Innovation & Entrepreneurship Portal

Research Centres and websites for Innovation and Entrepreneurship from/for Europe

European Union
http://www.europa.eu.int

Undoubtedly, European Union is the most important policy making authority in the European continent. Its purpose, to unify its 25 member states under the same economical and political umbrella. The official webpage, apart from information on all its institutions, policies, programmes and initiatives offers access to all the legal documents, directives, etc published by EU. The webpage is available in all its 20 official languages.

European Commission
http://europa.eu.int/comm/

The European Commission is one of the most important European institutions participating in the decision-making process of the Union. Its website offers rich information on what the Commission does, how does its work, and on how does it fit into the entire EU decision-making process. It also provides an overview of the EU policies on innovation and enterprises for internal, sectoral and international subjects.

Innovating Regions in Europe
http://www.innovating-regions.org/

Offers access to new tools, schemes and programs for innovation promotion that enable an inter-regional learning process to EU regions. The webpage of the network “Innovating Regions in Europe” (IRE) has been developed as a common platform for supporting collaboration and exchange of views and experiences for regions that produce and apply regional strategies for innovation. Today, it numbers around 200 regions – members coming from both the EU and the connected countries. This webpage offers access to new tools, blueprints and programs for promoting innovation.

Community Research & Development Information Service
http://www.cordis.lu/innovation

This Innovation Portal, operating within the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) (http://www.cordis.lu/), provides access to the latest policy documents on innovation, up-to-date news and events, articles on innovation studies, call for projects and contact information for intermediaries that could facilitate the innovation process. Under the headline “Innovation in Practice” a general overview of the EU innovation policy, with numerous studies and publications like “Innovation Scoreboard” and “Innobarometer”. Also provides information about all innovation programs, actions, and organizations and links to each EU member-country.

European Innovation Scoreboard (Trent Chart)
http://trendchart.cordis.lu/

The European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) measures innovation performances across the European Union. The latest edition, the EIS 2005, is available on the TrendChart website. Using a strengthened methodology and a revised list of 26 indicators, it confirms Sweden, Finland and Switzerland as the leading innovative countries in Europe. Previous EIS reports are also available.

The Pilot Action of Excellence on Innovate Start-ups
http://cordis.europa.eu/paxis/

Managed by the Commission’s Enterprise Directorate-General under the 6th Framework Programme, “Research & Innovation Programme”, PAXIS promotes the setting-up and development of innovative companies across Europe – a driving force for employment and economic growth. The PAXIS programme has two major objectives: To boost the transfer of local and regional excellence in innovation, and to have an instrument for the co-operation and the exchange of tacit knowledge and learning among local innovation stakeholders, profiting from each other’s experience.

The IRC Network
http://irc.cordis.lu/

The mission of the Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs) is to support innovation and transnational technological co-operation in Europe with a range of specialized business support services. IRC services are primarily targeted at technology-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but are also available to large companies, research institutes, universities, technology centres and innovation agencies. The first Innovation Relay Centres were established in 1995 with the support of the European Commission. The aim was to create a pan-European platform to stimulate transnational technology transfer and promote innovation services. Over the past five years the IRCs - working together in close co-operation - have been of assistance in over 12,500 technology transfer negotiations, and have helped more than 55,000 client companies to meet their technology needs and to exploit their research results.

Science and Technology Policy Research
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/

The research unit: Science and Technology Policy Research (SPRU) operate within the University of Sussex. Its research activities focus upon the study of science – technology – innovation in the global economy for the benefit of states, firms and the society.

Joanneum Research
http://www.joanneum.at/

With more than 350 employees JR is the largest independent R&D institution in Provincial ownership (region of Styria, Austria). Its 21 research institutes are located in Graz, Vienna, Jodenburg, Leoben, Frohnleiten, Weiz and Hartberg and concentrate on applied research and technological development in cutting-edge technologies. JR acts as an innovation partner for business, industry and public administration. Its webpage provides information on research orientations, R&D projects taken and accomplished.

The Institute of Innovation Research – Manchester University
http://les.man.ac.uk/PREST/

The Institute of Innovation Research – PREST is one of the most important institutions in Europe for postgraduate studies and research in the fields of science policy, innovation, technology management and for the economics of technical change. The institute was established on 2003 within the University of Manchester and today it has a significant number of research teams, such as the well known Policy Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (PREST), the ESRC Centre for Research in Innovation and Competition (CRIC), and the Centres for Entrepreneurship and Management and Tyndall Centre North.

Research Laboratory in Theoretical and Applied Economics
http://cournot2.u-strasbg.fr/users/beta/index.php

Το Research Laboratory in Theoretical and Applied Economics (BETA) belongs to the University Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg. Its interests are about a wide range of fields of activities in both basic and applied research in economics and management science. It specializes in the fields of innovation economics, business evolution theory, technology management and environmental economics.

Institute for Prospective Technological Studies
http://www.jrc.es/

Is one of the seven institutes of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. It was established in Seville, Spain in 194. Its mission is to provide prospective techno-economic analyses in support of the European policy-making process. It monitors and analyses science and technology developments, their cross-sectoral impact and their relationship with the sociolo-economic context and their implications for future policy development. Its webpage contains interesting studies undertaken by the centre.

The Smart Practices Innovation Network
http://rqsi.ulaval.ca/ang/index.php

The smart practices Innovation Network offers a global coverage concerning innovation issues (studies, articles, research projects, public policies…) and the possibility to subscribe to a weekly newsletter to get the best content from the World Wide Web.

International Institutions

European Union (Enterprise Policy), European Union - European Commission, http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm
European Competitiveness Council http://ue.eu.int
EU Lisbon Agenda http://europa.eu.int/growthandjobs/index_en.htm
World Bank http://rru.worldbank.org/
IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook www.imd.ch.wcc
World Economic Forum www.weforum.org
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor www.gemconsortium.org
UNCTAD, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, www.unctad.org
UNDP, United Nations Development Programme, www.undp.org
UNIDO, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, www.unido.org
Transparency Organization, www.transparency.org
Transparency Organization, Hellenic Department, www.transparency.org.gr
Institute of Development Studies (University of Sussex - UK), www.ids.ac.uk/ids
Istituto G. Tagliacarne (Italy), www.tagliacarne.it/main.asp
Morrison Institute for Public Policy, www.asu.edu/copp/morrison
The John F. Kennedy School of Government, www.ksg.harvard.edu
The United Nations University, www.unu.edu
World Institute for Development Economic Research - WIDER, www.wider.unu.edu
 

Research Centres and websites for Innovation and Entrepreneurship from/for Greece

Innovation and Knowledge Management Centre, Management Science Laboratory, Athens University of Economics and Business
www.msl.aueb.gr/innknow

The Innovation and Knowledge Management Centre (Innknow Centre) is one of the three research Centres under the Management Science Laboratory (MSL) belonging to the Department of Management Science and Technology in the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB). Its webpage provides access to papers by the Centre faculty, a description of current and previous research projects and a free newsletter the “InnKnow FORUM” issued biannually from the Centre.

Dept. of Management Science and Technology, Athens University of Economics and Business
www.dmst.aueb.gr

The Dept. of Management Science and Technology was established in 2000 under the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB). Today, it is considered to be one of the more dynamic departments of the University. Its webpage provides information for the academic and research activities of the faculty, an overview of its research laboratories and a description of current and previous research projects.

The Website for Research, Technology and Innovation in Greece
http://www.ekt.gr/content

This website, administrated by the National Documentation Centre in Greece, offers insights into the national research and innovation system of Greece and activities including policies and programs supporting public and private participation, legislative documents, science and technology indicators and various activities for the promotion of scientific and technological culture in the Greek society.

General Secretary for Research and Technology, Ministry of Development
http://www.gsrt.gr/

The General Secretary for Research and Technology (GSRT) is the most important public policy making organization in the areas of R&D and innovation in Greece. Through the large variety of its different programs, GSRT supports research activities of both research institutes and industry, promotes the transfer and dissemination of advanced technologies and contributes to the reinforcement of Greece’s research work force.

Hellenic Innovation Relay Centre
http://www.hirc.gr

The Hellenic Innovation Relay Centre (HIRC) is a one stop-shop for enquires about innovation and technology transfer issues. Its role is to support the promotion and implementation of R&D results, the transnational cooperation and the transfer of technology to SMEs and the demonstration of best practices for the fostering of companies’ innovativeness.

Hellenic Center for Investment
http://www.elke.gr

The Hellenic Center for Investment (ELKE) is the national investment agency responsible for promoting, attracting and supporting foreign direct investment into Greece. ELKE operates as a one-stop-shop for investors and offers the following services without charge: Promotion - informs investors on investment opportunities on both a sector and specific project level, Support - provides information and guidance on procedures required by central and local authorities, etc, Implementation - handles applications for cash grants for investments above € 15 million, or above € 3 million if at least 50% of equity is in foreign capital, Counsel - advises Government on recommended changes to the legal and regulatory framework on investment.

Network Praxis – Help Forward
http://www.help-forward.gr

The Network Help Forward was created in order to contribute in connecting research and production in Greece. It operates since 1991 and offers information services, functions as an intermediate and consulting for enterprises and research Centres in a wide spectrum of varieties related to technology transfer activities and in the field of exploiting R&D results. The Help Forward network acts as a non-profit organization under the auspices of the Federation of Greek Industries (FGI), the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (FING) and the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH). Since 1995, it has been listed as one of the 68 Innovation Relay Centres of the European Union.

Urban and Regional Innovation Research Unit
http://www.urenio.org/

The Urban and Regional Innovation Research Unit (URENIO) is a university laboratory for the promotion of research and supply of scientific and technological services. It operates within Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The URENIO’s central research themes are cities and regions of innovation, knowledge clusters, technopoles and science parks, regional innovation systems and strategies, digital innovation spaces, and intelligent cities.

Regional Observatory for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Central Macedonia
http://www.orie.gr

The Observatory for Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Central Macedonia (ORIE) is a newly established institution, which aims to support and to promote Entrepreneurship in the Region of Central Macedonia, using capabilities offered by the sector of Innovation. This web site provides useful information about the actions and services offered by the Observatory.

Research Centres and websites for Innovation and Entrepreneurship from/for Balkans

The Academy of Sciences of Albania
http://www.academyofsciences.net/

The Academy of Sciences of Albania was founded in 1972. It is the highest and the most important scientific institution in the Republic of Albania. It is an independent institution. It puts together the most prominent scientists of the country, that is, those who bear the title of “Academician”. It includes other scientific institutions, centers and organisms, in its system. Eligible for membership are active scientists with an excellent scientific record. The new legislation on the Academy of Sciences lays down its position as an independent institution. It is financed by the Government.

Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
http://www.sanu.ac.yu/

The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts was founded by Law of November 1, 1886 as the Serbian Royal Academy. SRA was the successor to the Serbian Learned Society with which it merged in 1892 and accepted its members as its own either regular or honorary members, its tasks and its place in scientific and cultural life. The same occurred several decades earlier when the Serbian Learned Society took over the place and functions of the Society of Serbian Letters, the first learned society in the Serbian Principality.

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
http://www.bas.bg/

The main objectives of the Academy have been achieved to a great extent despite the economic hardships of the transition to democracy and market economy, the scarce state funding science and BAS in particular have received during the last several years, as well as the lack of real opportunities for financial support by the national industry or the private economic sector.

Foundation Romanian Centre for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
http://www.imm.ro/

CRIMM is a non-governmental and non-profit organization; founded in 1992. CRIMMs mission is to promote the setting-up of new private enterprises and the development of a dominant Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) sector in Romania as a contribution to achieving sustainable economic development including: environment protection; industries and economy competitiveness within the globalization framework.

The Romanian Academy of Sciences
http://www.acad.ro/ 

The Romanian AoS was founded over 127 years ago and has always been an institute with its own network of research units in diverse disciplines alongside the Academies of Agriculture and of Medical Sciences. In 2000 the number of institutes decreased to 66, and their staff consisted of 3646 employees.

TUBITAK-TIDEB
http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/

Technology Forecasting and Assessment Directorate (TIDEB) is established in 1995 under the premises of TUBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey). TIDEB’s aim is to strengthen research and technological development ability in accordance with national science and technology policy. It develops and applies tools for the stimulation of industrial R&D, involving all the partners. The main activities of TIDEB are conducting R&D assistance program, provision of tax exemption, coordinating university – industry cooperative research center program (USAMP), making brokerage events and arranging technology awards.

IRC Anatolia
http://www.irc-anatolia.com/

Being Turkey’s first Innovation Relay Centre established, the IRC Anatolia Consortium is formed by METU Teknopark (the coordinator), Small and Medium Industry Development Organisation (KOSGEB), a semi government organisation, and the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO).

Research Centres and websites for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Black Sea Region