Since 1st April 2004, the new contract for the operation of IRC-Bulgaria has been signed between the European Commission and the project’s consortium partners in Bulgaria. The consortium consists of ARC Fund, as a project coordinator, and Bulgarian Industrial Association and Bulgarian Academy of Sciences as project partners.
The network of Innovation Relay Centres provides a specialised transnational technology brokerage service for knowledge-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies, research institutes, universities, technology centres and innovation agencies. The first IRCs were established in 1995 with the support of the European Commission, as members of an integrated pan-European platform to stimulate transnational technology transfer and promote innovation services. Earlier this year, the network has been extended, with two new IRCs established in Turkey, adding to the 31 countries previously served. With the launch of a pilot project to set up an IRC in Chile (although without EU funding), new opportunities for transatlantic technology transfer are being developed. Today, 71 IRCs with around 250 offices employing over 1,000 people in 33 countries form an integrated European technology transfer network, the largest of its kind in the world. Their success in stimulating transnational technology transfer – based on brand recognition, close links with enterprises and universities, and the effectiveness of the tools and procedures developed by the network – is unique. Whilst the traditional clients of the IRCs – SMEs – will continue to benefit from the network’s services, IRCs are also making greater efforts to work with universities and research organisations, to bring more technologies into the network. Most IRCs are operated by consortia of regional organisations with established reputations in local research and industrial communities. These include Innovation Agencies, Chambers of Commerce, Regional Development Agencies and University Technology Centres. Altogether, almost 250 partner organisations are involved, ensuring a local presence in most regions of Europe. IRC staff are experienced specialists with backgrounds in business, industry and research. Each IRC’s approach, procedures and skills have been developed in response to the technological structure and business culture of the region it serves, and each has developed close ties with the local community of technology-based firms. At the same time, all IRCs draw strength from their membership of a European network. The strong technical and personal links within the network equip each IRC to broker technology transfers quickly and efficiently. In many regions, IRCs have established themselves as the service providers of choice for companies wishing to internationalise their research activities, their marketing operations or their supply chains.
More information on the IRC network is available at: http://irc.cordis.lu/
