes enabling them to operate in a virtual corporation. Evaluation of available adequate systems to match these will be carried out. Analysis will include technology from the market as well as R&D results from EU project..Planning phase will elaborate accurate implementation plans for each SME assuring that their strategic business needs are met by selected systems. Final training plans will be produced for all levels in the SMEs.Implementation phase will cover actual deployment, evaluation and refinement of the technical solutions and the practices associated with them. These include adequate changes in management and production procedures as well as redesigned business processes..Evaluation and dissemination and use phase where increased awareness of the project will be ensured through presentation of the results to the European graphic industry via:publication in specialised press and on web-sites,meetings and targeted workshops,participation in international events, all in collaboration with relevant Scandinavian and international trade organisations, training institutions and networks.The Consortium consists of nine SMEs and three catalyst organisations, of whom one also assumes the role of project co-ordinator. The SMEs have 15-35 employees and differing profiles in terms of company technological status and business practices. They represent a sufficient critical mass to obtain measurable results. The three catalysts are national network organisations of graphic industries in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Their main role is to ensure that the technical solutions are implemented according to best practice and to assist the SMEs in the transition phase into a virtual corporation.Milestones:M1: SME requirements completed and evaluated.L%M2: SME implementation plan approved.M3: User acceptance report.M4: Implementation and networking model review.M5: Packaged Business Case.M6: Final review including validation of best practice results.Technical solutions will enable SMEs to:a) Reduce investments in offset machinery 10%.L%b) Decrease spending on external IT-consultancy services 10%.c) Increase average return on investments 5%.Further results: establish 3 cross border client-relations, e-business based customer-relations. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolorsnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysissocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementcommerce Programme(s) FP5-IST - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on a "User-friendly information society, 1998-2002" Topic(s) 1.1.2.-2.2.3 - Dynamic networked organisations Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme ACM - Preparatory, accompanying and support measures Coordinator PRINFO-DENMARK AMBA EU contribution No data Address RAVNSOEVEJ 7 8240 RISSKOV Denmark See on map Total cost No data Participants (11) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all BERGS ALLTRYCK OCH MEDIA AB Sweden EU contribution No data Address 570 80 VIRSERUM See on map Total cost No data FLENSBORG GRAFISK A/S Denmark EU contribution No data Address BRAGESVEJ 5 4100 RINGSTED See on map Total cost No data I & N GRAFISK KOMMUNIKATION AB Sweden EU contribution No data Address 104 32 STOCKHOLM See on map Total cost No data JELLING BOGTRYKKERI A/S Denmark EU contribution No data Address NORDKROGEN 19 7300 JELLING See on map Total cost No data NORDTRYK A/S Denmark EU contribution No data Address HAANBAEKVEJ 59 9900 FREDRIKSHAVN See on map Total cost No data PRINFO NORGE AS Norway EU contribution No data Address GLADENGVEIEN 3 B 0661 OSLO See on map Total cost No data PRINFO SVERIGE AB Sweden EU contribution No data Address BIRGER JARLSGATAN 41 A 111 87 STOCKHOLM See on map Total cost No data ROSENBORG GRAFISK KOMMUNIKASJON AS Norway EU contribution No data Address 7223 MELHUS See on map Total cost No data SIGNATUR AS Norway EU contribution No data Address ETTERSTAD 0605 OSLO See on map Total cost No data TEAM OFFSET & MEDIA AB Sweden EU contribution No data Address 200 43 MALMOE See on map Total cost No data TRYKKSENTRALEN AS Norway EU contribution No data Address 9487 HARSTED See on map Total cost No data