A new ICT Cluster initiative, launched in late July 2009, specifically to assist West Midlands ICT SMEs – and other stakeholders – optimise the opportunities available to them for European funded collaborations.   

Participants will initially be drawn from those working in Mobile & Wireless and RFID fields, subsequently extending to other ICT Cluster networks such as Informatics and ICT Security. Support will be available in a variety of forms including:

-       enhanced and personalised information service so recipients can learn about new and relevant funding and partner opportunities;

-       assistance with identifying potential regions and partners with whom to collaborate;

-       travel & subsistence funding to support visits to (and from) potential partner regions;

-       personalised signposting to regional, national and/or European support contacts who can assist on a one-to-one basis with your role in proposal development;

-       identifying & promoting to relevant expert stakeholders from the region specific opportunities and benefits for joining European evaluation panels, EC working groups.  

The project, which is supported by ERDF funding under Priority 4, will run to the end of March 2011. If you want to know if you can benefit or just gain more detailed information please email [email protected]

An EU-funded regional resource for the West Midlands offering advice and support to assist organisations in applying for European funding to deliver trans-national projects.  

Trans-national funding is open to any organisation in any geographic location, to encourage exchange of best practice between different European regions.If you are you looking for some innovative ideas, cost efficient solutions or exchange of best practice on a serious local or regional issue, it may be time to explore the opportunities available through European project work.

EU Connects can offer assistance at each stage of the project cycle: Getting started; Turning your ideas into actions; Tools for delivery.This is a free service to encourage any organisation in the West Midlands to consider applying for European funding. 

Further information.

EU Connects Team and their areas of support.

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is a network of over 550 regional actors covering more than 40 countries and delivering business and innovation support services such as information on EU matters, business and technology cooperation, exploitation and transfer of research results or participation in EU funded RTDI and other schemes. Services from the Network are particularly designed for SMEs, but are also available to all businesses, research centres and Universities across Europe.http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu 

The network for the West Midlands region is represented by Coventry University Enterprises Ltd, together with consortium partners Birmingham Chamber Of Commerce & Industry and Derbyshire & Nottingham Chamber Of Commerce.http://www.mirc.org.uk 

If you are looking to develop business cooperation across Europe - agents, distributors, joint ventures or other types of business partnerships, then their Business Cooperation Database may be able to assist. You can register your own company’s interests on this free service by completing a simple registration form. Once this is received Enterprise Europe West Midlands will search the database for companies that may be of interest to you. They will also promote your profile to potential business partners through other EEN links in the countries you have nominated as of interest. 

From June 2009 Enterprise Europe West Midlands’ monthly e-bulletin, European Business Opportunities, (http://mailshot.birmingham-chamber.com/arrow/_writecontent/_uploads/_users/25/EuropeanBusinessOpportunitiesJune.pdf) has been upgraded. This service, which advertises recent business opportunities across Europe, includes a specific section on Information Technology. It also includes the form for registering your company on the Business Cooperation Database.

West Midlands in Europe (WMiE) is a cross-sectoral partnership representing the interests of the West Midlands region in Europe. Based in a high profile office in Brussels, West Midlands in Europe is well placed to ensure the region plays an active role and makes the most of opportunities in Europe.  

WMiE provide professional expertise and advice to regional organisations, with on the spot information and intelligence on upcoming EU policy and funding. Their contacts and networks in the EU institutions and with other regions and organisations in Brussels provide a strong base to support effective engagement with regional partners. Partners are also encouraged to share expertise. 

West Midlands in Europe are also joint leaders of the ERRIN (the European Regions Research and Innovation Network) ICT Working Group for Europe and work in close collaboration with representatives from the ICT Cluster to ensure activities related to this initiative have direct benefits for the regional ICT community. 

West Midlands in Europe is jointly managed by West Midlands Local Government Association, representing all 38 local authorities in the West Midlands and the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands. Senior partners are West Midlands Higher Education Association, representing all 13 regional Universities and Higher Education Institutes and the Confederation of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce, bringing together the 7 regional Chambers in the West Midlands. Other partners include business, further education, health, cultural and voluntary sectors. 

Further information