1. Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology in Extremadura VERITE KICK-OFF MEETING Thessaloniki, 29th November 2001

2. Our region: Extremadura -One of 17 Spanish autonomous regions -Two provinces: Cáceres and Badajoz -1.069.419 inhabitants -South-West of Spain (near Seville-Andalusia) -Borders with Portugal. -Main economical sectors: Services, tourism and agriculture. -Industries: energy, cork, coal, constr. materials, wood, agro- food, ornamental rock, tourism, metal-mecanic, etc

3. What is FUNDECYT? FUNDECYT was established in 1995. It is a non profit institution whose main objective is to estimulate co-operation between enterprises, research centres and public administrations, in order to foster the technological development of Extremadura. It is an initiative launched with the support and guidance of the Regional Government, the University of Extremadura and two regional financial Institutions.

5. Our Objetives - To promote scientific and technological development in Extremadura - To compile and disseminate every bit of information available that may improve the scientific and technological development in the University, RTD Centres and regional SMEs. - To assist private entities in securing innovation financing schemes. - To promote synergies and interactions among the University, RTD Centres, Companies, and Public bodies at European, National and Regional level. - To cooperate in the design of the regional RTD Policy.

6. Our Objetives - To promote and co-ordinate “Program Development Units“ (UDP) in main RTD areas, combining the best resources available in the educational, research and productive systems. - To participate, at institutional level, in national and international events in order to know the forthcoming tendencies in innovation policy. - To promote the participation of SMEs in technological innovation programmes, both national and international, giving them technical support for the submission of proposals and collaborating in the execution of project activities. - To carry out technological audits and sector studies, identifying technological needs in different industrial sectors, with special orientation to SMEs.

7. Structure and Work areas

8. MAIN STRUCTURE

13. Participation in national and international networks

14. INNOVATION RELAY CENTRES (IRC) NETWORK)-EUROPEAN COMMISSION- INNOVATION-SMEs PROGRAM SCONE- EUROPEAN SPIN – OFF NETWORK VERITE- IMT NETWORK OTRI NATIONAL NETWORK (OFFICES FOR THE TRANSFER OF RTD RESULTS) VIRTUAL ASSOCIATION OF E-WORK SPANISH FEDERATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION ORGANISATIONS (FEDIT) REDWISE (WOMEN IN INFORMATION SOCIETY ECONOMY) EUROPEAN NETWORK QUALITER – EDUCATION WAHMF (World Association of Health and Medical Film) NATIONAL E-WORK ASSOCIATION NetMakers.org ALTEC (Latin-American Association of Technology Management) MULTILINGUAL NETWORK FOR EXTREMADURA - ALENTEJO – CENTRE OF PORTUGAL SPANISH NETWORK OF UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS FOUNDATIONS SPANISH CONFEDERATION OF FOUNDATIONS INFORMATION ON EDUCATION DATABASES (REDINET)

15. CONTACT US MRS. CAROLINA GRAU FUNDECYT Technological Innovation Department C/ Manuel Fdez. Mejías, s/n, 2ª Planta 06002 - Badajoz (Spain) Tel: + 34 924 207 690 Fax: +34 924 238 450 E-mail: carolina@fundecyt.es Web site: www.fundecyt.es