Reporting on technology innovation in Central Europe
In December several new calls were published at Cordis website. Let us take a closer look at some of those where our SMEs have a chance to succeed.
Totally 52 mil. EUR will be spent for Specific Targeted Research Projects (STREP) and Co-ordination Actions (CA) in the area of Citizens and Governance in a knowledge-based society. The deadline for the 2nd call proposals is 13 April 2005. Continue reading ‘New FP6 calls for SMEs’
The 12th edition of the European Tech Investment Forum and the accompanying Venture Academy were organised by Europe Unlimited in the Hague in mid November. Meanwhile the European Commission published a report summarizing findings and recommendations from 430 European ICT companies seeking venture capital funding in the past 5 years.
The data presented is based on a number surveys that were performed immediately after each of the 10 events. The impact report includes the complete list of 430 companies from 29 countries and recommendations from investors, consultants and successful entrepreneurs.
It can be downloaded from our Virtual Innovation Park. Disclosure: Our company VIP park was involved in organizing five editions (2002-2004) and in coordinating the project activities in the Eastern and Central Europe.
One year ago the evaluation of project proposals submitted within the 2nd IST Call of the 6th framework programme took place in Brussels. As one of the invited evaluators I had a chance to view it from the other side. Let’s say from a view of a wicked man, at least this is the way the evaluator ‘killing’ the majority of proposals is perceived by their promoters.
The number of proposals ‘to be killed’ was really high, because submitted all together into the 2nd call was over a thousand projects (more than half was submitted in the electronic way), which at total required more than 4 bil. EUR (the budget available was 525 mil. EUR, so the chance to succeed can be simplified as a ratio of 1:8). Despite the obstacles of individual evaluation criteria and total minimum score, which is always necessary to reach to move forward, 276 (26%) projects pursuing together more than 1 bil. EUR (still almost a double overhang of demand) were passed forward. Continue reading ‘A local view to the previous two calls’
In August the Economist Intelligence Unit published a comparative survey study focused on introducing e-government in the Central Europe. The white paper style publication covers the new member states from Central Europe, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
Seven weighted criteria were examined for each of the countries ranked, collectively comprising 35 separate qualitative and quantitative indicators - Connectivity and technology infrastructure, Business and legal environment, Education and skills base, Government policy and vision, E-democracy, Online services for citizens and for businesses. The survey methodology was based on in-depth interviews with programme managers and direct participants in the local development.
NETIES is not going to map the ICT sector “only” (well - it goes across other industries anyway). One of the emerging fields still more attractive for investors is biotechnology including genetic modifications, bioinformatics, medical devices and many others.
In October we had in Brno one of the “Best of Biotech” events. The next ones were organised also in Bratislava and Budapest. They are a part of the international initiative awarding the best biotech projects and the tour covering Austria, Slovenia, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary. The third annual international business plan competition, Best of Biotech - get your business started! is organised by Life Science Austria (LISA), a programme run by Austria Wirtschaftsservice on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Economy and Labour. The mission has been described as encouraging the development of the biotech scene in Austria, but also to improve cross-border collaboration between Austria and its neighbours.
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