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The Problem
The Innovation Relay Center Network (IRC-Network) has been for more than 10 years one of the core instruments of the European Commission to support innovation and transnational technological co-operation in Europe. Established in 33 countries, more than 1,000 technology transfer specialists in 240 offices has been offering a range of specialised business support services. Among other services, the IRC network is operating a web-based matchmaking system with more than 7000 technology offers & requests , thus providing an unique fundament for finding potential business partners across Europe. However, although more than 4,000 technology agreements can been due to this system, there is the problem that small and medium companies, being the target group, are too less aware of the IRC services. Consequently, the European Commission requested for ideas to address the lack of visibility.
The solution
It was obvious, that companies visit more frequently their sector specific website, where they can receive specific information of value, than the websites of the more or less unknown IRC websites. So, during 2006 six organisations gathered, all with long-term experience in technology transfer, in order to propose an idea how to make the IRC services, in particular the technology profiles, visible on websites of relevant intermediaries or so called “stakeholders”(e.g. chambers of commerce, industry cluster-platforms, private and public research communities). Although the technology profiles were considered to be content interesting enough for stakeholder websites it was also clear that the value could been even enriched by additional features, such as:
- selection of only those technology-sectors and profiles that focus on the business of the stakeholder´s clients
- adaption of the displayed content according to the layout & style of the stakeholder´s website
- fast and easy integration without need of advanced programming know-how
On basis of this proposal the six partners established a project consortium and were awarded, under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), to realize the project “STAKEHOLDERtool - a software platform for trans-national technology transfer stakeholders to bridge SMEs with IRCs at lower costs and higher success.”
In fact, what we have now is a proven Tool that is combining all the above mentioned functions and features and which is now ready to support the business of the successor network of the Innovation Relay Centers, the Enterprise Europe Network.
