Useful Links

Scroll down to find useful links to all the innovation information you need

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Directorates-General

Agriculture DG

Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Energy and Transport

Directorate-General for Energy and Transport

Enterprise DG

Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry

Fisheries DG

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Information Society DG

Information Society and Media Directorate-General

The Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry has the task of ensuring the single market runs smoothly and of helping businesses to remain competitive. It is therefore a major contributor to the implementation of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. DG Enterprise and Industry pays particular attention to the needs of the manufacturing industry and to those of small and medium-sized enterprises. It manages programmes to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, and ensures that EU legislation takes proper notice of businesses' concerns.

ENTERPRISE AND INDUSTRY LATEST NEWS

Enterprise and Industry - Newsroom - Highlights

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The European Commission website provides information on daily news, the calendar, the policies, the President, the Commissioners and the services offered

Europe INNOVA

Europe INNOVA is an initiative of the European Commission's Directorate General Enterprise and Industry which aspires to become the laboratory for the development and testing of new tools and instruments in support of innovation with the view to help innovative enterprises innovate faster and better. It brings together public and private innovation support providers such as innovation agencies, technology transfer offices, business incubators, financing intermediaries, cluster organisations and others.

INNOVATION

The European Commission is formulating, influencing and, where appropriate, implementing policies and programmes to increase Europe's innovativeness. The Commission is trying to make sure innovation is thoroughly understood and approached comprehensively, thereby contributing to greater competitiveness, sustainability and job creation.

EUROPEAN INITIATIVES

CIP

The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) aims to encourage the competitiveness of European enterprises. With small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as its main target, the programme will support innovation activities (including eco-innovation), provide better access to finance and deliver business support services in the regions. It will encourage a better take-up and use of information and communications technologies (ICT) and help to develop the information society. It will also promote the increased use of renewable energies and energy efficiency.

CLUSTERS

Euro Cluster Observatory

The European Cluster Observatory provides a wide variety of data on clusters in Europe and is divided into four main sections: Commission recognises the important role of clusters

Euro Cluster Policy Group

The European Commission has adopted on 22/10/2008 a Commission Decision setting up a high-level 'European Cluster Policy Group' of up to 20 Members, which will share intelligence about cluster policies with a view to better assist the Member States in supporting the emergence of world-class clusters.

The European Cluster Alliance

The European Cluster Alliance is an open platform that was established to maintain a permanent policy dialogue at EU level among national and regional public authorities responsible for developing cluster policies and managing cluster programmes in their countries. This policy dialogue aims at raising the level of excellence and efficiency of cluster policies in Europe which will result in the creation of more competitive world-class clusters in Europe, as recently proposed by the Commission Communication on clusters.

ECO-INNOVATION

CENCE

A cooperative platform that facilitates the promotion of entrepreneurial innovation through Connecting ENergy Clusters across Europe

DEPUIS

The DEPUIS project - D esign of E nvironmentally-friendly P roducts U sing I nformation S tandards - aims at improving the environmental friendly design of new products and services through the innovative use of new information standards. The Good Practice Handbook has been produced to showcase the existing useful standards, how they can be used and where to find them.

EIFN

Energy Sector Innovation-FinaNcial Model' The overarching goal of the EIFIN project is to: Design and develop a comprehensive framework for a better understanding between innovative energy enterprises and institutions, and financial agents.

STAND-INN

STAND-INN is addressing new manufacturing processes based on the IFC standards with objectives to create new and more efficient business processes, thus facilitating the construction sectors great potential for cost reduction and productivity increase, consequently, improving the competitiveness of the B&C industry.

INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

IMP³rove

Benefit from the European Commission's premier online benchmarking tool for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). IMP³rove can help businesses grow by means of superior Innovation Management. Besides an online assessment, IMP³rove offers a personalised consulting workshop for SMEs.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Innobarometer

Innobarometer is an annual survey of 3,500 randomly selected companies in the EU that complements the results of the EIS by analysing specific aspects of innovation such as the role of clusters in facilitating innovative activity or innovation transfer.

INNO-Policy Trendchart

INNO-Policy TrendChart describes and analyses major innovation policy trends at national and regional levels across Europe with a view to contribute to policy assessment and to identify examples of good practice, thus improving the basis for decision making in innovation policy. A policy monitoring network tracks developments in innovation policy measures in 39 countries in Europe, the Mediterranean region, North America and Asia. The information collected is used to run and maintain an inventory of innovation policy information and policy measures, and also feeds into annual country reports and an annual European Innovation Progress Report

InnovAccess

InnovAccess gives you a direct access to national resources and general IP issues

ip4inno

ip4inno is a project funded by the European Commission as a part of the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. Its main aim is to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enhance their understanding and use of intellectual property rights with a view to promoting innovation and competitiveness in line with the European Commission's Lisbon goals.

IPR-Helpdesk

IPR-Helpdesk and InnovAccess have joined their efforts to provide assistance in IP matters to SMEs and other stakeholders. IPR-Helpdesk focuses on the specific IP issues involved in R&D and innovation EU funded projects, and InnovAccess gives you a direct access to national resources and general IP issues. This integration is an ideal occasion to rationalise our services to better fit to your demand.

KNOWLEDGE INTENSIVE SERVICES

ACHIEVE MORE

The ACHIEVE MORE Partnership is an ICT sectoral initiative to help 400 European SMEs to access the best tools and funding they need to accelerate their growth. The Partnership will be managed by nine delivery partners from five European countries and will extend out to 50 business and technology incubators, 15 ICT clusters and up to 5 early stage finance providers.

European KIS Contest

Evaluates and awards Europe's most successful start-up and VC backed companies in the area of Knowledge Intensive Services with the potential to dramatically impact their industry and contribute to increasing European competitiveness and growth.

KIS 100 Club

The 'KIS 100 CLUB' of young innovative service companies in Europe with high growth potential has been established, providing a platform for mutual learning and exchange of practical experience.

KIS Innovation Platform

The KIS -IP is a new initiative funded under Europe INNNOVA, with the aim to accelerate the take-up of services innovations in Europe. The initiative focuses on the innovative service solutions in technological and industrial fields by developing and testing new or better innovation support mechanisms for innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The objective of the KIS-IP is to foster technological as well as non-technological innovation in services by helping innovative SMEs to better exploit research results and to facilitate the search for investors and business partners. The KIS-IP will develop new tools for innovation support, addressing particularly the needs of innovative service companies with the ambition to grow and internationalise fast.

KIS4SAT

KIS4SAT is a sectoral network which will enable entrepreneurs and Knowledge Intensive Services ventures of high growth potential to seize such new market opportunities in the field of satellite downstream applications.

KIS-PIMS

Knowledge Intensive Services in the Planning, Installation, Maintenance and Scrap services (PIMS) for renewable energy production systems . KIS-PIMS is an initiative to enhance cost driven innovation in such services. Launched on January 2008 for the next three years with the financial support of the European Commission - DG Enterprise, it is coordinated by TECHNOFI, shouldered by 14 Partners from Austria, France and Finland.

LEAD MARKET INITIATIVES

The Lead Market Initiative is one of the most important innovation policies in the EU, involving Member States, industry, NGOs and the European Commission. On their website, you will find information about the Lead Market Initiative's approach, its implementation and how you can get involved.

PRO INNO EUROPE

PRO INNO Europe® is an initiative of Directorate General Enterprise and Industry which aims to become the focal point for innovation policy analysis, learning and development in Europe, with the view to learning from the best and contributing to the development of new and better innovation policies in Europe.

SECTORAL INNOVATION WATCH

Detailed insights into sectoral innovation performance are essential for the development of effective innovation policy at regional, national and European levels. The Sectoral Innovation Watch project provides policy-makers and stakeholders with a better understanding of sectoral drivers, barriers and challenges for innovation across the EU.

INNOVATION AND RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS

ALPHAGALILEO

The world's leading source of European research news. A fast, effective service for the world's media and Europe's research community

CORDIS

An information space for European Research and Development (R&D) and exploitation of European R&D results.

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION EUROPEAN YEAR 2009

This is the official website of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009. It provides news on relevant events taking place during 2009, serves as a platform for access to projects and explains how to participate in the Year.

EARLY STAGE INVESTORS

EASY is the meeting point for early stage Investors and innovative businesses seeking risk capital from across Europe. Greater London Enterprise (GLE) and a partnership of 17 organisations from 11 different European countries make up the key players in EASY.

ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK

The Network offers support and advice to businesses across Europe and helps them make the most of the opportunities in the European Union. Their services are specifically designed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) but are also available to all businesses, research centres and Universities across Europe.

EUROFFICE SERVICES

Their business services promote dynamic networking opportunities between high-tech markets, especially for innovative start-ups and SMEs.

EUROPEAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The European Science Foundation (ESF) is an association of 80 member organisations devoted to scientific research in 30 European countries. Since we were established in 1974, we have coordinated a wide range of pan-European scientific initiatives, and our flexible organisation structure means we can respond quickly to new developments. ESF's core purpose is to promote high quality science at a European level.

EUROSCIENCE

They operate through Workgroups and Regional Sections, setting up conferences, workshops and other appropriate actions (awards...) on subjects such as Career Development, Integration and Collaboration in European Science, Accountability of Scientists to Society, Ethics in Science, Public Awareness of Science...

FP7

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA)

INFORMAL GROUP OF RTD LIAISON OFFICES

IGLO is an informal association of Brussels-based non-profit R&D Liaison Offices. The aim of IGLO is to facilitate and enhance the interaction, information exchange and co-operation between Members of IGLO, their national research systems and the European institutions on issues related to EU RTD, in particular, the Framework Programme.

INNOVATING REGIONS

Strengthening the global competitiveness of European regions by promoting innovation policies, and providing a unique platform for regions to cooperate and learn from each other.

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE

ICSU mobilizes the knowledge and resources of the international science community in order to strengthen international science for the benefit of society.

IRC NETWORK

The IRC Network is now part of the Enterprise Europe Network, a new flagship initiative providing integrated innovation and business support to small businesses across the European Union

PROTON EUROPE

ProTon Europe, the European Knowledge Transfer Association, created in 2003 by the European Commission and self-supporting since 2007.

Technology Innovation International

The association creates a vibrant hub for members to share professional experience and good practice, to facilitate business opportunities for them and to support them in their technology transfer and innovation assignments.

MINISTRIES/AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR INNOVATION AND RESEARCH

AUSTRIA

Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture

Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology

Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth, Austria

BELGIUM

FEDERAL OFFICE FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL & CULTURAL AFFAIRS

IWT- VLAANDEREN, BELGIUM

IWT is the main actor of the Flemish government in this field of stimulating the regional economical development by supporting technological innovation

BULGARIA

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Ministry of Education and Science

CYPRUS

Institute of Technology

Research Promotion Foundation

CZECH REPUBLIC

Technology Centre AS CR

DENMARK

Council for Research Policy

DASTI, Denmark

The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation is an institution under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Ministry of education

Ministry of Research & Information Technology

ESTONIA

Archimedes Foundation, Innovation Centre

Enterprise Estonia

Estonian Technology Agency

FINLAND

Ministry of Education

Secretariat for EU R&D

TEKES

The Tekes office in Brussels fosters collaboration between the European R&D programmes, the Finnish innovation system and Tekes technology programmes.

FRANCE

Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology

Ministry of Research and New Technologies

OSEO France

Its mission is to provide assistance and financial support to French SMEs and VSEs in the most decisive phases of their life cycle : start up, innovation, development, business transfer / buy out. By sharing the risk, it facilitates the access of SMEs to financing by banking partners and equity capital investors.

GERMANY

Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research & Technology

RESEARCH IN EUROPE

As a Central Research Facility financed by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG), KoWi is enabling the successful participation of scientists located in Germany within the EU Framework Programme for Research and Development. For that purpose, KoWi provides German universities with strategic consulting services that allow an effective combination of national and European funding sources.

VDI-VDE, Germany

Research Funding, Technology Policy and Innovation Management - VDI-VDE are covering the entire spectrum of the innovation process, from research through application all the way to the introduction and use of new technologies.

GREECE

National Hellenic Research Foundation

HUNGARY

Ministry of Education, Research and Development Division

NKTH, Hungary

The National Office for Research and Technology (NKTH) has a key role in developing and implementing Hungary's science, technology and innovation policies.

IRELAND

Department of Education & Science

Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the government agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector. Its mission is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in global markets resulting in increased national and regional prosperity.

ITALY

Italian Agency for the Promotion of European Research

ITALIAN NATIONAL AGENCY FOR NEW TECHNOLGY - ENERGY

ENEA is a public agency operating in the fields of energy, the environment and new technologies to support Country's competitiveness and sustainable development. The Agency's activities are carried out in the following four areas: Clean Energy, Technologies for the Territory, Technologies for the Future, Advanced Technology Applications.

National Research Council

LATVIA

Ministry of Education and Science

The Latvian Council of Science

LITHUANIA

Agency for International Science and Technology Development Programmes

LUXEMBOURG

Luxinnovation

Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research

Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade

Ministry of Middle Classes, Tourism and Housing

Ministry of National Education and Professional Training

The Luxembourg Portal for innovation and research

MALTA

Malta Council for Science and Technology

NETHERLANDS

Ministry of Economic Affairs Netherlands

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

SenterNovem, Netherlands

SenterNovem promotes sustainable development and innovation, both within the Netherlands and abroad aiming to achieve tangible results that have a positive effect on the economy and on society as a whole.

NORWAY

Innovation Norway

Innovation Norway promotes nationwide industrial development profitable to both the business economy and Norways national economy, and helps release the potential of different districts and regions by contributing towards innovation, internationalisation and promotion.

POLAND

IFTR PAS

IFTR PAS, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences

Ministry of Science and Higher Education

PAED, Poland

Its task is the management of funds assigned from the State Budget and European Union for the support of entrepreneurship and the development of human resources, with particular consideration given to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises

PORTUGAL

AdI - Innovation Agency (Agência da Inovação)

Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education

UMIC - Knowledge Society Agency

ROMANIA

Ministry of Education, Research and Youth

SLOVAK REPUBLIK

Centre for Advancement, Science and Technology - SARC

Ministry of Education

SLOVENIA

Ministry of Education, Science and Sport

Research and Technology Development in Slovenia

SLOVENIAN BUSINESS & RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (SBRA)

SBRA, established in 1999, is an international non-profit organisation connecting business and research communities in Slovenia with the EU institutions and other public and private bodies at EU level.

SPAIN

Ministry of Education and Culture

Ministry of Science and Technology

SWEDEN

EC/R&D Council

Ministry of Education & Science

VINNOVA, Sweden

VINNOVA (Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems) is a State authority that aims to promote growth and prosperity throughout Sweden with a particular area of responsibility comprises innovations linked to research and development.

UNITED KINGDOM

Department for Education & Skills

Dept. of Trade & Industry, Office of Science & Technology

HM TREASURY

Public private partnerships (PPPs) are arrangements typified by joint working between the public and private sector. In the broadest sense, PPPs can cover all types of collaboration across the interface between the public and private sectors to deliver policies, services and infrastructure. Where delivery of public services involves private sector investment in infrastructure, the most common form of PPP is the Private finance initiative.

Institute of Public Policy Research

Scottish Enterprise

Scotland's main economic, enterprise, innovation and investment agency whose ultimate goal is to stimulate sustainable growth of Scotland's economy.

UKRO

The UK Research Office (UKRO) is the UK's leading information and advice service on European Union funding for research and higher education. Established in Brussels in 1984, UKRO is jointly funded by all seven UK Research Councils and receives subscriptions from over 140 research organisations, principally in the UK.