1. Networking at major events
Bright future for solar mapping
l i fe
The Network in the United Kingdom
08
Monthly news for Network partners April 2010
In Focus
Beating the idea thieves
iStock photo
The business world can be as cut-throat as Blackbeard's high seas. Through the IPeuropAware
initiative, Network partners can educate SMEs about why they should protect their intellectual
property (IP) from piracy – and how to do it.
To many enTrepreneurs, Ip comes rights (including patents for inventions, emailed answers to all queries within
across as an obscure legal concept that trademarks for industrial design and three working days. Luxinnovation has
does not concern them. In reality, it is geographical indications) and copyright also organised local trainings on Ip in Fp7
something no sme can afford to ignore (for literary works, photographs and with the participation of Ipr Helpdesk
if it is to remain competitive. architectural plans). “Within the network, experts. separately, Luxinnovation has
Generally speaking, Ip refers to all as we work mainly with innovative teamed up with the Technology Watch
creations of the human mind that smes and research organisations, our Centre and the government intellectual
can be legally protected. Ip rights are main concern is industrial property,” property office to create a joint Ip referral
usually divided into industrial property says Vaclav Suchy, senior network service.
manager with Technology Centre as
@EACI Cr in prague.
To alert Czech smes about integrating
Yassen Todorov
Ip into their business strategies, the
Reporting, Monitoring
centre works with the national patent
and Evaluation, Unit 4
office as part of the eu’s Ipeuropaware In 2008, Luxinnovation organised a
Yassen's job is all about attention to detail. He
project. Launched in 2007, it combines conference on counterfeiting with eIC
is responsible for monitoring Network partners
two existing initiatives under one Trier and other network partners under
in the UK, Ireland and his native Bulgaria,
umbrella: a web portal created by Ipeuropaware. The speakers included
ensuring they are fulfilling the terms of their
work programmes. “I'm looking forward to national patent and trademark offices Ip enforcement experts from the eu-
visiting the partners in the coming months with tools and information about their funded China Ipr sme Helpdesk. “most
and actually meeting the people behind the services; and Ipr Helpdesk, a free online smes are not aware about the problem
contracts,” he says. Yassen did similar work advice service and training mechanism of counterfeiting,” says Luxinnovation
at the European Business & Innovation Centre for Ip issues in eu-funded research project manager Frédéric Melchior.
(BIC) Network, where he ensured that the BIC projects. “even when you protect an innovation,
label was only given to organisations that met In the Czech republic, the Technology you must guard against others making
the requirements. Born in Copenhagen, Yassen Centre and the national patent unlawful copies.”
grew up in Sofia and studied economics and office have co-hosted seminars on Ip
international development in Strasbourg. The enforcement, and visited local textile Get in touch
avid skier just spent Easter in Bulgaria with factories to raise their awareness about
family, and enjoyed the Orthodox tradition of Ip and assess individual needs. Vaclav Suchy
suchy@tc.cz
cracking red-painted eggs. “It’s like a game,” meanwhile in Luxembourg, the
he explains. “You have to try to break your national agency for Innovation and Frédéric Melchior
opponent's eggs.“ The trick is to spot the egg research (Luxinnovation) – among other frederic.melchior@
with the strongest shell – an easy task for network participants in Ipeuropaware – luxinnovation.lu
someone with Yassen's eye for detail. regularly refers clients (beneficiaries of
For job profiles of all EACI staff see: or applicants to eu funded programmes) i More information
Intranet > Who's who > EACI and DG ENTR to the Ipr Helpdesk, which guarantees http://ec.europa.eu/eaci/ip_en.htm
1 New! www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu

2. 08 Monthly news for Network partners April 2010
life
News in Brief
Power Networking at major events
Network Partners and the EACI were working shoulder to shoulder at two significant European events
in March, to promote the Network and help SMEs.
THe enTerprIse europe network ”This is the greatest combined
flexed its muscles at the CEBIT number of colleagues organising any
technology fair in Hanover, Germany network event,” says Nancy Smith,
last month, with 27 partners bringing business consultant at WTsH GbmH in
377 companies from 46 countries Kiel, which organised the event with
together for the Future match 2010 fellow partners Leibniz universität
brokerage forum. Hannover. ”some 60 colleagues
validated profiles and 531 collaboration
Tip of the Month profiles were registered for 1,359
meetings.” The eaCI promoted the Partners joining forces at Future Match
Eligibility of costs for company network next to the Future match
missions to non-EU countries forum, attracting some 6,000 people
to its stand. The network also showed
Planning to organise a company mission its green credentials in march,
or attend a brokerage event in a non-EU holding a workshop and a stand at
country? Claiming travel expenses is a European Sustainable Energy Week
cinch – as long as you know the rules and in Brussels. organised by the agency
the eligible countries! and the Intelligent energy sector
Partners’ travel costs can be claimed for missions
Group, the workshop, ”From research
to EU-27 countries and the eight “Article 4”
to market: how can smes maximise
countries associated to the Competitiveness and
their opportunities in the field of
Innovation Framework Progamme (CIP).
energy?”, was attended by more than
By contrast, missions to “Article 21.5”
countries are only eligible if carried out in
70 participants. Hundreds of companies, 'Going for brokering'
collaboration with the local network partner or if sustainable energy week was not
stated explicitly in the partner’s Work Programme. only a Brussels affair, though. events
In either case, SMEs or any other clients must were held by network partners all
always cover their own travel costs. “Organising a across europe, including one on
mission outside the EU is easy if you have reliable renewable energy in Kielce, south-east
partners there,” says Rimantė Šniuolytė, poland. The seminar was run by partner
Network foreign relations manager at the staropolska Chamber of Industry and
Klaipeda Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Commerce, and focused on renewable
Crafts in Lithuania. Last year, she accompanied energy and sources of financing for
three SMEs and represented three others at the such projects. ”This event showed that
“Russia-Europe: Cooperation without Frontiers“ renewable energy is not an easy way to
matchmaking fair in Moscow. “Our travel costs create the future of power engineering,
were eligible because the event was organised but it is important for environmental Hustle and bustle in Brussels
by the Russian consortium, Gate2RuBIN,” says and economic reasons,” says network
Rimante, “who, by the way, did an excellent job.” Director Dorota Tekieli-Bisińska.
“Article 4 countries“: Croatia, fYRoM, Iceland, Get in touch
Israel, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Turkey.
“Article 21.5 countries“: Armenia, Bosnia and Nancy Smith
Herzegovina, Chile, China, Egypt, Mexico, Russia, smith@wtsh.de
South Korea, Switzerland, Syria, USA.
Dorota Tekieli-Bisińska
Get in touch eickielce@siph.com.pl
Rimantė Šniuolytė i More information
rimante.sniuolyte www.futurematch.cebit.de
@chambers.it www.eusew.eu
Listening intently at a workshop in Kielce, Poland
2 New! www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu

3. 08 Monthly news for Network partners April 2010
life
Success story
Bright future for solar mapping
German Researchers have taken to the skies in a bid to find which buildings can be
easily powered by the sun. Thanks to the Network, the idea has spread to Austria,
where an entrepreneur is using it to carry out solar analyses for new clients.
Pointing lasers where the sun does shine
THe 'sun-area' researCH project uses adviser Svenja Knüppe helped to
computers to detect which buildings write a technology profile for the BBs the initial bill for the solar mapping, local
in an area can best take advantage of database. authorities – as well as residents and
solar power. Developed by researchers Within only two months, an expression companies – can then decide whether
at the university of applied sciences in of interest came from long-time austrian to invest in photovoltaic energy.“ Given
osnabrück, Germany, it is supported by network client Günther Gleixner, the potential environmental benefits,
eu structural Funds. whose Graz-based sme Grintec GmbH it’s a win-win situation for everybody,”
From a plane with an on-board specialises in software solutions for says Gabriele.
camera, researchers use special laser power supply and telecommunications.
scanners to calculate each roof’s angle, “The BBs technology database is an Get in touch
alignment and the shadows cast by its effective multiplier,” says svenja. In Svenja Knüppe
chimney. The result is a detailed map, austria, Gleixner received the profile s.knueppe@wt-os.de
pinpointing the solar potential of all from Gabriele Schmied, network
residential, commercial and public project manager with the steirische
buildings. “once we finished the project, Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft, also Gabriele Schmied
the next step was to find a commercial in Graz. gabriele.schmied@sfg.at
application,” says Dorothea Ludwig, head Following a June 2009 cooperation
of the sun-area north research team. agreement, Grintec is now preparing Submit your success stories
she contacted the network, which has solar maps for south Tyrol, Italy and a FirstClass > Conferences > Network Daily
a branch at the same university. project handful of austrian regions. after footing > Network Forum > Success stories
Good practice
 Magazine cuts straight to the click
Grupo Sodercan, the Network partner in Santander, Spain, uses an interactive electronic magazine to promote
the Network to SMEs in the region. The multimedia format includes high-quality photos and videos.
current european affairs. The latest issue positive feedback, and Ignacio says
includes an article about Ce marking , that several have even become network
sme Week and a profile of staff member clients after reading the publication.
raquel manzanares. Ignacio believes the newsletter, which
all articles are planned and written was nominated for the network's Best
by Ignacio and mar martin in sodercan’s practice awards last year, can easily be
Brussels office, who adapt and translate adapted across the network: “anyone
material published on the european who wants to know more about our
Commission website and elsewhere, experience is welcome to contact us.”
Blowing away the paperwork while Juan Carlos ruiz coordinates
ConexIón europa Goes out to 300 multimedia content. articles on Get in touch
organisations – including 250 smes ‘hot topics,’ roughly one in three, are Ignacio Abaitua
– every three months. “Companies accompanied by a video, produced by Fernández-Escárzaga
are flooded with paperwork, so we an external communications agency. iabaitua@gruposodercan.es
decided to create a different, user- each text also contains a web link.
friendly format,” explains Ignacio While the electronic newsletter is i More information
Abaitua Fernández-Escárzaga, more expensive to produce than a www.conexioneuropa.net
sodercan’s network coordinator. The print version, Ignacio notes that the
online magazine is full of short, snappy investment is worth it. “We are online, Submit your good practices
articles, about everything from new so we can reach a lot of people beyond FirstClass > Conferences > Network Daily
legislation to project calls to events and our subscribers.” readers have given > Network Forum > Good practice
3 New! www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu

4. 08 Monthly news for Network partners April 2010
life
The Network in the United Kingdom
Speaking with one voice
The Enterprise Europe Network in the United Kingdom puts a strong emphasis on cooperation
between its 11 regional consortia representing 30 business development organisations.
Partners share best practices and ideas, and often co-sponsor events.
“earLy on We recognised the need to says Louise Fisher, a Liverpool-based
work together at national level despite network advisor with Business Link
our regional differences to provide northwest. “similarly, we are always
smes with the best services possible,” willing to offer assistance to colleagues
explains Caroline Gray-Stephens, head when required.”
iStock photo
of enterprise europe network scotland For example, a network staff
and the uK country coordinator. member monika matyastikova, a
priority sme sectors vary by region, network business advice expert at the Whatever the accent, the UK Network's voice is heard
from financial services in London to London Chamber of Commerce and
new media in yorkshire and Humber to Industry, will soon give Business Link join forces to co-organise brokerage and
biotech in the midlands. at national level, northwest West information officers a other events, drawing on each partner’s
information technology, life sciences refresher course on import and export strengths and expertise.
and energy are equally important. “The procedures. British partners also often Besides the intra-uK cooperation,
challenge for uK consortia is to operate the network works closely with its
and collaborate at a national level Get in touch counterpart in Ireland, driven by the fact
while retaining their strong regional Caroline Gray-Stephens that many companies take advantage
focus,” says Caroline. In practice, this Caroline.Gray-Stephens of easy transport routes and a common
@scotent.co.uk
means each consortium concentrates language to expand across the border.
on its priority sectors, while working This cooperation is reflected in
Louise Fisher
with colleagues in other regions when Louise.Fisher
a working group of uK and Ireland
needed. @businesslinknw.co.uk network managers and a joint marketing
“I know that if my region is lacking in and communication group, explains
a particular skill or area of knowledge, i More information Caroline. “We can only be strong if we
I can call upon colleagues across the uK UK and Ireland Network portal: speak with one voice, both nationally
for almost instant advice and support,” www.enterprise-europe.net and cross-border.”
Pick of the programmes Communication Tools
Eco-Innovation: New call for
green projects
Mapping our success
Learn about the new 2010 call for eco-innovation Want to show potential clients how powerful the Network really is? Then
products, services and technologies at the display a new poster illustrating a European network with a global reach!
European Info Day 13 April in Brussels.
The morning session will explain the contents of
THe posTer, avaILaBLe in different
the call, offer tips on applying for funding and
sizes, shows a map of europe
present successful examples, followed by an
highlighting localities with a network
afternoon training session on helping SMEs and
presence. It is accompanied by a list
other applicants prepare their proposals.
of branch locations in all 45 member
More information about the event and the call: countries. you can print the full map
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eco-innovation right now and soon you will be able to
print individual country maps for your
own promo materials.
Intranet > Network Management >
Communication > Templates
NetLife is published by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI). Neither the European Commission nor the EACI nor any person
acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use to which information in this newsletter may be put, or for any errors which, despite careful
preparation and checking, may appear.
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry
4 New! www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu