IRC Network Helps Link R & D Technology Across Europe
The Innovation Relay Centre (IRC) Network has been created to facilitate the transfer of innovative technologies between European companies or research departments. IRCs are innovation support service providers mainly hosted by public organisations such as university technology centres, chambers of commerce, regional development agencies or national innovation agencies. Most are set up as consortia and staffed by people who have extensive knowledge of the technological and economic profile of the companies and regions they serve.,Their role is to improve their client's ability to perform the technology transfer either in the form of a licensing agreement, a joint venture agreement, a manufacturing agreement and/or a commercial agreement with technical assistance. They can then help audit their technological needs, find suitable technologies and partners and provide the necessary support throughout all the steps of the technology transfer process. All IRCs are linked by an internet based Business Bulletin System (BBS), so that technology offers or requests can be rapidly relayed across Europe. A scheme involving mandatory information templates ensures that all necessary details are given to enable a sensible appraisal of the technology. The system also ensures that only relevant organisations are approached when searching for partners and/or technologies., ,With 68 IRCs spanning 30 countries - including the EU, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Rumania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland - the IRC network has become a leading European network for the promotion of technology partnerships and transfer mainly between small and medium-sized companies (SMEs). In the UK, Procter and Gamble has been working closely with the IRCs, and Associate Director, Mike Addison believes this will enable them meet their business objectives, saying: Through our Connect and Develop initiative that focuses on embracing collaboration, partnership and improving external relationships, we aim to generate 50% of new ideas from outside the company. To do this we need to form networks across the world. With the help of the IRC network, we can actively look for technologies that will help us to improve existing products or bring new ideas to market more quickly.,The EUs Framework Programmes are the worlds largest, publicly funded, research and technological development programmes. The Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) covers the period 2002-2006 and is the European Unions main instrument for the funding of collaborative research and innovation. It is open to public and private entities of all sizes in the EU and a number of non-EU countries. It has an overall budget of 17.5 billion. Most of the budget for FP6 is devoted to work in seven priority thematic areas:,? Life sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health;,? Information Society Technologies;,? Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences, Knowledgebased Multifunctional Materials and New Production Processes and Devices;,? Aeronautics and Space;,? Food Quality and Safety;,? Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems; and,? Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge-based Society. There is also a focus on the research activities of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across all seven thematic areas. The services of FP6UK are funded by the Office of Science & Technology (OST) / Department of Trade & Industry (DTI). More information can be found on http://fp6uk.ost.gov.uk(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) Research & Innovation,The Research and Innovation Programme of the 6th Framework Programme is designed to address key structural weaknesses that prevent the maximum economic and social benefits being drawn from European research effort. It aims to encourage a more innovation-friendly environment throughout the EU and to stimulate technological innovation and the setting-up of innovative technology businesses. A particular objective is to set up the basis of a European innovation system by networking players, promoting co-operation, breaking down barriers and encouraging transnational learning. ,
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