SMEs hoping to make an impact
Getting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the fields of multimedia, new technologies, music, audio-visual and information to take advantage of EU funding opportunities is the goal of the PACT (Partnership agreement between content and technology) project, launched at the beginning of 2001. The project will provide information on what funding possibilities are available to SMEs in these fields, as well as providing assistance in proposal writing and introducing them to venture capitalists. The help is provided in three main areas: validation of project ideas, obtaining finance and marketing assistance. Co-funded by European Union funds, the project hopes to put the 20 most projects forward as proposals under the EU's RTD programme. Selected SMEs must expect a thorough analysis of their projects.