Who we are
One NorthEast and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) have partnered and established a new strategic team. Led by Shak Gohir, the team forms the North East of England's hub within the EU’s new Enterprise Europe Network. Comprising of over 4000 innovation and business advisors in over 600 teams across Europe and beyond spanning 40 countries, it forms the world’s largest business and innovation support network. Part of the EU's Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme, the Network offers entrepreneurs a one stop shop for assistance on:
- Grasping opportunities in the single market
- Innovation and new products
- Cross-border cooperation and going international for technology and business partnering
- Accessing EU projects and funding
- Providing feedback from companies to the European Commission on EU policies and initiatives
Grasping opportunities in the single market
Small businesses, especially in their early stages, often do not have the resources to closely monitor the many different kinds of assistance EU programmes can provide. Nor are they always able to fully assess the innovative and market potential of their products or explore new business opportunities, particularly outside the areas they know well. The Enterprise Europe Network bridges this gap. The network aims to overcome this knowledge gap and ensure companies, either individually or in consortia, are aware of the possibilities available.
Innovation and new products
Technological breakthroughs are crucial to local economic development across Europe. Therefore, the network attaches special attention to encouraging the knowledge community. Innovative processes do not only enable companies to develop new goods and services and reduce costs by improving production techniques, they can also contribute towards energy efficiency – a priority which has risen rapidly up the EU’s agenda. The network services:
Help small businesses with technical issues, such as intellectual property rights, standards and EU legislation, as it can be difficult for companies to remain abreast of changes in EU related opportunities.
Promoting innovation: The network encourages SMEs to become more innovative as sharing the results of research can trigger new ideas/opportunities. Amongst other, collaboration with clusters bundling different innovation related activities will be improved. Ensuring access to innovative technology will help SMEs face global competition.
SMEs will be encouraged to participate in research programmes and apply for funding.
Cross-border cooperation and going international for technology and business partnering
Fewer than one in ten SMEs do business outside their own country, despite the abolition of national barriers and the opportunities firms with comparative advantages can find in niche markets. By using established contact points, the network can provide specialised advice for companies wishing to expand their operations abroad – not just within the EU, but also further afield.
Organising business cooperation among SMEs
An estimated one million European SMEs could be involved in cross-border trade and investment, if only they could call on the appropriate support services. The network will organise one-to-one match making meetings for technology transfer and business partnership to help identify trustworthy partners. All requests are treated in confidence. Basic details of would-be link-ups are stored in a business cooperation database. These are widely circulated and easily accessible.
Sharing the results of research
Sharing the results of research can trigger new ideas and new opportunities, stimulating firms to develop beyond their initial horizons. The network can help develop these exchanges and nurture potential partnerships. It can help clients in their search for business partners, especially in countries other than their own, arrange individual on-site visits to assess a company’s needs and provide advice on a broad range of business issues.
Accessing EU projects and funding
The Enterprise Europe Network aims to overcome the knowledge gap regarding different sources of EU financing and ensure companies are aware of the possibilities available.
Providing feedback from companies to the European Commission
The Commission will use the network to receive regular feedback from companies to ensure that the policies and initiatives it prepares suit their requirements and will not lead to unnecessary bureaucracy that could harm their competitiveness and innovation potential.
