ChemSME Project Team propose future joint activities with ECRN Association

ChemSME is a sub-project project set up under Interreg IIIC operation RFO-TouriSME in January 2005. Its objectives are to support SMEs within the chemical industry through activities such as the development and strengthening of chemical clusters and encouraging innovation and internationalisation.

Three regions, Limburg (NL), the North East of England (UK) and Saxony-Anhalt (D) have collaborated to identify and share best practices. Examples include a voucher scheme successfully used by Limburg to promote innovation in SMEs, an innovation strategy developed by NE England highlighting areas for industry/academic collaboration and recent development in polymers in Saxony-Anhalt.

The partners have identified several specific projects with significant potential for future development and have been seeking ways to continue the collaboration beyond the end of the project in December 2006. With that aim the proposal was made to the Working Group of ECRN at the 4th Congress held in Tarragona that ChemSME become the SME focus group within the future ECRN Association. There has been positive feedback from the partner regions and also the Presidium has supported the approach. A proposal for the next steps will be presented in the beginning of 2007.

Contact: Ian MacKinnon www.chemsme.net