http://ec.europa.eu//research/sme-techweb/index_en.cfm en Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:08:06 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss For more RSS news feeds click the link above. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:08:06 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=rss http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-wheylayer&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30114 Plastic films are used for packaging a wide range of products, offering protection against humidity and potential contaminants. Over time, however, these films let in air, diminishing the properties of the packed products. And while multilayer films combining several plastics are often used to improve protection, most of this packaging cannot be recycled. The researchers behind the EU-funded WHEYLAYER project found a cheese-based biodegradable alternative to conventional multilayer films. ]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-24:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-wheylayer&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30114 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-railect&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30094 Europe's railway networks have dedicated teams devoted to checking track safety, inspecting the metal for any cracks or defects that could cause problems. If a track needs fixing, it is often welded on-site. But for all their expertise, the track inspectors have few tools to check whether the resulting welds are strong enough. Now, however, researchers have built a new tool to provide an easy yet reliable ultrasonic test of track welds, adding a much-needed layer of safety to the rail network. ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-23:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-railect&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30094 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-hydro-coat&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30034 Bulldozers, diggers, tractors: these heavy machines all apply the same basic hydraulic powers for their trays and claws. Around 85% of all hydraulic fluids leave their system through slow leaks, line breaks or system failures. Exhausted lubricants could be a severe fire risk, with a cumulative impact on plants, fish, and wildlife. When the fluids need to be disposed of at the end of their life, the cost, at €1 per kg, is around the same as the lubricant itself. As the costs associated with disposal rise, there is a growing demand for alternative options. ]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-17:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-hydro-coat&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=30034 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-medibtikar&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29923 In 2006, several years before innovation became the buzz word across the world, the EuroMed Innovation and Technology Programme (Medlbtikar) was making waves across the MEDA region. This three year, €7.24 million programme successfully offered the Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs) new and improved instruments to stimulate innovation. It also encouraged networking between the MPCs and the European Union. ]]> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-05-08:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-medibtikar&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29923 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&year=2013&na=na-170413 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-04-17:/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&year=2013&na=na-170413 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-innosound&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29655 Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics in Munich, Germany, spent the past three years working with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to develop IT tools for the design of top-quality wooden and metal organ pipes. In December 2011 the team, set up in the context of the EU-funded research project "Innosound", unveiled a first prototype that cut by 20% the organ pipes' size and reduced by 15% total organ production costs. The study was backed by €625,000 in EU funds. ]]> Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-04-11:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-innosound&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=29655 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=F469EF9E-0369-0428-E18962D8FE32E0F5 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-04-10:/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=F469EF9E-0369-0428-E18962D8FE32E0F5 http://ec.europa.eu/research/sme-techweb/newsletter/issue15/news_en.html Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-31:/sme-techweb/newsletter/issue15/news_en.html http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_23_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29095 The bioeconomy is growing at an unprecedented rate, and the demand for new services and more efficient tools to boost business in this industry is ever increasing. Because of this growth, the need for management of biological information is proving to be vital in keeping up with demand and new concepts. This is evident with the latest figures, which reveal that the global market for bioinformatics is expected to reach more than EUR 4.5 billion next year. In order to home in on this demand, Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, has devised a concept aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its focus is on developing new business from the management of biological information.]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-23:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_23_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=29095 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&year=2013&na=na-220113 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-22:/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&year=2013&na=na-220113 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_14_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=28953 Being your own boss is an aspiration for many Europeans – almost 4 out of 10 people in fact. The prospect of a potentially better income, independence and the freedom to work wherever and whenever suits is a highly attractive prospect for millions of would-be entrepreneurs. Yet fears of failure and bankruptcy, and the risk of an irregular income mean many people keep their aspirations as a pipe dream. This fear factor is responsible for the drop in those becoming self-employed by 20 % within the last 3 years, mainly due to the current economic climate. However, the European Commission hope to change this: the European Entrepreneurship Action Plan aims at bringing growth and employment back to Europe.]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2013-01-14:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_13_01_14_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=28953 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-sustaincomp&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28793 Sustainability in the plastics sector will become a more pressing issue in the future as legislation and public demand force companies to manufacture more environmentally friendly products. A European project has been developing alternative materials, production processes and even products like a composite bus seat which could, in time, replace oil-based plastic versions. ]]> Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-12-21:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-sustaincomp&calledby=infocentre&item=Infocentre&artid=28793 http://ec.europa.eu/research/sme-techweb/index_en.cfm?pg=home Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-12-20:/sme-techweb/index_en.cfm?pg=home http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_12_03_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=28493 Running helps individuals improve their health and well-being, but runners do sustain injuries from time to time. Researchers say that of the 80 million runners in Europe, more than 37 million suffered a running injury during practice in the last year. A team of scientists in Spain are working on lowering the risk of such injury by designing a new running shoe that integrates a measuring device to provide control and prevent injuries during running. The research is supported by the RUNSAFER ('Development of a running shoe with embedded electronics providing real time biomechanical feedback to reduce injury risk and enhance motivation, and a web portal allowing real training management') project, which is funded under the 'Research for the benefit of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), to the tune of EUR 1.06 million.]]> Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-12-03:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_12_03_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=28493 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-wheylayer&calledby=infocentre&item=All&artid=28397&caller=SuccessStories Green plastic, and safety on land, in the skies and at sea are the subjects of some of our latest Success Stories! • WHEYLAYER – New green plastic made from milk whey • ShipArrestor – New rescue tool to save ships in distress • SAFECAST – Innovative inspection system to make buildings safer • QualiTi – New airplane inspection system to make skies safer]]> Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-11-28:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/star/index_en.cfm?p=ss-wheylayer&calledby=infocentre&item=All&artid=28397&caller=SuccessStories http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2012&na=na-251012 Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-10-25:/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2012&na=na-251012 http://ec.europa.eu/research/sse/2011/index_en.cfm Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-10-25:/sse/2011/index_en.cfm http://ec.europa.eu/research/sse/2011/index_en.cfm Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-10-10:/sse/2011/index_en.cfm http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=testimonials&video=none Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-03-09:/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=testimonials&video=none http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24053 Have you ever wondered how and why zebras got their stripes? Well, wonder no more: a team of researchers from Hungary and Sweden sheds fresh light on the stripe function and why the stripe pattern has evolved. Presented in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the study was funded in part by the TABANOID ('Trap for the novel control of horseflies on open-air fields') project, which received more than EUR 825 000 in funding under the 'Research for the benefit of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)' Theme of the FP7.]]> Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-02-27:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_27_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=24053 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_09_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23873 We're constantly on the go, and products that make our lives easier are always welcome. But keeping products safe is important. This is especially true for the food industry. When fats, oils and other food components are oxidised, the foods we eat lose nutrients and colours. Steering clear of oxidation is crucial for food packaging. An EU-funded team of researchers has developed a biomaterial from whey protein as well as a commercially viable method of producing multifunctional films on an industrial scale. This is steps ahead of the conventional films based on petrochemicals. ]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-02-09:/infocentre/article_en.cfm?id=/research/headlines/news/article_12_02_09_en.html&item=Infocentre&artid=23873 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2012&na=na-010212 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-02-01:/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2012&na=na-010212 http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=press#other Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT tag:ch,2012-01-31:/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=press/other http://ec.europa.eu/research/sme-techweb/index_en.cfm For more information on Science and business - SMEs, click the link above, which will take you to the SME Techweb web site. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:08:06 GMT http://ec.europa.eu/research/sme-techweb/index_en.cfm