New logistics platform helps small businesses
Enterprises in any field can learn greatly from each other through improved collaboration on many fronts. One way of achieving this is by tightening cooperation in the field of logistics, which can benefit manufacturing, trade and industry. The EU-funded project 'Baltic-to-Balkan network for logistics competence' (B2B LOCO) envisioned an informal network for logistics competence from the area. Bringing together 16 partners from 15 countries, the project worked on establishing a platform for logistics competence to exchange knowledge, best practices and technology. It worked particularly on involving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) related to transport, logistics, manufacturing, retail, high-tech solutions and green technology in EU-funded projects under this theme. To achieve its aims the project organised conferences, workshops and brokerage events for SMEs, making great strides in integrating relevant businesses from both regions into EU initiatives. It built a database of over 10,000 stakeholders and identified European framework projects in the field of logistics and transport. The project also outlined these projects' best practices, highlighting as well the financial, organisational and other benefits of participating in EU framework programmes. Key project achievements include the establishment of a social network that groups alumni of universities across nine countries and an online Electronic Knowledge Brokerage System to facilitate partnerships. The brokerage events proved ideal for start-up companies and entrepreneurs who plan to create strong consortia to participate in the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), attracting research institutes as well. All these efforts were unveiled on the project's website and disseminated through newsletters and other communication mechanisms, providing valuable support to interested stakeholders. The project created an environment for creating new SME-based partnerships through its network of research and educational institutions in transport and logistics. It supported exploitation of successful research and development results, encouraging innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in the sector. The new Balkan to Baltic axis of information will help to streamline logistics in this region that traverses a large part of Europe.