Enterprise Europe Network - HellasThe largest network of integrated business support in Greece

Member of the Enterprise Europe Network

Why do SMEs need a new network?

23 million SMEs in Europe = 99% of businesses 58% contribution to EU GP 75 million jobs created by SMEs

Small and medium enterprises great importance

Need for active and full scale support through regional business gateway Need for exploring new business and technological opportunities Need for contribution to the formation & improvement of EU SME-policies

Small and medium enterprises need for substantial support

Development of a network - mechanism to achieve Lisbon’s goals

of strengthening entrepreneurship and helping SMEs to find the most effective solutions for their problems

550 local contact points in 44 countries (EU 27, candidate countries, European Economic Area countries, other third countries), 3.000 experienced staff

18 teams of experts in different industry sectors from intelligent energy to nanotechnology

Duration: 1/1/2008-31/12/2013 320 million € community

contribution, more than 700 million € total budget

1.000 technology and business cooperation agreements are expected to be carried out between 2008-2010

Enterprise Europe Network:

Europe’s commitment to SMEs

Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Program: CIP 2007-2013

Contribution to Lisbon’s Strategy for Growth and Jobs

By supporting the improvement of the business environment By enhancing competitiveness of European SMEs

http://ec.europa.eu/cip

Modus Operandi

The Power of Experience

The largest network of integrated business support based on the experience of the former Euro Info Centers (EICs) and Innovation Relay Centers (IRCs)

Improved access and proximity for the SMEs:

“one stop shop - no wrong door” principles

New organizations

Qualitative goals

Promotion of the innovation and entrepreneurship to European SMEs

Support for international business and export activity Support for international development of technology and

knowledge Encouragement of SMEs to participate in the 7th Framework

Program Establishment of the network on a local, national and

international level Promotion of SMEs access to the formation of European policies

3 Policy Priorities:

The Small Business Act (SBA) for Europe

The Broad-based innovation strategy for the EU

The sustainable industry policy

Enterprise Europe Network - Hellas

Profile

Enterprise Europe Network – HellasEnterprise Europe Network – Hellas is the largest network of integrated business support in Greece since it comprises 16 industrial associations, research and technology organisations, chambers of commerce and industry, governmental SME Agencies and established Innovation players with long experience of cooperation at national level and distinguished performance in both the Innovation Relay Centre (IRC) and the Euro Info Centre (EIC) networks, at European level.

Enterprise Europe Network - HellasEnterprise Europe Network - Hellas provides international business cooperation services, information on European policies, innovation and technology transfer services as well as services for encouraging SMEs’ participation to the European programs for Research and Technology.

Mission

Boost competitiveness in Greek enterprises (especially SMEs)

Support the development of the less-favored regions of the country

Promote and facilitate innovation in enterprises as well as

entrepreneurship in RTOs

Strengthen the links between research, business, finance

Foster economic and environmentally sustainable growth and

employment

Enhance European interaction in business, technological, economic &

political terms.

httphttp://://wwwwww..enterpriseenterprise--hellashellas..grgr

Partners of the Enterprise Europe Network - Hellas National Documentation Centre Association of Industries in Thessaly and in Central Greece Athens Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Industries Ceramics and Refractories Technological Development Company S.A. Chamber of Arcadia Chamber of Ioannina Chamber of Kavala Clothing Textile & Fibre Technology Development Company S.A. SEV Hellenic Federation of Enterprises Federation of Industries of Northern Greece Food Industrial Research and Technological Development Company S.A. PRAXI/HELP-FORWARD Network, Foundation for Research & Technology–

Hellas Hellenic Organisation of Small & Medium Sized Enterprises and Handicraft Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry Metallurgical Industrial Research and Technology Development Centre S.A. Regional Development Agency of West Macedonia S.A.

httphttp://://wwwwww..enterpriseenterprise--hellashellas..grgr

Partners of the Enterprise Europe Network - Hellas

CHAMBER OF IOANNINA

Wide range of expertise

5 chambers of commerce and industry

4 research and technological growth companies

3 industrial/ business associations

2 research and technology organizations

1 development company

1 governmental SME Agency

Highly trained & experienced staff

Services

1. Information, feedback and international business cooperation services

2. Innovation, Technology and knowledge transfer services

3. Encouraging SME participation to the FP RTD programme

1. Information, feedback & international business cooperation services

Awareness and Information services to local business on EU affairs as well as proactive promotion of EU Programmes, Initiatives and financial instruments

International business cooperation services to clients (matchmaking)

Services to the Commission for legislation and policy testing through SME feedback, impact studies and interaction with local business

2. Innovation & Technology Transfer

Awareness and information on innovation and transnational technology transfer legislation and programmes

Dissemination and exploitation of research results

Technology Transfer Brokerage services

Innovation stimulation to SMEs

Linkage to other Innovation services (finance, IPR, innovation management)

3. Encouraging SME participation

to the 7th Framework Program

FP RTD programmes information and awareness services

Assistance in RTD proposal preparation and coordination

Detection of needs and goals of SMEs in RTD issues and search for companies for participation in research proposals

An ideal example of integrated support

InformationConsultation

Preparation of enterprises to adapt:

equipment, procedures, customers, suppliers,

Research and Development

Investment, business cooperation, patents,

internationalization

Technology audit, market research. Search for available technology. Partner search,

funding programs

Support in signing agreement. Aid with funding programs, partner search. Linking with

other services.

New EU legislation on environmental

protection

Tools - Activities

European electronic databases EU Legislation monitoring Publication of studies and reports Organization of groups to test new legislation Information campaigns, meetings, electronic and printed

newsletters Company visits Technological knowledge Organization of and participation in seminars Organization of and participation in international events Personalised service benefits, helpdesk Organization of incoming and outgoing business missions Support of clusters

Good practice: www.anko-eunet.grContinuous information for the news categories:

User – based information: the user can define his profile and the categories, which he wants to receive information about Automated e-mail alert to the members, as soon as an announcement is launched on the web siteUser support system. Question – Answer mechanism through the web site (mail function)Information through RSS FeedSearch through pre-defined key wordsSimple structure – Easy to find the information over the Home Page

User – based information: the user can define his profile and the categories, which he wants to receive information about Automated e-mail alert to the members, as soon as an announcement is launched on the web siteUser support system. Question – Answer mechanism through the web site (mail function)Information through RSS FeedSearch through pre-defined key wordsSimple structure – Easy to find the information over the Home Page

Aim to provide valid and immediate information to online visitors & users

A Swedish company searches for low cost cameras for an underwater robot

The Greek IRC promotes the underwater camera of a Greek SME, a company that designs and builds underwater systems

The Swedish company visits Greece

The Greek company tailors the camera to the needs of the Swedish company

A technical cooperation agreement is signed

As a result, the Swedish robot functions with built-in Greek technology

Success story: Greek eyes on Swedish robot system

Success story: Greek nanotechnology at the service of Swedish industry HTC Sweden AB specializes in the production of industrialized grinding machines

and needs to improve the wear resistance, heat dissipation and mechanical performance of the resin based products used in their grinding & polishing tools.

HTC Sweden AB addresses ACREO, partner of the Enterprise Europe Network of Sweden, for assistance.

PRAXI / HELP-FORWARD Network, member of the Enterprise Europe Network – Hellas, is aware that the Greek company Nanothinx SA, specializes in the production, research and applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are characterized by exceptional mechanical & thermal properties. Nanothinx can produce high purity CNTs at lower cost and they can also provide services for the incorporation of the produced CNTs into the required media.

With the mediation of the Enterprise Europe Network partners the two companies meet in a Technology Brokerage event in Frankfurt during the “Nanosolutions Exhibition”. Soon after, a first technical co-operation is achieved with a special funding from ACREO.

A second phase of technical collaboration is launched under EUROSTARS as a funding scheme.

www.enterprise-hellas.gr Business support at your doorstep

One team of experts all over Greece provides access to:

Prompt and accurate informationGreat number of potential

business partnersAll European funding

opportunitiesInnovative technologies

www.enterprise-hellas.gr