SPRINT in 1994
The European Union's SPRINT programme (Strategic Programme for Innovation and Technology Transfer) has been allocated ECU 19 million over the period 1993-1994 to cover it's operations until the commencement of the Fourth Framework Programme. The first major action line of activities in SPRINT consists of the European innovation services infrastructure which receives a total allocation of ECU 11.5 million and includes: - Strengthening technology transfer networks (ECU 6.5 million) of Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs), science parks, technology broker firms; - Accompanying measures (ECU 5 million) such as the promotion of innovation management techniques (MINT, design, quality, value analysis) and associated promotional activities; - Technology Transfer Days; - Financial schemes for helping the launch of innovations emerging from the networks. Following the results of the latest SPRINT call for proposals, it is expected to support suitable initiatives to carry out feasibility studies and evaluation of science parks as well as the review of regional innovation and technology transfer strategies. The second action line (ECU 4 million) includes: - Specific projects; - Large-scale transnational technology transfer projects which addressing barriers to technology diffusion in Europe. A total of 21 projects are currently supported in this area, most of which are or will be extended until 1995. The third action line (ECU 3.5 million) deals with: - Monitoring innovation, which is the responsibility of the European Innovation Monitoring System (EIMS); - Concerted actions between the Member States and the Commission for innovation and technology transfer. EIMS will be preparing a draft Commission Communication on Innovation and Technology Transfer during 1994. The final evaluation report of the SPRINT programme will be carried out later this year. The extension of the programme, which was approved by the Council on 20 December 1993, will allow the work of SPRINT to continue and to prepare its integration into the Fourth Framework Programme in 1995. This process will see the merging of the SPRINT and VALUE programmes. Most SPRINT actions will remain substantially in the same format with the prospect of extra funding in some areas. SPRINT was initially seen as a largely experimental initiative which has since become an established programme within which experimentation is possible and welcome, such as the MINT scheme launched in 1993. SPRINT addresses the needs of SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) in particular because they are rarely able to maintain adequate in-house technology development activities. The support offered to SMEs includes most of the on-going activities of the SPRINT programme, including: - Inter-firm technology transfer networks; - Networks of Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs); - Specific projects; - Technology Transfer Days; - Investment seminars; - Technology Performance Financing; - Managing the Integration of New Technology (MINT); - Innovation and management tools: design, value analysis, quality; - Science park initiatives and consultancy schemes.