SMEsforFOOD Project - A dedicated European network to improve the participation of SMEs in FP6 Priority 5

The SMEsforFOOD project was launched in Toulouse, France on December 12th 2003, during the 2nd annual Food Safety and Quality Technology trade fair. The event gathered several commission officials, coordinators of IPs and NoEs and researchers in the field of Food Quality and Safety.

The SMEsforFOOD project is a 3-year long NCP initiative to promote the participation of SMEs in FP6s new types of instruments (IPs and NoEs).
To achieve this the SMEsforFOOD project will help European SMEs strengthen their innovative capacity, by identifying their needs and anticipating market trends. SMEs will thus be able to meet their technology needs towards their participation to IP and NoE.
For the implementation, a work plan consisting of six work packages has been put together, including: management, design of a common working methodology, SME profiling, NoE and IP profiling, matchmaking and promotion.
Led by Anvar, the French Agency For Innovation, the consortium of the SMEsforFOOD project, comprises 19 partners from 16 countries: Austria BIT; Belgium BEA; Cyprus Talos; the Czech Republic - TC AS CR; Denmark DAC; France Actia, Anvar, HLP Développement, INRA and; Greece Etat S.A.; Hungary HSTF; Israel ISERD; Italy - Apre; the Netherlands SENTER; Poland - IFTR-PAS; Portugal GRICES; Spain - AZTI; Switzerland - Euresearch; Turkey TUBITAK.
SMEsforFOOD project aims for at least 150 SMEs to benefit from this initiative and take part in FP6s challenging new instruments.
,For more information please contact:,Mr. Michel Ganoote, Anvar,E-mail: [e-mail] ,Tel. [phone],Fax [phone]