A Smarter Way to Develop New Products for Global Markets

Are you an innovative business? Does the opportunity to develop new products and relationships with business partners across mainland Europe appeal to you? If so, the East of England Development Agency's (EEDA) Framework Programme 7 support package could offer you a helping hand.

What is it?

Creating new products and services that convincingly out-perform competitors' offerings is seldom cheap or simple. And that's why smart firms are using new approaches to build business development networks.

Boasting a budget of over  50 billion, Framework Programme 7 (FP7) is the European Union's biggest initiative for funding collaborative research and developent projects across Europe. Moreover, it could provide your business with a unique opportunity to build those pan-European supply chains while developing new products for international markets.

FP7 project proposals should be developed by a collaboration of organisations, which may include small to medium-sized enterprises, larger businesses and research institutions. Furthermore, there should be representation of at least three separate EU countries within the consortium.

Finance for Innovation

Involvement in such collaborations can offer your business rich reqards including control over a wealth of intellectual property borne out of the project, easy-access to highly knowledgable and skilled partners, as well ass the opportunity to develop and promote new products to international customers.

What support is available?

EEDA's FP7 support package can help your business access this wealth of funding in a number of different ways:

Eligibility?
Nine events will be held around the region on different aspects of FP7 in the next year and at the end of each it will be possible to attend a concept surgery, where you can discuss your organisation's suitability to FP projects and other National and Regionally funded initiatives. Alternatively one of our experts can visit you to conduct the surgery.

Register to attend one of these free seminars and gain an insight into the commercial opportunities that exist for businesses based in the East of England region to participate in EU funded research & development programmes.

Benefits of participation can include access to future supply chains and the development of long term commercial relationships with high value European businesses, creation of new and technically advanced products giving enhanced sales potential.

These half day sessions could open the door to a whole new revenue stream for your company; can you afford not to find out more?

EVENT LISTINGS:

• Tuesday 3rd June 2008 (4pm-6pm)
Bio/Life/Medical/Health Sectors - In Association with ERBI
Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford, Cambridgeshire

• Wednesday 25th June 2008 (2:30pm-5:30pm)
Manufacturing Sector - In Association with the Institute for Manufacturing, CSENG & MAS-East
East of England Showground, Peterborough

• Wednesday 30th July 2008 (2:30pm-5:30pm)
Food/Agriculture Sectors
John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park

• Thursday 4th September 2008 (2:30pm-5:30pm)
Energy/Enviro/Renewables/Recycling Sectors - In Association with Renewables East Orbis Energy Project, Lowestoft

FURTHER INFORMATION:
The events are being run alongside the EU Framework Programme 7 call deadlines and the schedule will include both sector-specific events and generic events throughout the year. Intermediaries associated with the specific sectors are welcome to attend but we do require that all intermediaries bring clients along to the events.

Concept Surgery Sessions are available after the presentations where companies can discuss their business and funding opportunities on a confidential basis with an experienced technology consultant.

BOOKING DETAILS:
Attendance is free but by registration only. To register your interest and to receive an agenda for any of the FP7 events mentioned please contact Chris Woodward at eedafp7events@pera.com or call 01664 501484.