Our Partners

ACID is a trade association for designers and manufacturers with a diverse membership ranging from individuals to multinationals and spanning many industry sectors. The organisation is committed to fighting design theft and working with Parliament for design law reform. ACID's key objectives are protection, deterrence and education, driving towards a safer commercial trading framework, enabling originators to fully exploit and maximise their IP rights.

Website: www.acid.eu.com

The Business Innovation Croatian Agency – BICRO is the key governmental organisation in charge of catalysing the innovation process. BICRO both develops and coordinates national policy measures related to innovation on one hand, and the necessary financial instruments on the other, with the ultimate aim of motivating the private and public sector to raise the levels of investment in R&D. BICRO is active in the European commission EU IPR Helpdesk initiative with 2 IPR ambassadors appointed to help SMEs with issues regarding IPR in Croatia. For free expert advice on Croatian IPR, SMEs can e-mail questions to [email protected] and they will receive a reply from one of the Helpdesk experts within 3 working days.

Website: http://www.bicro.hr

The China IPR SME Helpdesk supports European Union (EU) small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to both protect and enforce their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in or relating to China, through the provision of free information and services. These take the form of jargon-free, first-line, confidential advice on intellectual property and related issues, plus training events, materials and online resources. For free expert advice on China IPR, EU SMEs can e-mail questions to [email protected], and they will receive a reply from one of the Helpdesk experts within seven working days. The China IPR SME Helpdesk is co-funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry (DG ENTR).

Website: www.china-iprhelpdesk.eu

The Enterprise Europe Network is the largest network of contact points providing information and advice to EU companies on EU matters, in particular small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Launched in 2008 by the European Commission, the Enterprise Europe Network is made up of close to 600 partner organisations in more than 40 countries, promoting competitiveness and innovation at the local level in Europe and beyond.

Website: http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm

EU Business Avenues aims to strengthen the presence of European companies, especially SMEs, in South East Asia by organising one week Business Missions to Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. It provides strategic, logistic and financial EU support for European SMEs to gain first-hand experience of dynamic, local markets in ASEAN and to establish business contacts with South East Asian companies. Business missions are organised in the Clean Technologies and Interior Design sectors in 2014 and 2015.

EU Business Avenues offers participating European companies a package of matchmaking, networking, coaching and customised support services. Interested? Apply now on www.businessavenues.eu!

EuroCham Cambodia was inaugurated on June 2nd, 2011 with the support of the three founding European Business Organisations: the Chambre de Commerce Franco-Cambodgienne (CCFC), the British Business Association in Cambodia (BBAC) and the Arbeitskreis Deutsche Wirtschaft (ADW).

EuroCham was established with the objectives of promoting the interests of European businesses operating in Cambodia, facilitating the entry of European companies into the market and creating an extensive support network among corporate and individual members alike.

In this context, EuroCham activities include partnerships with the governments in the areas of taxation and dispute resolution, the creation of sector-specific Committees under the EuroCham umbrella and provision of a range of services to European Businesses.

Website: www.eurocham-cambodia.org

CLEPA is the European Association of Automotive Suppliers. 84 of the world's most prominent suppliers for car parts, systems and modules and 26 National trade associations and European sector associations are members of CLEPA, representing more than 3,000 companies, employing more than three million people and covering all products and services within the automotive supply chain. Based in Brussels, Belgium, CLEPA is recognised as the natural discussion partner by the European Institutions, United Nations and fellow associations (ACEA, JAMA, MEMA, etc).

Website: www.clepa.eu

The European IPR Helpdesk provides direct support and advice in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues to beneficiaries of European Union (EU) funded projects focusing on Research and Technical Development (RTD) as well as Competitiveness and Innovation Programmes (CIP).

At the same time the European IPR Helpdesk provides direct support and advice to EU Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), including micro-enterprises, in general in the process of negotiating or concluding transnational partnership agreements, especially through the Enterprise Europe Network.

Website: www.iprhelpdesk.eu

Flanders investment & trade is a government agency supporting Flanders based businesses working abroad, and foreign companies wishing to set up operations in northern Belgium.

Website: www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com

The mission of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) is to foster the development of the economy, the safety of business transactions and fair market practices, and the representation of the common interests of those carrying out business activities. HCCI especially aims at strengthening small and medium sized enterprises, by increasing their competitiveness and creating proper co-operation between small businesses and multinational companies. Today the voluntary based chamber system is supported by more than 33,000 companies.

Website: www.mkik.hu

ICHAM, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, has started its activity at end of 2008. ICHAM’s main purpose is to undertake activities to support commercial exchange between Vietnam and Italy, to assist economic agents and foster the development of economic relations and cooperation between the two countries. ICHAM cooperates with public and private institutions in Italy and the European Union such as the Chamber of Commerce Network, the associations of enterprises, export consortia, and all other interested agents through the realization of projects and initiatives.

Website: www.icham.org.

Own-it offers intellectual property (IP) advice, information and learning resources for the creative sector. We offer a range of services, from basic to specialist support, through an online enquiries system, online and face-to face seminars and workshops and, where appropriate, surgeries with IP lawyers. We work with a network of IP advisers including leading law firms, law schools and specialists at various trade organisations associated with the creative industries in the UK.

Own-it is funded by the University of the Arts London (UAL). Membership is free to all. UAL staff, students and recent graduates have free access to all services while external users pay a small nominal admin fee for some services such as sample contracts and IP clinics. To register with Own-it and gain free access to our resources, click here.

Website: www.own-it.org

SEV-Hellenic Federation of Enterprises has consistently fostered business development in Greece for nearly a century. It is an independent, non-profit association for employer and enterprises organisations sustained by membership fees and sponsorships only from members. SEV is in the forefront of economic and business developments and continuously adapts to rapidly evolving conditions. Today, it is the leading independent employers’ union and the independent voice of Greek business.

SEV Associations’ members represent today over of 85 billion euros in turnover that is about 50% of the turnover of all Greek limited companies. Almost 300.000 employees work in SEV members plus 400.000 who work for the members of our member organizations.

As the main, independent, employer’s organisation representing the collective vision of industry and the wider business community in Greece, SEV targets its activities for continuous improvement of the economic and business environment as well as the development and growth of enterprises. SEV focuses on shaping and promoting policies that express the concerns of the business community as it addresses to the society, the public administration, other social partners, as well as European and international organisations. SEV also provides members with accurate and timely business information on current issues.

SEV is actively involved in promoting and supporting Greek businesses to access world markets encouraging collaborations and joint actions with foreign companies. More specifically focuses on:

➢ coordinating the activities of Greek enterprises internationally.

➢ creating awareness in international economic and business circles about the potential of Greece and Greek firms.

➢ encouraging Greek businesses to participate in European, regional and international enterprising schemes.

➢ attracting foreign investments in Greece.

➢ promoting Greece as the economic and business centre in the region.

To learn more about our activities and services, please visit: www.sev.org.gr.

CECE is the recognised organisation representing and promoting the European construction equipment and related industries to achieve a fair competitive environment via harmonised standards and regulations. European construction machines represent about 30% of the worldwide production, and the industry behind CECE comprises 1,200 companies from 12 European countries. The CECE industry offers all kind of machines needed in the construction sector and related industries, like road making equipment, concrete equipment, tower cranes, crushing and screening equipment, construction site hoists and of course earthmoving equipment.

Website: www.cece.eu

The European ASEAN Business Centre (EABC) is part of a strategy of the European Union to support the internationalisation of European SMEs and other European enterprises in enhancing market access in emerging and fast growing markets such as Thailand as well as ASEAN markets. Our aims are to increase and further diversify investment, market opportunities and access for European companies in Thailand and to promote Thailand as a high potential trade and investment market for European business. Our main activities include carrying out policy and advocacy work, providing support to European businesses with trade related information and organising key events to foster opportunities for European businesses in Thailand. Please visit us at www.eabc-thailand.eu for more information.

Website: www.eabc-thailand.eu

Tekes is the most important publicly funded expert organization for financing research, development and innovation in Finland and does not derive any financial profit from its activities, nor claim any intellectual proprietary rights. Tekes promotes a broad-based view on innovation: besides funding technological breakthroughs, the organisation emphasizes the significance of service-related, design, business, and social innovation. To that respect, Tekes works with top innovative companies and research units in Finland. All research, development and innovation funding is targeted to projects that create in the long-term the greatest benefits for the economy and society.

Website: www.tekes.fi

The International Network for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises – INSME - is a non-profit Association, based in Rome (Italy), open to international membership. Its mission is to stimulate transnational cooperation and public and private partnership in the field of innovation and technology transfer to SMEs. Activities are supported by the Italian Ministry for Economic Development.

Website: www.insme.org

The UK Intellectual Property Office is the government’s Executive Agency responsible for IP. Their international arm leads on supporting UK businesses to succeed in the global economy. They work with international partners, government departments, businesses and others to develop an international intellectual property framework that meets the challenges of today’s increasing global markets. This is done by building relationships with policymakers from around the world to help shape the international debate on intellectual property.

In addition the team provides dedicated advice to companies on IP-related issues in ASEAN/China working closely with British business representatives to raise awareness of intellectual property and to support and advise businesses considering expanding to ASEAN/China and those already based in the region. The support is provided from the UK and also through the attaché based in the region. The international team aims to help businesses operating overseas to make the most of their intellectual property and to support the UK government’s drive for growth and trade.

Website: www.ipo.gov.uk/ip4b-abroad.htm

The VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen - und Anlagenbau - German Engineering Federation) is one of the key association service providers in Europe and offers the largest engineering industry network in Europe. Representing 3,000 mainly small/medium size member companies in the engineering industry, it is one of the largest and most important industrial associations in Europe.

Website: www.vdma.org