INNOVATION - European networks and services
The European Commission, DG XIII, has released information on the results of the call for European networks and services under the specific programme for the dissemination and exploitation of results of research (INNOVATION), launched on 15 December 1995 (OJ S 240 of 15.12.1995 p. 42). The call was for proposals for services and networks to contribute to the diffusion of technology and promotion of innovation beyond national frontiers in Europe. In particular, these services should promote the dissemination of methods already successfully used, particularly among SMEs. The call had two deadlines for submission of proposals, in March and September 1996. In total, 124 proposals were submitted, requesting total funding of ECU 71.8 million. Seven proposals were selected following the March deadline. These will receive funding of ECU 2.27 million. A further 16 proposals were selected following the September deadline. These are likely to receive funding of ECU 4.91 million pending final approval from the Commission. The projects selected seek to develop transnational experimental actions: - Providing improved services to innovative SMEs, delivered through cooperation between complementary professions and service providers; - Spreading good practices in the field of innovation and technology transfer for SMEs; - Creating a first interconnection, at the European level, between national or regional networks of innovation promotion bodies, seeking to improve the services they supply to SMEs. Targets of these actions include organizations developing and delivering innovation support programmes and public and private providers of services to SMEs. Examples of projects selected include: - BRIGIT: a project aimed at developing the internationalization of brokerage functions for chemical SMEs, their customers, suppliers, research organizations and financial institutions. BAsed on an evaluation of the RTD needs of SMEs in the chemical industry, the project offers a broad range of services to chemical SMEs in The Netherlands, the UK, Italy and Finland; - UTRANS (University Transfer): a project which interlinks organizations strongly involved in SME creation through University spin-offs. It aims to offer universities and technology transfer organizations a common, well proven methodology of sensitization and training to new business activities stemming from higher education institutes. The project involves participants from The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France. Observers are foreseen from Italy and Portugal.