Events to look out for
Webinar: Technology Transfer, 12 April, 10:30 CET. The European IPR Helpdesk is hosting a webinar on key questions and aspects related to intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer.
StandarDays 2017, 20-21 April, Brussels, Belgium.CEN and CENELEC invite you to Brussels for the StandarDays 2017. The event is aimed at companies, researchers and other stakeholders who want to have a clear and structured overview of the European standardisation system.
Funding available
EIB-Confindustria: Agreement on financial instruments, innovation and the Juncker Plan. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Confindustria signed a cooperation agreement to support the finance plans of Italian businesses of all sizes. The three-year agreement will promote more EIB financing to a wider range of medium-sized enterprises.
EU policies for better business
Consumer Financial Services Action Plan: better products and more choice for European consumers.The European Commission presented last week an Action Plan that sets out ways to provide European consumers with greater choice and better access to financial services across the EU. To this end, the European Commission has also launched a public consultation on technology and its impact on the European financial services sector (‘FinTech'). The consultation is open until 15 June.
From coal and steel to digital technologies: working together to prepare Europe's future - statement by Vice-President Ansip on the occasion of the Digital Day in Rome. Last week EU ministers committed to putting the EU at the forefront of global high-performance computing (HPC) and to carry out cross-border trials in connected driving. A European platform to bring together national initiatives to digitise industry was also launched.
Get involved
EU Sustainable Energy Week: networking slots available. Looking to gain and exchange knowledge on clean energy topics? This year's EU Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels features a Networking Village (21-22 June) with highly interactive activities that businesses can apply for. Apply until 31 March 2017.
Ready2Go: the innovative programme that helps innovative companies to go global! The European Commission and the European Agency for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (EASME) launched the pilot project ‘Ready2GO’. This initiative aims to support European small and medium-sized businesses to internationalise and become active in five target markets outside the EU (Canada, USA, Chile, India and Cameroon). Companies interested in participating can apply until 14 April 2017.
EU Gateway | Business Avenues: market scoping mission to Chiba City, Japan. The mission will focus on the railway technologies and services sector and will run from 27 November to 1 December 2017. Selected companies will also benefit from pre-arranged face to face business meetings and exhibition space at the Mass-Trans Innovation Trade Fair in Chiba. Applications are accepted until 7 July 2017.