Latest news
Free movement of workers is good for Europe's economy
European Commission report published today shows that mobile workers from the countries that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 have had a positive impact on Member States' economies and have not led to serious disturbances on their labour markets. Workers from the EU-8 as well as Bulgaria and Romania have made a significant contribution to sustained economic growth, without significantly displacing local workers or driving down their wages. Both for the EU as a whole and for most individual countries, labour flows have been limited compared to the size of labour markets and to inflows from non-EU countries.
European money for small businesses in the UK
Around 16 per cent of companies in the north of England are reporting they cannot survive, while just one per cent in the south-west are saying likewise.
UK Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced £4bn of funding will be available to small and medium-sized firms, to support businesses through the downturn. The funding will come from the European Investment Bank (EIB), via Britain's High Street banks, and will amount to about £1bn of loans a year, for the next four years. The loans can support funding for any amount ranging from very small investments to projects costing up to £19.6m. Loans can be between two and 12 years.
The EIB says that its loans can be used to support a wide range of investment including:
- Puchase of factory
- distribution networks
- Research and development
- The filing or acquisition of patents
- buying up another business to keep that business going
- Find more information - EIB funds for UK companies
- Find more information - Small firms failing in crunch
Powerful clusters: Main drivers of Europe’s competitiveness
Competitive clusters are powerful engines of economic development and drivers for innovation in the European Union. They provide a fertile business environment for companies, especially Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), to collaborate with research institutions, suppliers, customers and competitors located in the same geographical area. A Commission communication published today, calls for more efforts for facilitating the emergence of world-class clusters in the European Union. It addresses key challenges to achieve this: Deepening the internal market, improving cluster policies, fostering trans-national cooperation, promoting excellence of cluster organisations, and improving the integration of innovative SMEs into clusters.
European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy, said: “We need more world-class clusters in the EU. Clusters play a vital role in the much needed innovation of our businesses. They are powerhouses of job creation. Therefore we suggest that cluster policy efforts at all levels should aim at raise excellence and openness for cooperation, while respecting the competitive market-driven nature of clusters.”
£72 million investment in innovative research and development - 10th November 2008
National and European funding sources for research are vital for innovative SMEs in North East England. The Technology Strategy Board is to invest a further £72 million in innovative new research and development projects in eight key areas, its Chief Executive, Iain Gray, announced in October 2008.
The ten new competitions, in important areas such as photonics, high value manufacturing, intelligent transport systems, network security and energy generation and supply, will be split into three phases, with the first three competitions opening in November 2008. UK based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as large multinationals, will have the opportunity to access the funds for market-led R&D projects.
Eurostars Programme - 21st November deadline
If you are an SME and investing 10% or more of your full-time equivalent or annual turnover in research and development activities, the EUREKA Eurostars Programme may well be for you:
European funding for fuel cells and hyrodgen technologies
The technology challenge facing fuel cells and hydrogen is of great complexity, requiring substantial investments and a high level of technological expertise. At
the same time, its potential contribution to Community policies - in particular energy, environment, transport, sustainable
development and economic growth - is very significant. The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen JTI opened their first call (Euro 28.1M) on the 1st October 2008 for R&D proposals covering:
- Transportation and refuelling infrastructure
- Hydrogen production and distribution
- Stationary power generation and CHP
- Early markets including portable and micro fuel cells
- For more information see Open R&D Calls
The Enterprise Europe Network extends to the USA
The Enterprise Europe Network, providing business and innovation services to businesses across Europe, is extending to the United States of America. Known as the US-EU Match, the new US extension of the network will help to enhance trans-Atlantic trade, innovation and technology transfer. If you are looking for new business, technology or R&D partners in the US, contact us.
