EU Commission: Enterprise and Industry Monitor - 29/08/08

FoCus Online-Training 29/08/08
The FoCus training concept is particularly targeted at representatives of trade associations, regional development agencies and politics, who it is envisaged will subsequently act as multipliers by passing on their e-business know-how to small and medium-sized enterprises. The objective of the training is to help these multipliers plan and implement e-business more efficiently. They are supported with practical tips for designing and implementing successful strategies to encourage e-business adoption. [Focus]

Education essential for an enterprising Europe
A new report identifies a range of actions which will encourage more young people to view entrepreneurship positively, and to consider it as a potential career. By adding specific educational activities from the early years in school and university curricula, the experts behind the report suggest that Europeans will gain more entrepreneurial mindsets and abilities and therefore be more likely to start out in business themselves. [Europa]

UK’s Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme lending falls to 2,619 loans in 2007/8 22/08/08
(22/08/2008) The recently published 2007/8 annual report on the UK’s Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme has revealed that lending under the Scheme fell by 13% in volume terms and 12% in value terms year on year. [Europa]

Supporting Social Tourism 21/08/2008
Social tourism gives travel and leisure opportunities to groups like the elderly, youths and persons with disabilities. By encouraging amongst other initiatives low-season travel it supports local economies and provides year-round employment. Possible EU support measures for social tourism were discussed at a recent conference organised by the Enterprise and Industry DG. [Europa]

Incentives for the increased commercialisation of unused patents 06/07/08 (Deadline: 12 September 2008)
In the framework of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Work Programme 2008 and Innovation Framework Programme, this study is meant to advance further theoretical and empirical insights into the existence of an increasing percentage of unused sleeping patents across numerous sectors in Europe. Unused sleeping patents are patents that are kept in force by the patentee but not (yet) used productively. While there might be legitimate technical reasons for such behaviour, it becomes sub-optimal for society if the underlying reason is the non-willingness or non-ability of patentees to trade them, as this blocks the innovation process. [Europa]