European Union support programmes for SMEs

Published : 22/02/2012

An overview of the main funding opportunities available to European SMEs. NEW January 2012 edition.

Harmonised standards which provide presumption of conformity for Personal Protective Equipment products

Published : 21/02/2012

The harmonised standards, whose references were published in the Official Journal on 16 February 2012, provide solutions for compliance and confer a presumption of conformity with relevant essential requirements of the PPE directive.

p-Medicine (From data sharing and integration via VPH models to personalized medicine) 1st newsletter

p-medicine funded project announces its first newsletter http://bit.ly/xY2NBN. This issue gives an overview of the p-medicine project and its working relationships with other research funded by the EC on the "Virtual Physiological Human" (CONTRACT, TUMOUR, VPH-Share, eCancer).

ICT Finance MarketPlace Venture Academy and Investment Forum for SMEs

Designed specifically for SMEs operating in the ICT sector, the Venture Academy consists of a one-day coaching event where experienced coaches from relevant industry areas will help these SMEs to develop their pitching skills towards potential investors. It is a vital preparatory step for SMEs invited to attend the Investment Forum. This Forum offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their business in front of an international network of venture capital and corporate investors, strategic partners and expert advisors.

EU funded project helps citizens compare and reduce their energy consumption via TV, PC and social networks applications

Citizens and business often waste energy because they do not realise which appliances and lighting use the most energy. An EU-funded project tested in the United Kingdom and Bulgaria is helping to change that – showing consumers reduced energy usage by an average of 8% when provided with an "information dashboard" about their energy use. The Digital Environment Home Energy Management System (DEHEMS) project shows that when a consumer receives more information about their energy use, and can share and compare this with neighbours and family, they are more likely to change their behaviour. The EU-funded system presents data every 6 seconds through a small digital display. The data can also be displayed in real time via a TV screen, mobile phone, PC or social media app.