ADVISER will pilot telematics-based procedures to improve the way researchers relay their work to a wider public. Currently, research and development findings are not available in an updated user-friendly form for the benefit of universities or industry, where they could boost EU competitiveness. Prototype tools and guidelines providing results directly in electronic form will be progressively developed and validated. The schema proposed by ADVISER consist in linking the information providers with the information users, particularly SMEs, via intermediaries such as Innovation Relay Centres, Science Parks or University Innovation Units, all of whom specialise in technology transfer.

The key factors for sustainable development in advanced countries require a high level of efficiency in transferring results from research to production. Currently, research results as documents are not available in a user-friendly and up-to-date form to those who could benefit from them. Such information has value to a wide user group, including university researchers, industrial R&D laboratories and innovative SMEs, on or off science parks.

The ADVISER pilot project will develop telematic based procedures and practices to improve the way that researchers make their results available to a wide user community. The project will provide a consistent set of procedures, tools and guidelines, to allow researchers to provide the research information directly in electronic form. The past experience of the Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs) will guarantee a sound base and responsiveness to end-users' requirements.

The ADVISER project will be developed in several steps using a fast prototyping approach with systematic validation involving end users. The ADVISER prototype will provide a telematic service using Directory Services and the World Wide Web to link information providers of R & D results with information users, particularly SMEs, through a number of gateways. These gateways will include Innovation Relay Centres, Science Park Directors and University Innovation Directors, all of whom are involved in technology transfer and exploitation support.

The ADVISER project will integrate widely used technologies and anticipate their future evolution to create a consistent and efficient service to foster the whole process of technology transfer and co-operative research.