economic and technological intelligence - (eti) projects for smes – 1

8/9/2019 Economic and Technological Intelligence - (ETI) projects for SMEs 1

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Economic and Technological Intelligence(ETI) projects for SMEs 1

Contract number Project Acronym

CT-2004-508563 DETECT-IT Big companies are opening their doors

CT-2004-508533 ECTIST Integrating clusters with similar needs

CT-2004-508559 FASHION NET A dedicated follower of fashion

CT-2004-508519 FASTER Fast-track access to European transport research

CT-2004-508547 FISH Fishing for information on FP6

CT-2004-508564 ITE Human factor brings hope to ailing textiles

CT-2004-508476 LINK A unique web of public and private networks

CT-2004-508507 MISMEC Multifaceted mechatronics

CT-2004-508695 NANOMAT Big help for nanotech

CT-2004-508505 NAoMITEC Small scale but high tech

CT-2004-508583 NATIBS Getting off to a good start in biotech

CT-2004-508520 PATENT Towards the multimedia future

CT-2004-508566 PLASTEAM Moulding plastics SMEs into European research

CT-2004-508683 PRODESTS Wasting away

CT-2004-508513 PRO-KNOWLEDGE Promoting joined-up European research

CT-2004-508500 RURAL-ETINET Widening the horizons of rural SMEs

CT-2004-508562 SHOES5000 Finding a better fit for EU footwear

CT-2004-508589 SMESFORFOOD A feast of innovation

CT-2004-508527 SMES GO LIFESCIENCES Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match

CT-2004-508721 STIMULATE Harnessing the power of trade associations

CT-2004-508508 SYNERGY The power of SYNERGY

CT-2004-508510 TALENT SCOUT A helping hand for biotech innovators

CT-2004-508590 WOMEN2FP6 FP6 for the other half

CT-2004-508617 WOODISM Stronger links for better business

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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An ETI project is bringing together extensive

European networks of intermediaries for small and

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and fostering transnational

links amongst all the parties. Under the leadership of EBN (European

Business and Innovation Centre Network), a network of business innovation

centres (BICs) across Europe is developing clusters of SMEs to prepare them for

participation in European research. Corporate leaders from mainstream industry are also taking

part to mentor the clusters.

The DETECT-it project encourages SMEs in specific sectors of indus-

try to participate in European research, especially the SixthFramework Programme (FP6). It targets technology-based SMEs in

three sectors IT, renewable energy, and food quality and safety.

It is mobilising a network of 30 BIC incubators in 15 EU countries

to foster SME participation in FP6, and especially in Integrated

Projects and Networks of Excellence, with the support of appropri-

ate National Contact Points (NCPs) and Innovation Relay Centres

(IRCs). They are developing clusters of SMEs with similar technol-

ogy profiles and innovation needs corresponding to the designat-

ed FP6 research areas, and identifying opportunities for participa-

tion in new and existing projects.

The project consortium consists of 42 partners from 17 different coun-

tries, including the 30 BICs, and is coordinated by the EBN. Duringthe course of the project, more than 1 000 SMEs will be screened

and assessed for clustering. SMEs with well-defined research and

technological innovation requirements and capabilities are preferred.

The BIC partners oversee the clusters, while corporate leaders

from the private sector in each of the industry sectors offer them men-

toring services. Since SMEs generally find it difficult to fund research

activities, a number of f inancial support organisations are commit-

ted to assisting the clusters. It is expected that these developed clus-

ters will eventually generate high-tech SME start-ups, building on

the foundation of results from FP6 research projects.

Forward propulsionA network of FP6 experts in each of the three industry sectors, includ-

ing NCPs and technology brokers, guides the clusters of SMEs

towards appropriate FP6 research projects. At the beginning, this

pool of experts concentrated on training and educating the BICs

on all aspects of the current Framework Programme. The empha-

sis now is on identifying appropriate Integrated Projects (IPs) and

Networks of Excellence (NoEs) for SME part icipation.

This is a large and ambitious project, bringing together two exten-

sive networks the leaders of IPs and NoEs, and the locally-based

innovative businesses organised by the BICs. The BICs core mis-

sion is to incubate small businesses and make them more innova-

tive. They have expanded over the last 20 years supporting inno-

vative businesses of all kinds. Many of their SME clients have

Big companies are opening their doors

The project puts SMEs in a clubwhere they can find qualified, on-the-spot intermediaries.

never been active in research. Therefore, as specialists in FP mech-

anisms, they can offer powerful insights into how these innovativesmall businesses that would otherwise stay off the radar screen might

join in FP6 research activities.

Perhaps the projects most innovative contribution lies in the inte-

gration of FP6 instruments, SME support bodies, and the SMEs them-

selves, and the way different organisations are being involved. This

applies in particular to sizeable corporations since the project

assumes that mentoring schemes from the large corporate partners

like British Telecom, Procter & Gamble, and Gaz de France can real-

ly provide the leverage to propel SMEs forward into research

activities. This makes sense, however, since most large corporations

whether technology-based or not are increasingly outsourcing

many of their research requirements. SMEs now have an opportu-nity to position themselves in the value chain of corporate outsourc-

ing mechanisms. This network networking effect also applies to

the clever way EC intermediaries are co-operating for the benefit

of SMEs and FP6 stakeholders.

Long-term effectsThe big company partners are opening up to all kinds of collabo-

rative ventures proposed by the SMEs. Many of the large corpo-

rations are already involved in advanced DG Research instru-

ments, such as technology platforms. It

appears that they do indeed

provide a link to even

the most recently

formed policy

instruments. For

example, the

presence of a

DETECT-itDETECT-it

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Project websitewww.detect-it.org

Participants1 European Business and Innovation Centre Network (BE)

2 Innovatie- en Technologiecentrum Kempen (BE)

3 Socit de Cration dActivits Nouvelles (BE)

4 BIC Brno spol. s.r.o. (CZ)

5 BIC Ostrava s.r.o. (CZ)

6 BIC Plzen (CZ)7 Hermia Business Development (FI)

8 CICOM Organisation (FR)

9 Thsame (FR)

10 BIC Business and Innovation Centre Frankfurt (DE)

11 WISTA-MANAGEMENT GMBH (DE)

12 Business and Innovation Centre of Attika (EL)

13 INNOSTART National Business and Innovation Centre (HU)

14 Dublin Business Innovation Centre (IE)

15 South East Business & Innovation Centre Ltd (IE)

16 BIC LAZIO spa (IT)

17 Eurobic Abruzzo e Molise scrl (IT)

18 Promofirenze Special Agency of the Chamber of Commerce

of Florence (IT)19 Tecnopolis CSATA Scrl (IT)

20 Foundation Business Innovation Centre Twente (NL)

21 NET Novas Empresas e Tecnologias, S.A. (PT)

22 BIC Bratislava, spol. s.r.o. (SK)

23 CASSOVIA BIC s.r.o. (SK)

24 BIC EURONOVA, S.A. (ES)

25 Centro Europeo de Empresa e Innovacion de Ciudad Real (ES)

26 CENTRO EUROPEO DE EMPRESAS INNOVADORAS DE VALEN-

CIA (ES)

27 Cimtec Valais (CH)

28 Birmingham Technology Ltd (UK)

29 Technology Enterprise Kent (UK)

30 Pronovus Limited (UK)

31 Culminatum Ltd Oy (FI)

32 Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche (FR)

33 Ubifrance (FR)

34 The Brussels Enterprise Agency (BE)

35 ZUPA PAOLO (IT)

36 Ple Europen Agro alimentaire pour la Communication, la

Recherche, Linnovation et le Transfert de Technologies (FR)

37 Centro Sviluppo Spa (IT)

38 EuroScan Services ApS (DK)

39 INBIS Group PLC (LU)

40 British Telecom (UK)

41 Procter & Gamble Eurocor (BE)

42 Gaz de France (FR)

major multinational in the chemical industry has visibly cemented

the commitment to the project of BICs, companies and technology

platforms in that field.

A long-term goal of the project is to set up a sustainable mecha-

nism to channel the BICs SME clients towards appropriate research

opportunities, with the help of the relevant NCPs as intermediaries.

In fact, improving NCP-BIC co-operation is seen as an important

outcome of the project that will fur ther benefit SMEs in the future.

Another important facet of DETECT-it is the development of region-

al networking models for research in the new accession countries.

The project aims to overcome many of the obstacles preventing SMEs

in the new EU Member States from participating in FP6. This will

be achieved by networking with FP6 experts, corporate players,

financial support instruments, and NCPs and other SME interme-

diaries. The consequent research results will help create high-techstart-ups in these countries.

Project titleA dedicated network of incubators to detect and favour SME par-

ticipation in FP6 (DETECT-it)

Contract numberCT-2004-508563

Duration30 months

Global project cost 1 985 000

EC contribution 1 286 250

Contact personMr Philippe Vanrie

European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN)

168 Avenue de Tervuren

1150 Bruxelles Belgium

Tel: +32 2 772 8900

Fax: +32 2 772 9574

[email protected]

www.ebn.be

ETI1

Big companies are betting onclusters as the best way for

small businesses to move

forward.

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A German-led group of seven Euro Info Centres

(EICs) is helping small and medium-sized enterprises

(SMEs) in the field of surface technology to become involved

in European research projects. It encourages compatible SMEs to work

in clusters, and networks incubators that can foster their progress. It also assists

large companies and research organisations in finding project partners among SMEs

in this field. The EICs provide an extensive range of services to SMEs, most notably a large

pool of potential project partners throughout Europe. Other services include company visits,

workshops, screening project material, and help with submission of a written project proposal.

Surface technology is a leading-edge approach with applications

in many industrial sectors and, as such, is a popular subject forresearch. It is fast becoming very important to the competitiveness

of SMEs in Europe. The major objective of the EcTIST (Economic and

Technological Intelligence in the field of Surface Technologies)

project is to help SMEs participate in European research projects.

Therefore, it targets businesses and research institutes that are

linked to surface technologies. Even very small SMEs can benefit,

for example, by working as testers and implementers of research

project results.

The submission of a successful research proposal involves working

through complex procedures, for which SMEs have neither sufficient

time nor resources. This ETI project can help them to become part-

ners in projects, by providing all the relevant information as itbecomes available and taking them, step by step, through the var-

ious search and application procedures. The smaller the SME, the

more this assistance is needed. EcTIST also aims to find SMEs that

have already been involved in previous Framework Programme (FP)

research projects to promote the current Sixth Framework Programme

(FP6) to other SMEs in their region.

Clustering togetherThe seven EcTIST consortium members are all EICs, a primary

European information and problem-solving network for SMEs. The

partners are from France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovenia

and Sweden. The host structures in which they are based are var-

ied Chambers of Commerce, research institutes, universities and

banks so they offer a variety experience and ways of dealing with

problems. They also operate simultaneously within other regional

and national networks, such as Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs).

The consortium aims to facilitate the creation of clusters of SMEs

with similar innovation needs. Therefore, EcTIST tries to identify suit-

able candidates for clusters as well as identifying and networking

incubators in various fields of surface technology. Expert groups will

study the national multipliers for SMEs in the appropriate industri-

al sectors. After this initial groundwork, the EcTIST team plans reg-

ular visits to SMEs to determine their needs, so that they can either

recommend appropriate instruments within FP6 or national and

regional programmes. Various events will be held in the participat-

Integrating clusters with similar needs

Competitiveness and business growthwill save jobs in the future.

ing countries that focus on successful research projects in surface

technology so as to provide SMEs with examples of best practice.This whole exercise should give a better understanding of the

need for innovation between researchers, businesses, policy-mak-

ers and society in general.

Extensive servicesThe broad experience of the EIC partners in helping SMEs of all

kinds allows them to take a many-sided view of a potential project.

They can help SMEs and research organisations build their consor-

tia in a balanced way, using the most suitable partners. The EIC

network ranges widely across Europe, so EICs in other countries

may be able to find likely partners amongst their contacts. Thus, the

project could suggest potential SME partners to project coordina-

tors of Specific Support Actions (SSA) and SME- led IntegratedProjects (IPs).

The EICs also help the research institutes often the best sources of

good ideas for projects by looking for SMEs to become partners

for projects. They take the profile of a company, which details its main

business areas and know-how, and work out ways in which it might

participate. The profiles are entered in a database which is then dis-

tributed through other SME-intermediary networks, such as the IRCs

and CORDIS. Widely advertised, the profiles have a better chance

of catching the attention of a

large company or

research institute

looking for proj-

ect partners.

EcTIST

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Contact personMs Antje Schmerwitz

NBank- Investitions- und Frderbank Niedersachsen GmbH

Gnther-Wagner-Allee 12-14

30177 Hanover

Germany

Tel: +495 113 0031-373

Fax: +495 113 0031 11-373

[email protected]

www.eic-hannover.de

Project websitewww.ectist.com

Participants1 Investitions- und Frderbank Niedersachsen GmbH (DE)

2 Azienda speciale CCIAA Milano Euro Info Centre IT 351 (IT)

3 Agderforskning, EIC Kristiansand (NO)

4 The Upper Silesian Regional Development Agency Co. (PL)

5 UP-SRC Koper (SI)

6 CRCI of Upper Normandy (FR)

7 Euro Info Centre Jnkpings ln AB (SE)

At the beginning of EcTIST, the EIC partners made an overview of

relevant research programmes in the field of surface technology.

They now monitor relevant calls for proposals and are trying to estab-lish a pool of potential project partners in Europe. They publish a

regular info-letter for SMEs giving the latest project developments,

and will hold workshops and information and partnering events to

consolidate the projects progress. Eventually, once an SME decides

to join a research project, they advise on how to write a success-

ful proposal.

SMEs will benefit immediately from participating in FP6 projects,

since the development costs and risks undertaken are shared

among all the partners. International links to companies and

research institutions with similar interests generally pay off.

Experience in European projects often leads to long-term co-oper-

ation with the project partners. The research results should lead toinnovative improvements among SMEs, boosting their growth and

competitiveness.

Project titleEconomic and Technological Intelligence in the field of Surface

Technologies EcTIST


Duration36 months


EC contribution 906 504

ETI1

If a project is performed well, partnerstend to keep in touch afterwards.

The EcTIST project partners.

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in

the European fashion industry face a growing threat

from global competition, and need to innovate rapidly to add

value to their businesses. The Economic and Technological Intelligence

(ETI) project, Fashion Net, with 16 partners in eight countries, aims to

consolidate and extend the existing networks of intermediaries. The extended

networks should greatly facilitate the participation of SMEs in FP6 research projects. Fashion

Net promotes the formation of clusters of intermediaries Europe-wide, and also supports clusters of

SMEs at a local level. There are already two other ETI projects Shoes5000 and ITE (Intelligent Textile

Environment) networking in synergy with Fashion Net.

The fashion industry contributes strongly to the European economy,

giving employment to about 3 million people. However, SMEsthroughout the industry need to undergo dramatic innovative

change if they are going to compete successfully on a global

scale. They already suffer from severe competition from Asian

companies, and will face a major challenge in 2005 when a new

WTO agreement comes into force. From January 1, all EU quotas

will be removed. This will mean that European trade protection in

the fashion industry will disappear completely, opening the way to

competition from international imports. This was a main motivation

for setting up the Fashion Net project.

Fashion Net aims to facilitate the access of SMEs in this sector to

Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) research projects. It ranges

greatly in scope, covering all types of business, from design to pro-duction of clothing materials of all kinds. It also addresses SMEs

involved in associated activities, such as supply-chain management

and business development. Its main targets are those SMEs which

are already innovative to some degree roughly half of the total

involved in the fashion business.

There are good reasons why SMEs need to participate and bene-

fit from this ETI project. First, they are generally short of personnel

who need to dedicate virtually all their time to coping with daily

activities. Secondly, it is difficult for them to obtain information about

potential research partnerships and how they might gain access to

them. Fortunately, intermediary organisations can help greatly by

taking their innovative ideas and formalising them in proposals for

specific transnational collaborative projects.

Effective networksThe idea behind Fashion Net was to promote the benefits of SME

involvement in FP6 projects right across Europe. This project is being

carried out by 16 partners in eight countries Czech Republic,

France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Spain and Turkey. The

tools used to analyse and disseminate information include a web-

based computer platform which contains four separate databases.

An information campaign is planned that will target 4 500 SMEs.

It will be implemented through two conferences, eight innovation

workshops and eight training sessions. In addition, 155 technolo-

gy audits and a number of best practice cases will be collected

A dedicated follower of fashion

We want to include all sectors of theindustry. Wider integration offers manypossibilities.

during the duration of the project. The actions of SMEs will also be

integrated and coordinated once they have joined up to an FP6project proposal.

One of Fashion Nets objectives is to promote transnational activ-

ities and relationships by creating an effective European network

of intermediaries. At the same time, the project will operate at local

level, organising events close to individual clusters of SMEs.

Shared opportunitiesIt is intended to strengthen the various networks for exchanging

expertise and best practice, which will help boost the competitive-

ness of small businesses. Therefore, networks are being linked

among all the different intermediaries industrial associations, incu-

bators, research organisations, and national contact points, as wellas between clusters of SMEs themselves. This network of SME-

intermediaries forms the core of Fashion Net. Its primary role is to

encourage transnational innovation and technology transfer among

European SMEs operating in the fashion business.

The wider the network, the greater number of activities will be car-

ried out resulting in more benefits for those SMEs involved. This is why

the networking activities in Fashion Net have focused on clustered

collaborations. There are already two other ETI projects networking

with SMEs in clusters from Fashion Net

Shoes5000 (in the footwear

industry) and ITE, both

within FP6. This exten-

sive co-operation

should net many

more SMEs

and intermedi-

FASHION NET

Luminex, a non-reflectivenew fabric. Luminex

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Contact personDr Silvia GrandiIstituto per la Promozione Industriale

Viale Maresciallo Pilsudski, 124

00197 Rome

Italy

Tel: +39 068 097 2215

Fax: +39 068 097 2443

[email protected]

www.ipi.it

Project websitewww.fashionnet.org

Participants1 Istituto per la Promozione Industriale (IT)

2 Hellenic Organisation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

and Handicraft (EL)

3 Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea (IT)


5 ADEI Agencia de Desarrollo Econmico e Innovacin, S.L. (ES)

6 Small and Medium Industry Development Organisation (TR)

7 Initiative, Cit & Dveloppement (FR)

8 CITER-Centro Informazione Tessile dellEmilia Romagna (IT)

9 Tecnotessile-Societ Nazionale di Ricerca Tecnologica r.l. (IT)

10 Lithuanian Apparel and Textile Industry Association (LT)

11 INOTEX Ltd (CZ)

12 Institut Franais Textile Habillement (FR)

13 Clothing Textile and Fibre Technological Developments (EL)

14 Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile si

Pielarie (RO)

15 Asociacin para la Incorporacin de las Nuevas Tecnologas

en la Empresa (ES)

16 Asociacin de Investigacin de la Industria Textil (ES)

ary organisations, even in countries not directly involved in the

Fashion Net project. In fact, altogether there are 40 partners from

18 different countries involved in the three projects.

The enhanced networking activities will involve the exchange and

sharing of information via each others websites, communication

materials, workshops and seminars, and promotional activities.

Intermediary organisations are in contact with many potential proj-

ect partners for SMEs for instance, this might be a relatively

unknown fashion department in a technical university in one of the

new Member States. The human element is emphasised in this net-

work-building exercise, since the mutual trust built up over time in

personal contacts between the respective parties and an interme-

diary greatly assists in welding a new partnership.

Project titleNetwork of intermediaries to foster transnational research andinnovation in SMEs in the fashion industry system (FASHION NET)


Duration24 months

Global project cost 930 466


ETI1

The first benefit is putting people intouch with each other.

Luminex integrates luminous fibres developed using knowledgegained in the field of sub-nuclear physics. Luminex

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Transportation is one of the pillars of

Europes internal trade, so it must remain competitive

through innovation and business growth. Europe supports

research in this area, but SMEs struggle to participate. The Faster project

aims to increase their involvement. Faster will inform SMEs of research and

technological development opportunities, assess their suitability for participation and

match their needs and skills to suitable projects and partners all for free. Greater SME

representation on projects should stimulate innovation and technology transfer throughout the

entire transport community, and ensure that it continues to play a key role in Europes economy.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the transport sector

and related business areas need to be at the forefront of innova-tion, yet they do not have the resources financial or human to

embark on risky research projects. They even find it hard to tap

into European research funding, and tend to be poorly represent-

ed in European Union Sixth Framework Projects (FP6) projects, espe-

cially the large-scale Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence.

Consequently, these SMEs risk losing a competitive edge or becom-

ing a weak link in the transportation value chain.

Fast forwardThe FASTER project intends to correct this situation and help

increase SME representation in projects towards the Commissions

target level of 15%. Faster brings together a variety of actors

involved in the transport sector. They include port authorities, trans-port industry associations with access to a large pool of target SMEs

from across Europe, and specialist consultancy organisations offer-

ing the small firms free, core advisory and coaching services. The

consortium also includes a number of agencies involved in support-

ing SME involvement in R&D, and a marketing and communications

company which is coordinating the projects entire communications

and dissemination strategy.

In order to help SMEs get actively involved in European RTD initia-

tives, the project will follow a step-by-step methodology which

aims to integrate leading SMEs into appropriate FP6 projects.

Initially, the partners intend to contact a large number of SMEs and

inform them about FASTER and the availability of its free services.

This should stimulate interest from a significant number of compa-

nies which the Faster experts will profile to get a clearer picture of

each companys RTD needs, capabilities and ideas. Such profiling

will highlight the SMEs with the greatest potential to part icipate in

FP6 projects often those companies with prior experience of

conducting research, or with strong university links. They will also

undergo a technology audit to assess whether they have the nec-

essary infrastructure and resources to participate in FP6 research.

Fast-track access to European transport research

Europe is keen for SMEs to get involved inresearch and technological development.Faster will really help them to access

the many opportunities.

The Faster consultants will analyse companies research ideas and

suggested topics and identify suitable themes for future Europeanprojects. Where projects appear viable, Faster can match compa-

nies to potential partners, give advice on the best FP6 instruments

for their proposals, and help SMEs develop their funding applica-

tions. This level of service could not be achieved without Faster which

gathers experts from across Europe who, by working together, are

able to see the big picture and identify links between SMEs in

different Member States.

SME ambassadorsFaster hopes to integrate appropriate companies into existing or

soon-to-launch FP6 research projects. The incorporation of SMEs into

up-and-running projects is a particular challenge, but the Faster

assessment methodology is designed to identify SMEs of excellencewhich have a lot to offer and will be able to meet their commitments.

These companies, at the forefront of innovation, stand to gain

tremendous competitive and business advantage and will consequent-

ly invigorate their local transport environment. Furthermore, by mix-

ing with complementary and competitive companies from around

Europe they may also find ways to expand their markets, form

alliances, and develop a vision beyond the immediate worries of

cash flow and survival.

But the impact of Faster will

go far beyond the select

few. For the majori-

ty of SMEs, Faster

will simply raise

awareness of

the impor-

FASTER

The Europeantransportation sectoris a pillar of internaltrade and must innovate

to remain competitive.

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Project websitewww.fasterproject.org

Participants1 Horama Marketing and Engineering Services (EL)2 Innova (IT)

3 Mediterranean Ports Community (ES)

4 The Alliance of Maritime Regional Interests in Europe (BE)

5 Central European Initiative (IT)

6 TUHH-Technologie GmbH (DE)

7 Agend bruxelloise pour lentreprise (BE)

8 AID Marketing and Communication (BE)

tance of innovation and the possibility of research participation.

Some of these companies will go away, refine their ideas, and come

back stronger, ready to face the challenge of FP6 collaboration.

In the meantime, those firms that do become FP6 project partners

through Faster will give a voice to all European SMEs in the trans-

port sector and related business areas. Their research needs will

be heard and projects will begin to take them into account. As a

result, SMEs will be strengthened, preserving employment for mil-

lions of employees and ensuring that European transportation

remains competitive for the future.

Project titleFostering Alliances for Sustainable Transport in European Research

(FASTER)


Duration30 Months

Global project cost

927 316

EC contribution702 846

Contact person

Mauro BianchiTechnical Support for European Organisations Sprl

8, Avenue Paul Vanden Thoren

1160 Brussels

Belgium

Tel: +32 2 230 1090

Fax: +32 2 230 1377

[email protected]

ETI1

Thanks to our network and combinedexpertise, we are able to match SMEs to

European projects and to partners

with whom they mightcollaborate in

the future.

The transportation sector and related business areas involves many SMEs strugglingto access European research funding.

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in

the fisheries and marine resources industries are

constantly looking for ways to be competitive. They search

internationally, visiting suppliers, business associates and trade fairs to

seek out new strategies and technologies. But what they rarely do is participate

in research projects which offer them sustainable innovative improvements to their

businesses. In the FISH project, a consortium of 12 SME intermediaries is raising awareness among

SMEs about EC-funded large-scale research projects. Partners promote examples of the successful

integration of SMEs from this industrial sector into FP6 proposals, which should encourage others to try.

The FISH project is targeting the majority of SMEs within the fish-

ing industry and its ancillary services, even those with minimal tech-nological development. The first objective is to increase their under-

standing and acceptance of applied research as a means of

improving their core business over the longer term. Such awareness-

raising is carried out in collaboration with national contact points

and national organisations for fisheries and marine resources.

Through national and European stimulation activities, project part-

ners inform as many SMEs as possible about Sixth Framework

Programme (FP6) research activities.

The project takes this informative stage a big step further, with per-

sonal visits to companies that express interest in order to identify

and analyse their technology needs. The aim is to visit a total of

480 SMEs, make detailed assessments of 125 of them, and even-tually to have a total of 24 participating in EU research projects.

The emphasis is on taking positive action to find the right SMEs and

the right project concepts. The pan-European dimension of FISH is

important because it means that the SMEs have a much better chance

of finding optimal research partners than if they had restricted their

search to domestic organisations.

Established networksFISH is linked to other national innovation programmes, and to the

EC-funded Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs) across Europe. The

idea was to collaborate in particular with the IRC network so that

a project can start from a base of considerable experience and good

contacts amongst SMEs in this industrial sector. In fact, nine of the

12 partners are IRCs the remaining three are consulting compa-

nies with their own contacts among SMEs. The consultancies offer

expertise in facilitating the entry of SMEs into project consortia.

The numerous face-to-face meetings between project partners and

SMEs are enabled by the extensive IRC networks. The SME profiles

developed at these meetings are entered into databases for analy-

sis and matching with possible partners. Personal contact with

potential project coordinators is also very important as it is an oppor-

tunity to actively promote those SME profiles and to foster mutual

trust. One FISH national stimulation action was held in Norway in

November 2004. Over 100 people attended the meeting, 72 of

whom came from SMEs. A FISH European stimulation action also

Fishing for information on FP6

Demonstration activities give SMEs ataste of what R&D is all about.

took place in November, in France, where FISH partners met with

representatives from approximately 20 companies, leading tointensive discussions among them to identify their needs and take

their profiles.

Some SMEs in the fishing and allied industries, especially certain

more innovative firms, are already involved in FP6 Integrated

Projects (IPs). However, the majority of SMEs should at least be aware

of research projects. One FISH initiative is designed to convince

some firms to take part in the demonstration activities of IPs a rel-

atively easy first step. Many of them could qualify for these demon-

stration tasks, and thereby experience a first taste of what transna-

tional research projects really entail. This would set them off on a

learning curve leading them to a greater awareness of the possi-

bilities and eventually, it is hoped, to involvement in a full-scaleresearch project.

Imaginative innovationThere is a good deal of technical know-how required in the fisheries

and allied industries particularly in relation to exporting, logis-

tics, processing, filleting and freezing. The SMEs are generally aware

that they need to innovate to remain competitive. To do so, they are

forced to think internationally which means tapping into a reliable

network of contacts in the industry. An SME in fish processing, for

example, has a great deal of knowledge to

share with others. Through a

network of contacts, very

innovative solutions

can be found. For

instance, a fish

processor in

Norway has

FISH

A Norwegian salmon farm.

REC4 6100_ETI 2.2 20/07/05 15:25 Page 10


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Contact personMr John A. BjorgenSINTEF

S.P. Andersens vei 5

7465 Trondheim

Norway

Tel: +47 7359 6958

Fax: +47 7459 1299

[email protected]

www.sintef.no

Participants1 SINTEF (NO)

2 The Technological Institute of Iceland (IS)3 National Documentation Centre (EL)

4 Cyprus Institute of Technology (CY)

5 INNOVA S.p.A. (IT)

6 Inovamais SA (PT)

7 Innovacin, Desarrollo y Transferencia de Tecnologia, S.A.

(ES)

8 Bretagne Innovation (FR)

9 Osrodek Przetwarzania Informacji (PL)

10 ALMI Fretagspartner Uppsala AB (S)

11 SENTER (NL)

found it worthwhile to send freshly caught frozen cod to be fillet-

ed in China where labour costs are much lower than in the Europe.

The fish are then returned for distribution and sale in Europe.Naturally, this has meant introducing major logistical and techno-

logical innovative changes in the company to ensure that overall

costs remain low, and that the schedules between continents are

maintained.

The biggest area of potential innovation that remains largely unex-

plored is probably research. The problem is generally one of

access, which is why FISH aims to break down the barriers between

SMEs and research-led organisations. This will be done through var-

ious analyses and auditing schemes based on earlier EC-funded proj-

ects and national technology transfer programmes.

Project titleFacilitating Innovation for Sustainable Fisheries and MarineResources (FISH)


Duration24 months



ETI1

Personal contact is very important if youwant to sell company profiles to

prospective project partners.

Farming salmon in Norway.

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Fierce global competition and the recent

abolition of import quotas have left Europes textile

industry in a fragile state. Increasing its competitiveness calls

for continued innovation to improve efficiency, add value and access

markets. But limited awareness of new developments and a basic preoccupation

with the daily grind of earning a living are restricting the sectors willingness and ability

to innovate. The ITE (Intelligent Textile Environment) project combines expertise from 22 partners

across 16 countries to promote both innovation per se, and the opportunities offered to small and

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by the European Unions R&D programmes. The project hopes to reach

some 9 000 textiles enterprises across Europe.

Employing around 2 million people in some 177 000 enterprises

most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises Europestextile industry is a critical one. But, like any sector dominated by

SMEs, the business of facilitating informed management decisions

across a large number of small companies is a big one. Can we

improve quality without adding to costs? How do we deal with new

legislative demands? How can we increase market penetration?

Small businesses with limited capacity really need to know what

works elsewhere because reinventing the wheel is not a compet-

itive option.

SMEs need two things: better ways to address common concerns,

and greater access to the scientific, technical and commercial

intelligence that allows them to develop more successful business

strategies. The ITE project hopes to contribute to textile SMEs in bothrespects by improving information flows on the latest innovations,

and by engaging more enterprises in relevant research and devel-

opment initiatives.

The ITE consortium plans to build on the legacy of the earlier

BenTex project. Also funded by European Union Framework

Programmes, BenTex focused largely on benchmarking as a key deci-

sion-making tool. Addressing criteria such as size, production

processes, distribution channels, markets, management issues and

competitive tactics (including innovation, quality, service and cost),

BenTex attracted participation from around 300 European SMEs.

Managers exchanged their experiences and methodologies, iden-

tified and shared best practices, and many took on new innovations

to help improve production. The project also opened the way to

developing 18 co-operative research proposals to address key issues

identified by SMEs.

Human factor brings hope to ailing textiles

ITE is about breaking down the barriersthat limit innovation.

Shifting priorities

While BenTex proved a success in many ways, it also identified acritical barrier to its approach: the human factor. The ITE project

aims to capitalise on these findings to improve future project

achievements. Recognising that it is people who develop and

absorb knowledge, and people who adopt and adapt innovations,

the new project will target SME personnel. Through seminars and

workshops, as well as by visiting companies, the ITE consortium will

engage real people not just companies in the issue of innova-

tion. By raising awareness of relevant EU-funded projects, and by

training individuals to participate in such projects, the ITE group

hopes to increase awareness of and openness towards new

developments.

To do this, the ITE consortium is bringing together experts in areasranging from quality control and product certification to cross-bor-

der technology and knowledge transfer. Networking activities will

be used to attract SMEs and link them with researchers working on

the technological or business solutions that they need. They will also

help to improve dissemination of current benchmarking methods and

best practices. The hope is that by improving links between enter-

prise and research, European R&D can benefit from the SMEs expert-

ise, networks and perspectives, while the companies themselves can

become more receptive to taking up the new developments emerg-

ing from ongoing research.

ITE

The ITE consortiumbrings research andbusiness together to breakdown barriers to innovation.

REC4 6100_ETI 2.2 20/07/05 15:25 Page 12


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Contact personNena Malliou

Clothing Textile and Fibre Technological Developments SA

4 El. Venizelou

17676 Kallithea/Athens

Greece

Tel: +30 210 923 4932

Fax: +30 210 923 [email protected]

Project websitewww.etakei.gr/ite

Participants1 Business and Project Management (EL)

2 Tecnotessile Societ Nazionale di Ricerca Tecnologica r.l. (IT)

3 Centro dInformazione Tessile dellEmilia Romagna (IT)

4 Asociacin de Investigacin de la Industria Textil (ES)

5 The Research Development National Institute for Textile and

Leather (RO)

6 Institut fuer Textil und Verfahrenstechnik Denkendorf derDeutschen Institute fuer Textil und Faserforschung Stuttgart (DE)

7 Istituto per la Promozione Industriale (IT)

8 Lietuvos Inovaciju Centras (LT)

9 Inotex Ltd. (CZ)

10 Institute of textile Architecture (PL)

11 Innovatext Textile Engineering and Testing Institute (HU)

12 Applied Research and Communications Fund (BG)

13 Latvian Technological Centre (LV)

14.Firenze Tecnologia Azienda speciale della Camera di

Commercio di Firenze (IT)

15 Turkish Textile Employers Association (TR)

16 Cyprus Institute of Technology (CY)

17 Vutch-Chemitex (SK)

18 Integrated Resources Management Company Ltd. (MT)

19 Centro Tecnologico das Industrias Textil o do Vestuario de

Portugal (PT)

20.Steinbeis Europa Zentrum des Steinbeis Stiftung fr

Wirtschaftsforderung (DE)

21 Agencia de Inovao Inovao Empresarial e

Transferencia de Tecnologia (PT)

Building bridgesITE is basically about breaking down barriers to communication,

to the exchange of ideas and information, and to innovation. The pro-

jects organisers are certainly hoping to overcome these hurdles inthe textile sector, but they are also hoping to actually cross bound-

aries between sectors. One key goal is to stimulate the development

of a cross-sectoral network of experts able to act as advocates and

brokers for new ideas throughout Europes SME community.

ITE hopes that focusing on the human element in innovation and

on best practices for maximising human potential in all aspects of

innovation can help to break down conventional cultural, sectoral

and geographic divides. It is looking to cross the boundaries

between industry and science; between old and new EU members,

and between one sector and another. It is planning to encourage

transnational and trans-sector learning. And it is hoping that break-

ing down these divisions can eventually contribute to widespreadeconomic success by stimulating more and better jobs and creat-

ing greater social cohesion. In a region of such great diversity in

culture and experience, this is an ambitious project but one that

could fundamentally change the way that European SMEs are

able to compete in an increasingly global market.

Project titleIntelligent Textile Environment (ITE)


Duration24 months

Global project cost1 154 558

EC contribution895 751

ETI1

Scientists learn from business and viceversa. Research becomes more

targeted and the uptake of

findings improves.

New textiles with novelproperties.

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A consortium of small and medium-sized

enterprise (SME) intermediaries from both the public and

private sectors is collaborating in the LINK project. It is offering

SMEs in the plastics and electronics industries a range of support

services to facilitate their access to the Sixth Framework Programmes

Integrated Projects and Specific Targeted Projects (IPs and STREPs). LINK identifies high

and medium technology SMEs then matches them with the right project. It also shows project

coordinators how these particular SMEs can fulfil project needs by bringing in additional expertise. Thus,

the SME and its project partners meet in a relationship based on their mutual best commercial interests.

LINK partners undertake to promote the benefits of IP and STREP

projects to SMEs, and the positive attributes of SMEs as potentialpartners to the project coordinators. There are 20 participants in

total in LINK, from 14 different Member States and one Associated

State. About two-thirds come from the public sector and one-third

from the private sector. They are all experienced and effective

European SME intermediaries National Contact Points, Innovation

Relay Centres, business and innovation centres, trade associa-

tions, registered trade organisations, as well as private consulting

firms.

The so-called broad-band support LINK offers is actually the

awareness-raising of mutual benefits SMEs and its project partners

can expect from co-operation. Narrow-band support refers to very

detailed, one-to-one assistance provided in the all-important match-ing and integration processes required to set up the project part-

nerships. Project proposals can be registered, together with SME

needs, on the LINK database and matched against profiles of all

LINK-registered SMEs to find the best fit. The next step is for a LINK

partner to help the SME identified as an optimal partner through

the required project participation procedures while, at the same time,

liaising with the project coordinator. The SME is thus integrated in

the project with a minimum of difficulty, and can function immedi-

ately as a direct participant in core research activities.

A successful startIt would normally be very difficult for SMEs to gain access to IPs

and to a lesser extent STREPs in FP6, since these are large proj-

ects with multinational companies as partners. SMEs generally

have very few contacts with major companies, which do not usu-

ally recognise them as potential project partners. In any case,

small businesses rarely have enough time or resources available to

search around and create their own projects. This is where LINK

comes in. To begin with, its website offers SMEs automatic profil-

ing and matching facilities that tap into the resources of this large

web of networks. Enterprises can either log on and feed in data them-

selves, or ask a project assistant to help them enter their data.

One of LINKs major initial achievements was to establish a com-

mon understanding of how project partners from both the public

and private sectors could work well together. For instance, it might

A unique web of public and private networks

Unitl now the European intermediarieshave tended to work in isolation.

be hard to understand how an SME-national contact point could

communicate freely with a private consulting firm, due to the pos-sible conflicts of interest. But consulting firms are important as they

have their own networks and are often in contact with large num-

bers of SMEs. Despite the difficulties, the organisation of LINK enables

a representative from each of the main networks to oversee vari-

ous smaller networks operating under its umbrella. Regular meet-

ings are held in small groups at first, then the agreements and under-

standings reached are disseminated to the other networks. This

scheme has been found to work very well so far, and it is hoped

that it will expand a lot further.

Bright futureSMEs are bombarded with information from all kinds of network

services, each offering something different but, by necessity, limit-ed in choice, scope and support. Now that this significant network

of networks has been set up, life is becoming much easier for the

SMEs. By using this Economic and Technological Intelligence (ETI)

project as a stepping stone into FP6, they will be able to develop

their own IPR-protected technology, enabling them to add value to

their products and services. It should help to make them more

competitive with their counterparts outside the European Union, in

countries with low labour costs.

LINK

Advanced injectionmoulding technology.

Pera

REC4 6100_ETI 2.2 20/07/05 15:25 Page 14


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Contact personMr Mick ParmarPera Innovation Limited

Pera Innovation Park, Nottingham Road

LE13 0PB Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 168 4501 501

Fax: +44 166 4501 589

[email protected]

www.pera.com

Project websitewww.link-eu.org

Participants1 Pera Innovation Ltd (UK)

2 Pro Support B.V. (NL)


4 The Brussels Enterprise Agency (BE)

5 European Business and Innovation Centre Network (BE)

6 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angerwandten

Forschung (DE)

7 AIMPLAS Instituto Tecnologico del Plastico (ES)

8 Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus (FI)

9 Innovages Fomento de la Innovacion (ES)

10 ALMA Consulting Group Ltd (IL)

11 HLP Developpement (FR)

12 Agncia de Inovaao S.A. Inovao Empresarial e

Transferencia de Tecnologa (PT)

13 Hungarian Science and Technology Foundation (HU)

14 Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea (IT)

15 Latvian Technological Centre (LV)

16 Cracow University of Technology (PL)

17 CATT Innovation Management GmbH (AT)

18 DAppolonia S.p.A. (IT)

19 Fdration Plasturgie Activits (FR)

20 Fachverband Elektronik-Design e.V. (DE)

Another novelty, an intelligent data system which makes use of

dynamic profiling techniques, helps to implement the LINK objec-

tives. This network aims to generate a significant number of SMEparticipants in IPs/STREPs. The final target is to enable the partic-

ipation of at least 65 additional SMEs in IPs and STREPs for exam-

ple, 5% of additional SME participation in such projects, each with

a value typically around 20 million.

Plastics and electronics are the two areas of industry selected as

prime targets for LINK because they complement each other in many

ways, including innovation potential. In fact, together they are

covered by five of the seven FP6 priority thematic areas. In future,

it is expected that LINK will become the foundation for an even more

widespread web of networks that will benefit SMEs across a wide

range of industries.

Project titleLeverage SME Intermediary NetworK Integrating Private and Public

Sector Intermediary Networks to More Effectively LINK SMEs into

Integrated Projects (LINK)


Duration24 months

Global project cost

877 890


ETI1

We have already agreed ways ofmaximising our effectiveness for our

SME customers.

Resin fibres being pushed, ratherthan pulled as in extrusion. Pera

REC4 6100_ETI 2.2 20/07/05 15:25 Page 15


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Innovation in mechatronics relies on bringing

together a wide range of skills in mechanics, electronics

and information technology. Some of the key requirements for

innovation can be found in a variety of small companies which may

be unaware that their expertise could be useful in mechatronics research. The

MISMEC project is locating SMEs that could make contributions to mechatronics

research and helping them to become involved in larger research projects funded by the Sixth

Framework Programme. As part of this work, MISMEC is developing some new working practices to

help widely dispersed SMEs to work together and maintain the networks that can drive innovation.

When mechanical engineering combines with electronics and

computing it forms the field of mechatronics, a diverse sector cov-ering a vast range of applications. Industrial and domestic appli-

ances, aircraft, motor vehicles and all those applications where com-

puter software controls moving parts can have elements of

mechatronics at their core. Therefore, it is considered as a central

aspect of modern technology, so research in mechatronics is cru-

cial for building the technology of the future.

The MISMEC project is helping European small and medium-sized

enterprise (SMEs) with expertise in this area to understand and take

advantage of research opportunities within the Sixth Framework pro-

gramme (FP6), especially those being offered by the new Integrated

Projects and Networks of Excellence. Such large collaborative

projects create high hurdles for SMEs wishing to join in, so the kindof help offered by MISMEC can be crucial. By their very nature,

many SMEs are isolated companies working in their own small geo-

graphical and technological niches. There is an important job to

be done in introducing them to the wider picture and adding their

needs and ideas for innovation to the work of European research

programmes.

The SMEs being targeted by the MISMEC project are largely those

that use mechatronics in their work, or can input expertise into the

mechatronics sector, rather than being pure mechatronics compa-

nies. The sector is so wide and varied that it depends on the skills

of many different types of enterprise. So the project is trying to bring

a range of companies involved in information technology and

electronics together into larger mechatronic research projects.

Mix and matchThe seven MISMEC partners are all designated European Innovation

Relay Centres. These are companies, associations or other institutes

that spend a great deal of their time trying to match up requirements

for innovation in their local region with innovative technologies across

Europe, while also helping to distribute innovations developed in

their own regions. Their time is devoted to matching technological

problems with solutions.

The process of identifying who is writing FP6 proposals and which

SMEs may be able to participate in them draws heavily on the

Multifaceted mechatronics

We can help SMEs seeking projects, orprojects that need SMEs it works bothways.

extensive network of research and commercial contacts the partners

have developed over the years.

SMEs that are candidates for assistance are being identified

through a series of awareness actions, including seminars, work-

shops and web-based promotions designed to instruct SMEs about

the services available and get them thinking about the possibilities

of becoming involved. The partners then conduct technology audits

to identify SMEs with clear potential to participate in FP6 research

programmes. This involves assessing their existing technological

capacities, as well as future needs. The partners are also working

directly with the coordinators of new and ongoing FP6 projects to

explore the opportunities for drawing SMEs into existing projects

or new project proposals.

Once MISMEC has identified an SME with good potential for get-

ting involved in a research programme, one of the partners will work

closely with the SME to explain how the Framework Programme

works and give them the help they need to become part of a well-

structured proposal. The SMEs have very different experiences

and needs, so the help the project provides must be carefully tai-

lored to each companys specific requirements.

The project goal is to assist at least 270 SMEs, leading to partici-

pation by some of them in at least 70 FP6 project proposals. They

can participate in research projects as coordinators and main driv-

ers, research partners, partners to influ-

ence long-term objectives within

a specific research theme,

and/or as partners for

take-up measures.

MISMEC

Simulation andvisualisation are among the

many cross-border areasinvolving mechatronics.

REC4 6100_ETI 2.2 20/07/05 15:25 Page 16


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Contact personMr Max Maupoix

IVF Industrial Research and Development Corporation

Argongatan 30

431 53 Mlndal

Sweden

Tel: +46 3170 66193

Fax: +46 3127 6130

[email protected]

www.mismec.nu

Participants1 IVF Industrial Research and Development Corporation (SE)

2 Steinbeis Stiftung fr Technologie Transfer (DE)

3 Welsh Development Agency (UK)

4 MATIMOP, Israeli Industry Center for R&D (IL)

5 MSI Institute of the Lithuanian Scientific Society (LT)

6 CECCP Centro Estero Camere Commercio Piemontesi (IT)

7 Help-Forward Network/Diktyo PRAXI (EL)

Best practiceA key part of the MISMEC project is to develop new working prac-

tices to assist in the general process of networking SMEs together

into collaborative groups. One of these comprises a new internalmanagement tool. This is a web application for following up proj-

ect results, activities, company and FP6 project profiles, and the sta-

tus of and interlinkage between these profiles. The tool is particu-

larly helpful for large consortia working with numerous clients who

are involved in many projects. Other practices involve the use of

wide-ranging web-based conferencing and events that enable

SMEs to meet and talk in ways that can throw up new ideas and

opportunities for collaboration.

The work of the project will assist the participating SMEs to become

more competitive and give them opportunities to develop and cre-

ate the jobs and new technologies Europe requires. By bringing var-

ious SMEs with different expertise together, these small players canbecome involved in larger research projects that they could never

manage alone.

Project titleNew Methods for Involving SMEs in Mechatronics sectors in FP6

(MISMEC)


Duration36 months



ETI1

For an SME new to research it is a bigstep thats why we are there to help

them.

Mechatronics is a union ofoverlapping sectors. IVF

REC4 6100_ETI 2.2 20/07/05 15:25 Page 17


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The Nanomat project provides training and

innovation services to help SMEs working with

nanotechnologies to become more innovative and involved in

EU-funded programmes. It is especially targeted at small companies

from the new Member States and associated candidate countries. The size

of EU projects and the administrative aspects can seem daunting to these SMEs. The

key role of Nanomat is to show them the potential advantages of collaborative EU research

and help them link into good projects that suit them. In addition to the direct benefits coming from

any research they get involved in, SMEs can gain commercial advantages by becoming part of networks that

were previously closed to them.

Nanotechnology is technology at the very small scale the scale

of atoms, molecules and tiny multi-molecular structures. The sectortakes its name from the nanometre which is one billionth of a

metre (10-9 m). This technology of the very small is predicted to have

a very big future, with potential applications across the full spec-

trum of technology from healthcare to manufacturing, and comput-

ing to cosmetics. However, as with any technology in its infancy,

it is hard to predict what the most useful applications will be and

where they may come from. It is important to draw small and

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across the expanded European

Union into Europes nanotechnology research effort. The Nanomat

project is designed to help SMEs, especially from the new and can-

didate Member States, to become involved in collaborative research

programmes.

The ten project partners comprise five institutions from new Member

States and associated candidate countries, and five from Western

European Member States. This allows the Western partners with con-

siderable experience of EU research programmes to transfer their

knowledge to the other five. SMEs from countries without a long tra-

dition of involvement in the EU can thus begin to gain the benefits

on offer and also contribute their own specialist expertise. The knowl-

edge transfer is two-way, with the new Member States and asso-

ciated candidate countries helping the Western partners to learn

about the expertise and opportunities available outside their usual

sphere of operation.

Inside informationThe partners include a broad range of specialised companies, train-

ing institutions, consultancies, universities and enterprise promotion

specialists. Each has an extensive database of SMEs in their local-

ity that might benefit f rom participation in EU-funded research pro-

grammes, and may have specific skills to bring to new projects. The

partners use this inside knowledge to identify a range of SMEs to

offer the projects services to. The incentive for the SMEs, in addi-

tion to the eventual benefits of any research, is that the EU offers

many potential business partners with whom they might never

make contact without Nanomat or similar initiatives. Joining EU-wide

networks can be the first and most important stage of significant-

ly broadening the range of such SMEs commercial opportunities.

Big help for nanotech

We are putting western know-how andexperience at the service of the easterncountries.

The Nanomat project has three main areas of activity, which can

be described as training, technology-watch and Sixth FrameworkProgramme (FP6) participation.

The first of these is providing tailor-made training in economic

and technological intelligence activities to selected SMEs. More

specifically, the training covers three topics: technology watch and

business intelligence; innovation management and benchmarking;

and technology exploitation and technology marketing. The train-

ing sessions are being held in each of the five Eastern European

countries in the partnership. The local partner hosts these events which

are usually spread over two days. Overall, this training is helping

to make SMEs from NMS and the ACC more aware of the oppor-

tunities for funding, collaborative research and commercial activ-

ity in the EU at large.

A careful watchThe second activity is to provide technology watch services and tech-

nology audits to selected SMEs. This involves assessing the specif-

ic needs and abilities of each company and providing ongoing

research to identify opportunities for collaboration with other com-

panies and institutions across the EU. In assessing the current sta-

tus of each company, the project can also give advice on how to

develop best practices and respond to future development needs.

The third activity is to pro-

mote the participation

of SMEs directly,

especially from

the new

Member States

NANOMAT

Nanotechnologymanipulates matter atthe scale of individual

atoms. IBM

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Contact personMrs Paula Galvo

Inova Europe Sarl

15 Rue de la Chapelle

1325 Luxembourg City

Luxembourg

Tel: +352 269 23755

Fax: +352 269 23762

[email protected]

www.innova-europe.lu

Project website

www.innova-europe.lu/nanomat

Participants1 Innova Europe Sarl (LU)

2 Steinbeis Europa Zentrum (DE)

3 EUROQUALITY (FR)

4 BIC Bratislava Ltd (SK)

5 Puskas Tivadar Alipitvany Institute of International Technology

(HU)

6 Politechnika Wroclawska Centre for Technology Transfer (PL)

7 Inova Pro, s.r.o. (CZ)

8 Politehnica University of Bucharest Centre for Advanced

Technologies (RO)

9 Fundacin para el Conocimiento Madrimasd (ES)

10 SENTER/EG-Liaison (NL)

and the associated candidate countries, in FP6 research and tech-

nological development activities. SMEs with particularly good

ideas are offered a consultation service guiding them on how toparticipate in a wide range of RTD projects, including Cooperative

Research Projects, Collective Research Projects, Specific Targeted

Research Projects, Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence.

The partnership can offer support from the stage of having a gen-

eral idea, right through the process of finding appropriate partners

and drawing up a finished project proposal.

During the project, which lasts for 30 months, the partners plan to

disseminate information to 500 SMEs, train a selected 300, pro-

vide 200 of these with customised technological intelligence serv-

ices, perform 120 company technology audits, and help up to 100

SMEs become part of new project proposals for EU RTD funding.

Project titleA targeted action to encourage the participation of SMEs in FP6,

in the nanotechnologies and nanomaterials fields (NANOMAT)


Duration30 months



ETI1

FP6 offers SMEs in the new MemberStates great opportunities for putting

their good ideas into practice.

Silicon fabrication technology is alreadyapproaching the nano-scale. CEA-LETI

REC4 6100_ETI 2.2 20/07/05 15:25 Page 19


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The NAoMITEC project is working with small and

medium-sized enterprises in the micro- and

nanotechnology arena in 12 countries to identify those most

suitable to participate in Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence.

The ETI partners can give selected SMEs the advice and support required to

join in these large transnational projects. This opens up new opportunities for

collaboration and commercialisation that SMEs would otherwise find it difficult to break into

if left to do it alone. The project team is keeping track of developments in a very fast-moving field,

gaining vital expertise to help promote European innovation in the future.

The NAoMITEC Project is focusing on SMEs working in micro- and

nanotechnologies which exploit the properties of materials on verysmall scales. The partners are addressing five sectors: aerospace,

automotive technology, the environment, health, and information

and communication technologies (ICT). Expertise in micro- and

nanotechnologies in these sectors is one of Europes key strengths,

and is crucial for European competitiveness.

The basic objective of the NAoMITEC project is to promote the par-

ticipation of SMEs in the new instruments of the Sixth Framework

Programme (FP6). These are primarily the large Integrated Projects

(IP) and Networks of Excellence (NoE).

Five-point plan

The partners are tackling their work through a five-point plan. Thefirst stage is to review the current situation in the partnership coun-

tries, as it affects SMEs in the targeted sectors. The partners then

go on to identify the most active and best qualified SMEs and assess

both their technological needs and their existing development

plans.

Stage three is a matching-up process identifying existing or planned

IPs and NoEs which fit with the needs and plans of the selected SMEs.

Next, the NAoMITEC partners establish the necessary contacts that

allow national and transnational networks to develop in a way that

can help the SMEs to become incorporated into IPs and NoEs.

Finally, all the necessary assistance is given to actually allow the

selected SMEs to join IPs and NoEs that have been identified as

appropriate to their needs. Overall, the small companies gain sig-

nificant benefits from becoming part of large-scale transnational

research and development projects, while the larger partners in these

projects are able to draw on the very specialised expertise found

in European SMEs.

Small scale but high tech

Networking is the key to the success ofNAoMITEC.

By the end of the projects 30 month duration, the partners intend

to have identified 385 candidate SMEs, and to have activelyassisted 95 of these to consider the options for participating in select-

ed IPs and NoEs. The final target is to facilitate the entry of 48 SMEs

into these two kinds of FP6 projects.

A wealth of experienceThe project brings together 16 partners from Austria, Belgium,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Poland, Switzerland,

The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. They comprise a mix-

ture of research and development agencies, enterprise agencies,

academic research centres and business consultancies. Together,

they have the combination of expertise in business, research and

technology required to help SMEs make the sometimes difficult step

towards participating in large European projects. Three of thepartners are based outside of the EU, adding to the inclusive

transnational character of NAoMITEC.

Each partner is undertaking a variety of technology audits of SMEs

in their region. This generates profiles of selected SMEs which are

posted on the NAoMITEC website, alongside a growing list of the

most relevant IPs and NoEs. This will enable the website to evolve

into a central resource, where SMEs and IPs and NoEs can iden-

tify one another and then approach the most appropriate NAoMITEC

project partners for further assistance.

All members of the proj-

ect team have a long

history in dissemi-

nating informa-

tion, contacting

research insti-

tutions and

indus t r ies ,

NAoMITEC

Micro- and nanotech-nologies are at the

heart of European innovation.

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Contact personPiero Bufalini

Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca Industriale

Viale Gorizia 25/C

00198 Rome

Italy

Tel: +39 0688 48831

Fax: +39 0685 52949

Project website

www.airi.it/NAOMITEC

Participants1 Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea (IT)

2 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto per lo Studio

dei Materiali Nanostrutturati Gruppo Tecnologico (IT)

3 Bureau for International Research and Technology

Cooperation (AUT)

4 Agence bruxelloise pour lentreprise (BE)

5 Eureco Oy (FI)

6 Chambre rgionale de commerce et dindustrie de

Bourgogne (FR)

7 Commissariat lnergie atomique (FR)

8 Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (EL)9 VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH (DE)

10 Iserd Matimop (IL)

11.Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish

Academy of Sciences (PL)

12 Euroresearch Rseau suisse dinnovation (CH)

13 Swiss Foundation for Research in Microtechnology (CH)

14 SenterNovem/EG-Liaison (NL)

15 Beta Technology Ltd. (UK)

both large and SMEs, and in assisting them in their quest for innova-

tion. Many also have relevant experience and competence acquired

through their participation in the earlier Minatech project which was

funded by FP5. The primary objective of Minatech was the promotionof the use of micro- and nanotechnologies among European SMEs.

Looking forwardThe effects of a successful NAoMITEC project should serve to pro-

mote European competitiveness by helping to maximise the effec-

tiveness of the new initiatives in FP6. The project will increase the

contribution of SMEs to high-tech research and applications signif-

icantly, and promote the clustering of enterprises with similar aims

for co-operation both at national and transnational level. These end

results should yield a clear increase in transnational technology trans-

fer and a higher return for the EU funding involved.

The micro- and nanotechnology sector is characterised by rapid tech-nological innovation and a fast-changing business environment.

Companies come and go and merge very rapidly. NAoMITEC will

help in the difficult task of keeping track of this fast-moving field,

deepening the knowledge on the state of art. This will generate a

valuable knowledge base that will also help the partners to look

beyond FP6 and prepare for the fresh challenges of the future.

Project titleNAno and MIcro -TEC SMEs in Integrated Projects (IPs) and

Networks of Excellence (NoE) (NAoMITEC)

Contract number

CT-2004-508505

Duration30 months

Global project cost1 811 019

EC contribution1 381 654

ETI1

We work as talent scouts, discoveringthe great potential and skills in

European SMEs.

REC4 6100_ETI 2.2 20/07/05 15:25 Page 21


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The NATIBS project is helping newly created

biotechnology companies to become involved in Sixth

Framework Programme (FP6) research activities. These start-

up companies would find the complexity of the proposal process and

other administrative hurdles very challenging, and thus would be unlikely to

join FP6 research without significant assistance. They are being encouraged to

become involved in order to reap the benefits of access to the resulting innovations, and the

commercial advantages of being introduced to trans-European networks. The project is also identifying

best practices in project development and will disseminate these through a formal report.

The biotechnology industry is one of the fastest growing and most

exciting sectors of 21st century commerce. Biotechnology is avery challenging arena to be starting business in, with many com-

panies falling by the wayside or being swallowed up in waves of

consolidation. Young small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

usually have more pressing demands on their attention than the

opportunities offered by participating in FP6 research, but NATI-

BS can give a helping hand.

The FP6 instruments being targeted by NATIBS are the Integrated

Projects and Networks of Excellence, although the NATIBS consor-

tia can also be very useful as regards the traditional instruments.

The partners first task is to identify existing and planned projects

that would welcome and benefit from SME involvement. The part-

ners are achieving this by using their extensive networks of contacts,as well as appraising the forthcoming calls for proposals in order

to be ready to help suitable SMEs to join in.

Guiding lightsThe complementary aspect of the project is to identify good biotech-

nology SMEs that might be willing to become part of a new proj-

ect proposal, or to join an existing project. Most of the NATIBS part-

ners are organisations which exist to incubate innovative companies

by providing guidance and helping in the search for funding. In most

cases, the partners are publicly funded bodies, although sometimes

private finance from venture capitalists and other sources can be

involved. The project is being coordinated by the Essonne Chamber

of Commerce and Industry in France, using valuable general expe-

rience of the business environment in Europe. Most of the partners

have considerable experience in EU Framework Programmes,

making them ideal for giving guidance to novice companies.

The expertise held by many of the partners includes substantial knowl-

edge of which new biotechnology companies exist in their region

of operation, what they are doing, and which FP6 projects they might

be suited to. Attention is focused mainly on companies that are less

than three years old, are still reliant on outside sources of funding,

and are very busy with the problems of starting out on commercial

life in a very competitive sector.

Getting off to a good start in biotech

There are benefits available for SMEs inthe short, medium and long term.

It can be difficult persuading some of these SMEs of the advantages

of becoming involved in large collaborative research programmes.An important part of the work of the NATIBS partners is to explain

the long-term benefits, in terms of access to the results of research,

including patents; and the medium- and short-term benefits that

include fast incorporation into trans-European networks. The proj-

ect is encouraging and helping the SMEs to look outwards, to a wider

Europe, at a time in their commercial lives when there is a danger

they may become too preoccupied with the shorter-term demands

for survival. One factor making it easier to draw in SMEs from the

biotechnology sector is that most of these companies already have

a strong culture of research, although on a smaller scale than the

large IPs and NoEs.

Audits and assessmentsThe project is analysing 240 biotechnology SMEs across Europe,in the six countries where the partners are based, namely France,

Germany, Spain, Sweden, Estonia and Israel. During their work of

identifying and assessing suitable SMEs, the project partners are

conducting 170 technology audits for the companies, assessing

exactly what they do and what research programmes they might

be suited to.

The partners are also acquiring useful information about best prac-

tices in project and proposal development.

This knowledge will be used

to write a best practice

report in collabora-

tion with another

ETI project

(Talentscout)

which is

NATIBS

Lab bench medical science increasingly involvesbiotechnology. J.Grison/Rapho Photo

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Contact personMr Jrme BillChamber of Commerce and Industry of the Essonne2, cours Monseigneur Romro91004 EvryFranceTel: +33 1607 99147Fax: +33 1607 [email protected]

Project website

www.natibs.net

Participants1 Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Essonne (FR)2 Inno-TSD (FR)3 TBS-Technologiestiftung Innovationszentrum Berlin (DE)4 BBB Management GmbH Campus Berlin-Buch (DE)5 Parc Cientific de Barcelona (ES)6 Incubator Novum Research Park (SE)7 Tallinn Technology Park Development Foundation (EE)8 Biomedical Incubator Rad Ramot (IL)9 Genopole Evry-le de France (FR)

focusing on more mature biotechnology firms. This joint reportwill review the bigger picture in this area, involving a wider range

of companies than NATIBS could cover on its own. The lessonslearned will be available to promote good practice across Europe.The project website and a series of newsletters are also disseminat-ing guidance from the NATIBS partners more widely.

The great advantage for Europe as a whole in drawing start-upbiotechnology SMEs into FP6 is that it allows the ideas and expert-ise within very young companies to feed into wider Europeanresearch immediately. This happens long before it might occur if theSMEs were left to rely on their own initiative. In the large FP6 proj-ects that result, the SMEs can expect to be working with some long-established universities, commercial companies and other organisa-tions, creating a good blend of commercial youth and experience.

Project titleNew approaches and tools for incubated biotechs smes (natibs) toenhanced participation in the 6th FP (NATIBS)


Duration30 months



ETI1

We hope to integrate 40 SMEs into newor existing projects, including 12 into

Integrated Projects or Networks of

Excellence.

Biomolecules are at the heartof biotechnology.

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The PATENT project is a platform of professional

and high-added-value services for European SMEs in

the digital and cross-media sectors, helping them to tap into

new research opportunities. PATENT matches innovative SMEs with

suitable Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) projects. Expert consultants

assist the SMEs in all the phases of developing a research idea, tailoring it to the

Framework Programmes instruments, finding appropriate partners and helping their

involvement in high-quality proposals. The SMEs gain the technological and commercial opportunities

that come from participating in research programmes with partners they might otherwise never have

teamed up with.

Some of the most influential innovations of recent years have

involved multimedia and information communication technologies(ICT), greatly affecting everyday life. Many small and medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs) in the digital and cross-media sector have thepotential to develop the innovations that will keep it at the forefrontof modern technology.

The PATENT project is helping small companies with innovative ideasbut limited resources to become partners in FP6 Integrated Projects(IPs) and Networks of Excellence (NoE). This is drawing suitableSMEs into wider networks and providing business opportunities theycould not have developed on their own.

The SME target group for the PATENT project includes content

owners and aggregators, hardware and software providers, net-work operators, broadcasters, telecommunication service providersand multimedia centres.

A broad spectrumThe research needs and opportunities in this field are very varied,and comprise new ways to use multimedia technology and ICT to gen-erate innovative processes for industry, the health sector, commerce,education and individuals. Examples of areas ripe for researchinclude new approaches to language-recog

economic and technological intelligence - (eti) projects for smes – 1

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