Innovation Relay Centre. July 2002

INNOVATION/SMES PROGRAMME /WiWttíWtH Innovation Relay Centre © Network Co-operation RCs join forces with Eureka The IRC network is a highly effective mechanism for introducing regional SMEs to technological opportunities. Plans for closer collaboration with Eureka will extend its sources of new technologies, producing a reciprocal exchange of development possibilities. The Innovation Relay Centre infrastruc­ture has grown to an extensive network of 68 centres in 31 countries. It provides strong support for technology transfer between countries, helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ex­ploit locally generated technologies abroad, and to import technology solutions suit­able for their home markets. The Europe- The IRC network in brief V more appropriate for Eureka, it can pass it wide Eureka network is also well estab­ on directly. The Innovation and SMEs Programme's lished and broadly based. Since 1985, it network of 68 Innovation Relay Centres The Eureka secretariat will take a central has supported market-oriented industrial (IRCs) spans 30 countries, including the role, screening projects so that only those EU Member States and the newly associ­research and development through co­ated countries (NAC). suitable for further exploitation are noti­operative projects in 31 countries. Each IRC is its region's window on Euro­fied to the IRC network.