Objective
This project will create a valuable information service to stimulate innovation within an industry dominated by SMEs. The pilot system created during the project will demonstrate the value of the information resource, and will then attract wider participation.
The small boat industry (covering leisure and commercial craft) comprises a significant element of the economy in several regions of Europe. Innovation by boat builders, and by their suppliers, is essential for improved competitiveness and raised employment. In addition, there is growing interest throughout the European Union (and within the Commission) in the worldwide opportunities for short-sea shipping. A significant element of the short-sea shipping market concerns small, fast craft, which would be included in the target area of this project.
This project will stimulate innovation by providing firms with information they need to justify investments in new products, processes and services. Recent analysis by MTD has shown that boat builders lack three key types of information:
1. Where to procure specific components and systems
2. How to access technological expertise
3. Whether to exploit new market opportunities
The project will target these information resources, drawing on a wide range of existing raw data sources. As manager of Europe's University Enterprise Training Partnership (UETP) for the maritime industries (under the former COMETT programme), MTD has worked with many firms and institutions across Europe. Some of these organisations are now partners in this project. All the partners within the project are active within their national boat building industries, and can work closely with the potential users of the information service.
The target is to achieve a user-base of 200 companies at the end of the pilot phase, consisting of an average of 50 users in each participating country. After 2 years operation the target is to attract users from the whole of Europe, with a user-base of 1000 companies. This information service is dedicated to the needs of this particular sector, and can be made available at low cost, so a high penetration among the potential user-base is fully justified.
Almost all firms in the industry are classified as SMEs, and this presents particular problems in terms of measures to encourage innovation. The format of the information service will be designed to suit the needs of such firms. Both on-line (Internet) and off-line (CDROM) access will be supported, with matching user interfaces. This mirroring will help smaller firms to migrate to the on-line facility. After completion of the pilot phase, the commercial structure will provide incentive the ongoing maintenance and expansion of the service.
The proposed project will build a pilot system, using a base of existing knowledge and experience, which demonstrates a needed information service. This pilot will demonstrate how an information resource can effectively promote innovation among firms within the European small boat and leisure craft industry. The network can then expand to cover all the boat-building regions of Europe.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
WC2N 6EF London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.