51. Science and technology intermediary services for SMEs. A guide via practices

Science and technology intermediary services for SMEs: A guide via practices Supporting Potential & Existing Research Intensive SMEs 2008 Download Introduction This report introduces experiences and practices from seven European regions in the fields of Science and Technology (S&T) intermediation system. It summarises the results of the work accomplished over two years into a 'guide' about the public support actions targeting regional S&T systems, focused mainly on the intermediation function. It can be considered as a reference point, as well, for those who are interested in regional experiences on S&T services or regional tools to increase the quality of systems for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). In 2002, the European Council set the goal of raising overall research investment in the EU from 1.9% to 3% by 2010. However, instead of rising, European research investments appear to be stagnating and the quantifiable outcomes are not impressive. An issue that arises is what can be done to boost regional innovation systems to help to change this situation? What are the specific actions of regional intermediaries in this effort and how can they improve their performance? Upgrading research and innovation policy does not only imply increasing R&D investments, but also their efficiency and effectiveness. It also requires bringing the research community and SMEs more tightly together, which is considered to be one of the key roles of regional intermediation system. One of the main target groups of this guide are Regional Authorities (RA), which in some countries are in charge of innovation policies. The roles of RAs, according to the design of the new regional policies, in upgrading regional innovation policies, appear to be of major importance. This report describes and analyses a variety of practices and measures of public RA support actions that may improve the innovation capacities of the SMEs through S&T intermediaries. The content of this report is based on the practical experience of the seven partners that represent regions with varying socio-economic profiles and S&T intermediation systems.

Monday, 01 September 2008 | 4720 hits

52. [Project] Defining the role of local governments in implementation of the activities outlined in the "Estonian integration programme for 2008–2013"

Defining the role of local governments in implementation of the activities outlined in the "Estonian integration programme for 2008–2013" The aim of the activities carried out within the framework of public procurement "Defining the role of local governments in implementation of the activities outlined in the Estonian integration programme for 2008–2013" is well-timed, efficient and effective accomplishment of the development plan of "Estonian integration programme for 2008–2013" according to its implementation plan 2008-2010, taking into account the need to be based on a well prepared administrative measures and financial mechanisms, as well as ensuring more effective involvement of local municipalities in the integration process in addition to key ministries, their subordinate units and Integration Foundation. For the attainment of this goal the Integration Foundation has concluded a contract with the consortium of Institute of Baltic Studies (lead partner of the project), Geomedia Consulting and Training Centre and PRAXIS Centre for Policy Studies. The project is financed by the The European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals and the Estonian Ministry of Culture.

Wednesday, 01 July 2009 | 3698 hits | Read more

53. [Report] Struktuurivahendite rakenduskavade hindamisaruanne

Lühikokkuvõte struktuurivahendite hindamisest: struktuurivahendite rakenduskavade hindamisaruanne   Taust Perioodil 2007-2013 on Eestil võimalik kasutada struktuuritoetusi kolmest fondist (Euroopa Regionaalarengu Fondist, Euroopa Sotsiaalfondist ja Ühtekuuluvusfondist) kokku 53,3 miljardit krooni. Toetuste kasutamiseks koostati kolm rakenduskava, mille juhtministeeriumid on: - Inimressursi arendamise rakenduskava – Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium; - Elukeskkonna arendamise rakenduskava – Keskkonnaministeerium; - Majanduskeskkonna arendamise rakenduskava – Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium. Rakenduskavad on heaks kiidetud 2007. aastal, milles on määratud ka valdkondade vaheline rahajaotus, prioriteedid, üldine õigusraamistik jne.

Friday, 24 July 2009 | 3475 hits | Read more

54. Defining the role of local governments in implementation of the activities outlined in the "Estonian integration programme for 2008–2013"

Defining the role of local governments in implementation of the activities outlined in the "Estonian integration programme for 2008–2013" The aim of the activities carried out within the framework of public procurement "Defining the role of local governments in implementation of the activities outlined in the Estonian integration programme for 2008–2013" is well-timed, efficient and effective accomplishment of the development plan of "Estonian integration programme for 2008–2013" according to its implementation plan of 2008-2010, taking into account the need for being based on a well prepared administrative measures and financial mechanisms, as well as ensuring more effective involvement of local municipalities in the integration process additionally to key ministries, their subordinate units and Integration Foundation. For the attainment of this goal the Integration Foundation has concluded a contract with the consortium of Institute of Baltic Studies (lead partner of the project), Geomedia Consulting and Training Centre and PRAXIS Centre for Political Studies foundation. The procurement procedures are financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and the Estonian Ministry of Culture. The propositions elaborated within the framework of the project and final report will be finished in the first half of year 2010.

Friday, 01 May 2009 | 4896 hits

55. [Report] Struktuurivahendite rakenduskava hindamine: uuringuaruanne

Käesolev aruanne võtab kokku aprillist kuni juulini 2009. aastal läbi viidud struktuurivahendite rakenduskavade hindamise, mille eesmärgiks oli välja selgitada, kuivõrd hästi on rakenduskavades kavandatud struktuurivahendite kasutamine kooskõlas muutunud majandusolukorraga, ning vajaduse korral teha sellest lähtuvalt ettepanekud rakenduskavade muutmiseks. Hindamise tulemusena jõuti järeldusele, et 2007. aastal koostatud rakenduskavad on põhiosas jätkuvalt asjakohased, kuid muutunud majandusolukorrast ja meetmete rakendamisest saadud kogemustest tulenevalt oleks põhjendatud rakenduskavadesse teatud muudatuste tegemine. Hindamise põhjal välja toodud olulisemad tähelepanekud puudutasid eelkõige vajadust tõhustada ja kiirendada mitmete meetmete rakendamist.

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 | 4430 hits | Read more

56. Overview of the Biotech–Health Sector in Europe

Overview of the Biotech–Health Sector in Europe Project: AFIBIO (Access to Finance in the Biotech Sector) Workpackage 1 – Identification and analysis of the biotech sector specificities relevant to access to finance (2006) Download   Introduction The Workpackage 1 aims at a better and common understanding of biotech-health sector specificities, in particular regarding access to finance (task 1.1.) and at identifying a limited number of model of case studies (task 1.2). The key findings and conclusions will enrich the debate during a Roundtable, held in Milano, the 30th of May, 2006, dedicated to exchanging experiences on the access to finance in the biotech-health sector. The present deliverable (n°1.1.) is the starting point of the AFIBIO project, aiming at briefly describing the “countours” of the biotech sector in Europe from four point of view : industry, research base and financial sectors ; and public policy support to the biotech. The deliverable is divided into two parts : - Synthesis at the EU level, including comments on the comparison with the USA performances - National surveys METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS The informations has been collected by the AFIBIO partners through the most available recent reports and studies, drafted under the umbrella of the national biotech associations or EU association. Statistics, web-based research, and personal contacts and interviews around Europe were also used by AFIBIO partners to compile such datas. AFIBIO partners are aware that such a survey is more “empirical” than conceptual and scientific. Datas are not “harmonised” due partly to the fragmentation of the sector at the EU and national levels. Nevertheless the informations and facts collected are relevant for the AFIBIO objective which was during the first workpackage to capture a general overview of the sector over Europe. DEFINITION For the purposes of AFIBIO project, Biotechnology is defined as: - the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents to provide goods and services (OECD) and - the integrated use of natural sciences and engineering sciences by the application of biosystems – cells of microbial, plant and animal origin, parts thereof and molecular analogues – in bioindustries”, as defined by the European Federation of Biotechnology. The project focuses on Biotechnology applied to healthcare. An additional list of definitions is provided in annex 1.  

Friday, 01 September 2006 | 3699 hits

57. Synthesis report on Biotech National and EU Policies

Synthesis report on Biotech National and EU Policies AFIBIO Network (Access to Finance in The Biotechnology Sector), 2007 Download   The approach This review was prepared by the Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS) in the framework of the AFIBIO project based on various national policy documents on biotech funding identified by the members of the AFIBIO consortium. The member states covered by this report are the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Estonia, and Malta. Additionally European policies and reviews of the biotech related activities of the 7th RTD Framework Programme, and a limited number of more general documents and news articles on biotech funding were taken into account (see “References” below). The following is based on the analysis of the profiles of the policy documents prepared collectively by the AFIBIO partners. Whenever the policy documents under discussion were available in English, the authors consulted during the preparation of this review additionally also original documents. The policies discussed in that section are divided into three categories: policies designed to support enterprises, policies designed to support research institutions, and policies designed to support both enterprises and research institutions in the area of funding.  

Saturday, 01 September 2007 | 3909 hits

58. ICT Sector in Estonia: Foresight Study

ICT Sector in Estonia: Foresight Study BEFORE (Benchmarking and foresight for regions of Europe), 2008   Download   Introduction The BEFORE Project (http://www.before-project.org) was approved in the FP6-2004-KNOW-REG-2 call for proposals of the 6th Framework Programme. The specifi c programme covered was “Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area” and the activity areas included were “Coherent development of research and innovation policies”. The project will perform the comparative analysis (benchmarking) of effi cient support instruments for the RTD in geographical areas with demographic signifi cant imbalances. In this way also specific tools of support would be analyzed for rural companies and entrepreneurs. Also, there would develop a panel of indicators of impact of the regional RTD support policies in this type of regions, with special attention to the indicators of social impact. A special attention will be paid to the case of regions that have obtained signifi cant advances implementing RTD policies in the last years (for example, regions to which the good use of the resources has allowed or will allow to leave the Objective 1). In the consortium take part some regions of this type (Castilla y León, Brandenburg). These regions will carry out a task of mentoring on the rest of regions in the project. One of the factors for success in the present project is the achievement of wide regional consensus and the involvement of regional RTD players in the project. A strong effort will thus be made in order to obtain this actor interaction, integratingkey players in the management structure and widely disseminating project results. Also the benchmarking process will contribute to trans-national exchange of experience. Other objective of the project is to carry out foresight studies of policies and support instruments to RTD guided to future sectors, intensive in knowledge and with high added value. The sectors being covered will be aeronautical (Castilla y León), biotechnology (South Estonia), ICTs (Mid Sweden, South Estonia and West Romania), transport (logistics in Brandenburg and automotive in West Romania) and renewable energies (Brandenburg, Castilla y León and Mid Sweden). The development of these new sectors will allow to the participant regions to maintain and promote equilibrium between the competitiveness of its basic industries and businesses and the bid to introduce new economic activities in sectors with good prospects of future.  

Monday, 01 September 2008 | 5014 hits

59. Establishing a set of indicators for measuring the impact of R&D policies

Establishing a set of indicators for measuring the impact of R&D policies BEFORE (Benchmarking and foresight for regions of Europe), 2008 Download   This document is focused on the study of establishing a set of indicators for measuring the impact of R&D policies for the five regions participating in this project. This document has four parts: Part One briefly explains the methodological approach of this study, Part Two describes the state of the art of the scientific approach to the development of indicators for measuring the impact of research and development policies, Part Three makes a comparative analysis of the regional R&D systems for the BEFORE regions, Part Four designs a consensus indicator list for the BEFORE regions, and Part Five makes a summary of the main conclusions of this study. Finally, in the Annexes it is included additional information regarding complementary indicator tables and questionnaires used to elaborate this study.  

Monday, 01 September 2008 | 4697 hits

60. Report on the benchmarking process for regional innovation strategies and policies

Report on the benchmarking process for regional innovation strategies and policies EURO-COOP (Regional Innovation Policy Impact Assessment and Benchmarking Process: Cooperation for Sustainable Regional Innovation), 2008 Download   Introduction EURO-COOP is one of eight projects which are funded under the 6th Framework Programme for Research and its special programme on Regional Innovation Strategies, including new tools and approaches, under the strand for innovation policy impact assessment and benchmarking at the regional level. All of these projects aim at developing an innovation policy impact assessment system to improve the measurement of various impacts of innovation policy-making at the regional level. In each project, several regions take part in the development and implementation of impact assessment methods and benchmarking indicators. The work undertaken in EURO-COOP will contribute to the objectives of the eight projects but will additionally focus specifically on the needs of the regions that take part in the project.  

Monday, 01 September 2008 | 4814 hits