SME Technology Days
The European Commission, DG XII and the Joint Research Centre, is organizing an event entitled "First SME Technology Days". This event, which will take place in Brussels, Belgium, on 30 and 31 October 1996, will consist of a two-day conference, information forum and exhibition designed to introduce SMEs to the opportunities offered by Community research programmes for acquiring or developing new technologies.
The conference will be addressed by Mrs. Edith Cresson, Commissioner responsible for science, research and development, and by Mr. Pat. Rabbitte, the Irish Minister for Commerce, Science and Technology and President-in-Office of the Council of Research Ministers. The Directors General of DG XII, DG XIII and DG XXIII will chair sessions where SMEs which have benefited from Community research funding will present their "success stories".
The conference will focus on the "Technology Stimulation Measures" taken to encourage SMEs to participate in RTD programmes. These include exploratory awards, which provide financial support for the preparation of proposals, and cooperative research schemes through which groups of SMEs can contract out research work to a larger organization. Parallel workshops will present opportunities available in individual specific RTD programmes.
The exhibition will offer participants the chance to meet with other SMEs who have been involved in Community RTD projects and other actors involved in projects. SMEs will have the opportunity to meet with Commission officials for a free pre-screening service of their projects. Representatives of venture capital funds and technology transfer specialists will also be available for consultation.
A major feature will be the "Info Pavilion", where participants can explore on-line information services which are relevant to the Community RTD programmes. In particular, CORDIS, the Community's Research and Development Information Service, will be represented, with visitors able to view the latest information and services on the CORDIS World Wide Web site, using 12 state-of-the-art terminals. Other services, including DG XII's ARCADE pages on the WWW, will also be demonstrated. Assistance will be available in the "Info Pavilion" to answer visitors' technical questions, for informal discussions about the project proposal processes and for guidance in forming contacts with similar companies.
For further information, please contact:
ECCO - European Congress Consultants and Organizers
First SME Technology Days
27a rue de l'Abbaye
B-1050 Brussels
Fax +32-2-6406697
E-mail: d.shannon@ecco-congress.be