Technology transfer via process and method approach for small and medium enterprises in the Information Communication Technology sector (promtICT)

Following lead markets were selected:

eHealth incl. eTourism
ebusiness incl. eServices and eSecurity

Doing business with SMEs is sometimes risky for bigger organizations, institutions or businesses, who are interested in innovative products or services in the area of ICT (Lead User). Smaller businesses often lack stipulated standards, qualification or the experience in internal cooperation.  This barrier is often an insuperable handicap for SMEs in these regions.

Goals of promtICT
Based on these facts, the project persuades two goals:

• Decrease barriers between SMEs, Start Ups and Lead User in Austria and Slovenia, so that ascertained co-operation opportunities in the lead markets can increase
• Increase in professionalism of SMEs in developing ICT solutions that they are brought close to international standards

These goals will be reached in 4 steps:

1. Matchmaking and Technology transfer
   Through a virtual co-operation and communication platform, SMEs and Lead User will get to know each other. 
2. Enabling of SMEs through a Cooperation and Qualification process
   For developing and standardising certain process cycles, increasing the project- and cooperation ability to an international and comparable level, it needs a state-of-the-art analysis and international comparability of standards.
   Therefore, promtICT offers SMEs the possibility to analyse the process cycles in their company. The result is a rating scale where room for improvement will be identified. The used standard will be ISO/IEC 15504 standard ?SPICE?. This standard has different levels of maturity in process cycles and is focused on software development.
3. Definition of standardizing processes through a pilot project
   Based on a piled group needs for improvement will be identified through assessments and processes as soon as methods will be implemented to increase the level of efficiency. The goal is to increase the level of the evaluated efficiency for one or two steps.
4. Technology transfer and a cooperation field manual
   As a result of the experiences with the focus groups and the pilot project, a field manual in cooperation will arise in collaboration with policy makers from both areas. This shall give SMEs, who wanted to make cross-border projects in the future the possibility to profit through tips, contact details, field reports, check lists and legal support.

Interested? Please read more here http://www.promt-ict.eu/