1. EUREKA Networking Session Summary........With comments from a EUREKA Advisory Committee point of view K.Pavlik EBS, 17.03.06

2. Division, Content owner, Date(in numbers), ISO No2 From the presentations: M. Janecek: EUREKA Vision and Ambition G.Menozzi/P.Druenne: how to join forces to forge a stronger EUREKA cluster in a key technology/ /market/product area Z.Zalis: successful, SME- led, bottom up projects with clear market focus in innovative service-oriented IT applications J.Bruins:Eurostars, focusing on innovative SME´s, and serving as stepping stone to program alignment between National Authorities M.Guilbaud:detailed vision of EUREKA´s role in shaping a coherent European R&D scenario and Public Private Partnership models to reach the Lisbon targets

3. Division, Content owner, Date(in numbers), ISO No3 1)Today Europe is slow in converting ideas to successful innovations (making money with it), so all programmes should support Open Innovation : Brings large companies, research institutes and SME´s together Quick transition basic research to application rapid testing of ideas and prototypes 2)The importance of ICT: Support investment in ICT infrastructure … … but don’t forget: geographic proximity of partners in Value Chain matters-> support regional /local clusters, Centres of Excellence etc. The Comments (1)

4. Division, Content owner, Date(in numbers), ISO No4 The Comments (2) The presentations have shown very positive initiatives to tackle the fragmented national support schemes for EUREKA projects But: National subsidies invariably fall under the State Aid rules and concerns about market distortion and less competitiveness: we need a level playing field with the USA and the Far East in this respect. Present subsidy models favour pre-competitive R&D, and classification is based on a linear innovation model (outdated)-> adapt to “Open Innovation” ecosystem

5. Division, Content owner, Date(in numbers), ISO No5 The Comments (3) SMEs – specific points Subsidies: Positive discrimination in favor of SME´s can backfire: Symbiosis between SMEs and LCU´s is the winning formula Main problem: if they are small and stay small (below a critical mass) they will never reach the level to sustain significant R&D expenditures->we urgently need success story of a successful SME growing to become a large company Potential source for growth: Open up state procurement for innovative solutions instead of lowest price (and let SMEs have a fair share)