Establishing durable links between finance, innovation and technology

The European Commission, DG XIII, has published an invitation to tender concerning a series of contracts for external services relating to the FIT project, which aims to establish durable links between finance, innovation and technology. According to the Commission, such link...

The European Commission, DG XIII, has published an invitation to tender concerning a series of contracts for external services relating to the FIT project, which aims to establish durable links between finance, innovation and technology.

According to the Commission, such links often develop as financiers, innovators and technology sources address a specific common issue. The resulting interactions, if properly managed, can contribute to increased awareness and mutual understanding between those different sectors.

The services required are divided into three lots corresponding to a specific theme. These are:

- Lot A: The development and implementation of European entrepreneurship training curricula;
- Lot B: Spin-off and spin-out of exploitable research results and the role of 'micro-financing';
- Lot C: Development of networks of expertise in financing innovation and company start-up.

Each of the themes will be addressed in different phases, with each lot encompassing the following tasks with regard to their specific themes:

- Analysis and survey: providing a state-of-the-art overview of the relevant theme, resulting in the identification of relevant experiences, actors, results, key success factors and so on;
- Concentration and discussion: organisation of a structured, interactive workshop bringing together policy-makers and relevant parties for the specific theme;
- Structured dissemination effort: promotion of the good practices identified.

The infopack for this invitation to tender is available from the CORDIS website, at:

URL: http://cordis.europa.eu/finance/src/calls.htm

The Commission proposes to conclude the contracts for a maximum of 18 months, with the possibility of extending them for a further 24 months.

The FIT project is part of the EU's specific programme for RTD actions to promote innovation and encourage the participation of small and medium sized enterprises.
For further information, please contact:

European Commission
DG XIII - Information Society: Telecommunications, Markets, Technologies - Innovation and Exploitation of Research
Mr Marc Verlinden
Rue Alcide de Gasperi (EUFO 2197)
L-2920 Luxembourg
Fax [phone]