Business Co-operation Scheme
Business Co-operation
Definition: Any contract or agreement between partners, based on a common activity and mutual interest to be developed aiming to achieve well-established objectives and mutual advantages to make business. It might embrace an international dimension when partners from different countries are involved.
International co-operation is a vital strategy for the European companies and for SMEs, in particular, in order to boost their competitiveness in the enlarged Intarnal Market and beyond.
Within the EIC Network, international Business Co-operation means a process of logical steps divided in 3 main phases: preparation, partner search and realization. Each of them corresponds to SMEs' needs and to related EIC services with added value.
EICs help companies evaluate their readiness to co-operate and define the type of co-operation needed, through a specific methodology and with the assistance of tools developed over the years by experts of the Network.
Download what ACE - Agence Communication Européenne can offer you.
The Business Co-operation Database BCD
To better assist enterprises in finding a partner, a specific Business Cooperation database has been launched in April 2004. This tool is meant to become the reference for business cooperation between enterprises in Europe. After a face-to-face meeting with the enterprise, the EIC encodes an exhaustive profile in the database. The profile is then made available to more than 600 centres, all over Europe. By December 2004, more than 3000 profiles had been encoded in this database.
Download the form to add your Co-operation Profile in the BCD and call ACE - Agence Communication Européenne
International Trade Fairs and matchmaking
The face-to-face contacts between companies are vital to grow trust and confidence between SME entrepreneurs as pre-condition to make business. The trade fair is one ground which offers the opportunity for companies to meet.
In this aspect, EICs offer the following services:
- A company-driven programme of Business to Business events:
Businesses have the possibility to take part in ‘matchmaking’ events, events that gather businesses searching for partners, and sectorial international trade fairs. Theses events enable companies to find the potential partner they are looking for and to enlarge the scope of their searches in considering other types of partnerships.
- A coaching programme
EICs also coach SMEs in their process of internationalisation. They notably offer them preparatory trainings to matchmaking events and also ensure a steady and professional follow up.
Pan European Business Co-operation Schemes
The “Pan European Business Co-operation Schemes” is a project supported by the European Union. Six consortia have been selected by the European Commission to organise matchmaking events all over Europe, mostly in the frame of major trade fairs. The Schemes include five EIC led projects, covering a variety of industrial sectors and trade fairs. A major asset of the Scheme is that all projects are interlinked meaning any enterprise whether their local business intermediary is involved or not, can attend a matchmaking event organized in a trade fair of its sector.
To know more and participate, visit the web site.
"Face-to-face" meetings between entrepreneurs are of key importance for partnerships. Matchmaking events such as the Pan European Business Co-operation Schemes provide opportunities or platforms for initiating negotiations and for creating productive co-operative activities.
Most of the Matchmaking Events are scheduled in accordance with the calendar of major international specialist or economic trade fairs. The Trade Fairs provide added value to SMEs and entrepreneurs by increasing the number of contacts, company meetings and business opportunities.
ACE Agence Communication Européenne - EIC Associate Member - 2000-2007