Relay centres for VALUE II
In the context of VALUE II, the centralized action for dissemination and exploitation of knowledge resulting from the specific programmes of research and technological development of the Community, 1992-1994, the Commission has launched a new programme to establish a network of relay centres across the European Community. This initiative aims to promote the activities of the different Community RTD programmes and encourage the best use of their results by industry, particularly within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The centres will also assist businesses and laboratories interested in participating in Community RTD. The relay network will have an important role to play in transferring new knowledge and technologies to those organisations likely to benefit most from the use of them. An understanding of the local scientific and industrial environment will permit each centre to interpret and adapt information available at Community level and to target dissemination for maximum effectiveness. Twenty-seven such centres have been selected to create the network, which should be operational at the beginning of 1993. Their actions will be coordinated under the Commission services (DG XIII, Luxembourg) with the help of external consultants and experts. The relay centre project has a budget for 1993-1994 of ECU 16 million (28% of the total VALUE II budget for the same period).