Highlighting technology transfer at PROMA 2003

From 11th to 14th March, over 10,000 delegates from 19 countries will gather in Bilbao, Spain, to attend PROMA 2003, one of Europes largest and most successful environmental trade fairs. Held every two years since 1977, PROMA is now well-established itself as an important meeting point for specialists working in the environmental products and services sector.

To coincide with the event, the Basque Countrys Innovation Relay Centre (SPRI), the Cluster Association of Environmental Industries of the Basque Country (ACLIMA) and the IRCs Environment Thematic Group have joined forced to organise a two-day technology transfer event, providing a unique opportunity for European SMEs and research institutes to meet with potential industrial partners from across the EU.
The purpose of this brokerage meeting, which is free of charge to all participants, is to provide a platform for some of Europes most innovative companies and research centres in the environmental sector to present new technologies and research. It will also be a chance for them to meet possible partners for future R&D projects and to negotiate technology transfer agreements. Over 50 SMEs and research institutes from Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Norway are already lined up to attend. ,In keeping with the focus of PROMA 2003, the technologies and research on offer will be in the following environmental production and services sectors:
· Water,· Recycling,· Air,· Noise,· Energy,· Prevention of natural risks,· Marine environmental protection,· Urban and industrial cleaning,· Management of natural resources,· Analysis, metering and control
In the run-up to the meeting, an on-line catalogue of 170 technology offers and requests has been put together, allowing participants to select in advance the companies or research institutes they wish to meet face-to-face. Ten IRCs from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain will be on hand to facilitate up to 200 pre-arranged meetings.
Business and technology journalists are invited to attend this unique technology transfer event. This is the perfect opportunity to hear about the latest technological developments in the international environmental sector and to meet with the leading companies in this sector.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND PRESS REGISTRATION, CONTACT: ,Mr Arturo Anton, SPRI, IRC Basque Country ,Tel. [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]
,Background information on the Innovating Relay Centre network
· The network of Innovation Relay Centres provides a specialised transnational technology brokerage service for knowledge-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies, research institutes, universities, technology centres and innovation agencies. ,· The first IRCs were established in 1995 with the support of the European Commission, as members of an integrated pan-European platform to stimulate transnational technology transfer and promote innovation services. Today, 68 IRCs, with almost 250 offices employing over 1,000 people in 31 countries, form an integrated European technology transfer network, the largest of its kind in the world. Their success in stimulating transnational technology transfer based on brand recognition, close links with enterprises and universities, and the effectiveness of the tools and procedures developed by the network is unique.,· Most IRCs are operated by consortia of regional organisations with established reputations in local research and industrial communities. These include innovation agencies, Chambers of Commerce, regional development agencies and university technology centres. Altogether, almost 250 partner organisations are involved, ensuring a local presence in most regions of Europe. IRC staff are experienced specialists with backgrounds in business, industry and research.,· Each IRCs approach, procedures and skills have been developed in response to the technological structure and business culture of the region it serves, and each has developed close ties with the local community of technology-based firms. At the same time, all IRCs draw strength from their membership of a European network. The strong technical and personal links within the network equip each IRC to broker technology transfers quickly and efficiently. In many regions, IRCs have established themselves as the service providers of choice for companies wishing to internationalise their research activities, their marketing operations or their supply chains.,

Pays

Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy