B2B LOCO

BALTIC - TO - BALKAN NETWORK FOR LOGISTICS COMPETENCE

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Based on successful FP5&6 experiences of POLLOCO and CENTRAL LOCO projects, the revised and expanded concept of the B2B LOCO project is that local market-oriented research units - collaborating in an international network aimed at experience exchange - can substantially increase the participation of SMEs in the FP projects by demonstrating and actively promoting the most business practice-oriented results of past and current RTD projects of the FP among the enterprises. The dramatically increased project area covers now 15 countries, including Old and New Member States and 2 Candidate Countries, covering most of the East of the continent and beyond, form Estonia to Israel. B2B LOCO will target Regional Clusters gathering different types of SMEs: transport and logistics companies, manufacturing and retail companies, hi-tech companies and green technologies companies that are of a particular focus of this call. Companies from these three groups are often “FP-ready” yet they are not realising their potential because the FP is best communicated to the research community. Therefore B2B LOCO consortium groups research organisations with considerable experience in FPs and a track record in talking directly to SMEs, using their own language and knowing what drives them in everyday operations. B2B LOCO will provide SME community with two international conferences, two practical workshops and three brokerage events, supplemented with permanent communication mechanisms (www, newsletters, alumni networks). As a result of B2B LOCO activities, SMEs will benefit from advanced solutions developed by FP consortia, experiences of successful SME- RTD - Academia co-operation cases which are laudable and should be copied. In addition to this, project will support processes of forming partnerships for future Framework Programmes. Moreover, new information channels which will be created during the project, will support transfer of essential information on transport and logistics'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Small businesses from the massive area between the Baltic and the Balkans are coming together to share knowledge on logistics, innovate and improve their services in the sector.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Enterprises in any field can learn greatly from each other through improved collaboration on many fronts. One way of achieving this is by tightening cooperation in the field of logistics, which can benefit manufacturing, trade and industry. The EU-funded project 'Baltic-to-Balkan network for logistics competence' (B2B LOCO) envisioned an informal network for logistics competence from the area.

Bringing together 16 partners from 15 countries, the project worked on establishing a platform for logistics competence to exchange knowledge, best practices and technology. It worked particularly on involving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) related to transport, logistics, manufacturing, retail, high-tech solutions and green technology in EU-funded projects under this theme.

To achieve its aims the project organised conferences, workshops and brokerage events for SMEs, making great strides in integrating relevant businesses from both regions into EU initiatives. It built a database of over 10,000 stakeholders and identified European framework projects in the field of logistics and transport. The project also outlined these projects' best practices, highlighting as well the financial, organisational and other benefits of participating in EU framework programmes.

Key project achievements include the establishment of a social network that groups alumni of universities across nine countries and an online Electronic Knowledge Brokerage System to facilitate partnerships. The brokerage events proved ideal for start-up companies and entrepreneurs who plan to create strong consortia to participate in the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), attracting research institutes as well. All these efforts were unveiled on the project's website and disseminated through newsletters and other communication mechanisms, providing valuable support to interested stakeholders.

The project created an environment for creating new SME-based partnerships through its network of research and educational institutions in transport and logistics. It supported exploitation of successful research and development results, encouraging innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in the sector. The new Balkan to Baltic axis of information will help to streamline logistics in this region that traverses a large part of Europe.