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| ARC Fund becomes National Information Point (NIP) for the EUREKA network in Bulgaria |
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As of November 2004 ARC Fund has been nominated as the National Information Point (NIP) for the EUREKA network in Bulgaria. EUREKA is one of the oldest and highly praised initiatives in the field of R&D and innovation at EU level, which is aimed at raising the productivity and competitiveness of European companies, industries and economies in the world market. For more than two decades EUREKA has been a label of excellence and has mobilized substantial public and private funding in support of research and development and innovation. It is an industry-driven and market-oriented network that complements national and other European level programs and plays an important role in the development of the European Research Area.
The EUREKA National Information Points provide practical support to local companies through the EUREKA partner search facilities and a wide range of networking activities designed to help local clients find appropriate project partners. EUREKA advises project participants on funding support schemes run by other member countries, and might facilitate contacts with governments so that participants can raise and influence issues relevant to their projects and sectors.
Becoming a EUREKA National Information Point will enhance ARC Fund’s core portfolio of Innovation Relay Center services to companies and will increase its role as a national and regional focal point for R&D and innovation.
EUREKA is a pan-European network for market-oriented, industrial R&D.
Created as an intergovernmental Initiative in 1985, EUREKA aims to enhance European competitiveness through its support to businesses, research centres and universities who carry out pan-European projects to develop innovative products, processes and services.
Through its flexible and decentralised Network, EUREKA offers project partners rapid access to a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise across Europe and facilitates access to national public and private funding schemes.
The internationally recognised EUREKA label adds value to a project and gives participants a competitive edge in their dealings with financial, technical and commercial partners.
Through a EUREKA project, partners develop new technologies for which they agree the Intellectual Property Rights and build partnerships to penetrate new markets.
The EUREKA Clusters play a key role in building European competitiveness, driving European standards and the interoperability of products in a wide range of sectors. The result is a clear demonstration of the strength of pan-European teamwork in the European Research Area.
The EUREKA Umbrellas are thematic networks which focus on a specific technology area or business sector. The main goal of an Umbrella is to facilitate the generation of EUREKA projects in its own target area.
Each year hundreds of innovative projects are initiated by European companies, an increasing number of which are SMEs. These contribute to improved wellbeing, security, environment and employment in Europe and beyond.
BUSANET, a European network of Business Angels, signed a partnership agreement with EUREKA in 2004. This non-profit making organisation’s objective is to develop funding activities and financial toolboxes to support innovation implementation in Europe.
Each year the EUREKA Lillehammer Award is given to a project that has demonstrated its outstanding contribution to the environment. The EUREKA Lynx Award goes to the SME that has achieved or expects to achieve a significant increase in turnover as a result of participation in a EUREKA project.
By encouraging and assisting businesses to innovate, the EUREKA Initiative complements the European Union's Framework Programme in working actively towards the common European objective of raising investment in R&D to 3% of GDP by 2010.
For further information on the EUREKA initiative, please, contact:
Ms. Daniela Tchonkova
Address: 6 Gourko Street, 1000 Sofia
Tel: (+359-2) 9867557; 9867887
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