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Microsoft launches the Student Career Portal
Date: 2010-4-9 Topic: Growth
The portal gives a run-down of five IT careers, skills needed, experience required, potential future positions, and internships and jobs in countries worldwide. The portal also gives links to apply for those jobs!
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Seven BizSpark start-ups out of twelve at Innovate!100 in London
Date: 2010-3-25 Topic: Growth
Shutl, an early stage BizSpark, was joint winner of the London Innovate!100 competition. http://shutl.co.uk/news. Another BizSpark, www.myworksearch.co.uk won second place. There were 7 BizSparks out of the 12 start-ups presenting. Check out the videos on: http://vimeo.com/10447263.
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A BizSpark start-up -Sopima - won the Innovate!100 competition in Helsinki
Date: 2010-3-24 Topic: Growth
Innovate!2010 is a global competition to identify top technology, media and communications startups from around the world. In Helsinki, Sopima was competing together with 12 excellent companies and won the Finnish semifinal of the Innovate!100 competition. Sopima is an active member of the Microsoft BizSpark program and gets access to online training and free software, including Microsoft’s cloud platform - Azure.
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European Union Grants Advisor for start-ups comes to Ireland
Date: 2010-3-20 Topic: Growth
The European Union Grants Advisor program in Ireland, makes it easier for Irish BizSpark startups to access EU grants. Microsoft partnered with the grant agency Affect Network and the Irish government s enterprise development agency Enterprise Ireland to bring the program to Ireland.
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Check the results of 2009 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS)!
Date: 2010-3-17 Topic: Growth
The EIS 2009 includes 29 innovation-related indicators with publicly available data from 2007/2008 and trend analyses for the EU27 Member States, as well as for Croatia, Serbia, Turkey, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland
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European Enterprise Awards 2010 shortlist 12 projects
Date: 2010-3-15 Topic: Growth
More than 330 projects competed in national competitions in 28 European countries for the European Enterprise Awards 2010. the awards aim to reward the best initiatives contributing to a entrepreneurial and business-friendly Europe. Winners will be announced on 31st May 2010 at a special event in Madrid to which all national candidates will be invited.
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Inspire people to discover e-skills
Date: 2010-2-3 Topic: Growth
The official launch of the European e.-Skills Week at CeBIT, the world’s largest digital tradeshow, in Hannover, Germany, on 2 March 2010, marks the culmination of a campaign of more than 200 events which will inform the European public about the critical role ICT skills play in securing Europe’s future economic competitiveness.
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In 5 years, 90% of jobs will require computer skills
Date: 2010-1-12 Topic: Growth
On December 1st, IDC published a report sponsored by Microsoft entitled “Post Crisis: e-skills are needed to drive Europe’s innovation society”, which included a web-based survey of 1,370 employers in 13 European Union countries to explore the changing needs for ICT skills for non-ICT professionals. 58% of employers believe the education sector is not doing enough to prepare young for the modern workplace.
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New Study Reveals in 5 years 90 per cent of jobs will require ICT skills
Date: 2009-12-1 Topic: Growth
Research from 13 European countries indicates ICT skills requirements is driven by technology trends – not the recession. Global IT research firm IDC and Microsoft Corp. today released the results of European research measuring the importance of ICT skills in the European Union. The IDC study, entitled "Post Crisis: e-Skills are Needed to Drive Europe s Innovation Society” and commissioned by Microsoft, investigates why the next generation of workers will need ICT skills to participate in the job market.
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Forum on Employability and Enterprise
Date: 2009-11-5 Topic: Employability
On 3rd November 2009, IBLF hosted its first global forum on the theme of Jobs, Employability and Enterprise Development in London. They presented a report "The Business of Jobs" and the EA was one of the case studies. video: http://vimeo.com/7640358
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EUGA at European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EVCA) Summit in Berlin
Date: 2009-10-14 Topic: Innovation
For the first time, Microsoft was invited to participate in the European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EVCA) Summit which took place in Berlin on October 14th. During the Innovation Exchange event, co-sponsored by HP and Sony Ericsson, Jan Muehlfeit presented our vision for BizSpark and EUGA. Feedback from early stage investors that visited the EUGA booth in the exhibition area, located next to pan-European EUGA partner ESA, emphasised to us how valuable EUGA is for them and their portfolio companies. There were 80 attendees (representing 17 countries), among them exciting new start-ups and investors looking for new ventures.
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The first edition of ExpoCascais 09
Date: 2009-9-7 Topic: Innovation
EUGA attended ExpoCascais, a regional Enterprise & Innovation event promoted by the local Business Association and Regional Government, and presented a range merchandise over the three days. Around 3,500 attendees were reached via EUGA’s stand and 245 individual contacts were established. EUGA was also integrated into a “Save Money” campaign as part of an SMB press release.
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European Alliance on Skills for Employability launched in Poland
Date: 2009-6-21 Topic: Employability
Foundation Supporting Physically Disabled Mathematicians and IT Specialists, Microsoft, Randstad, State Street, Cisco and CompTIA’s Creating Futures Foundation joined forces in the European Alliance on Skills for Employability. A Polish edition of the European initiative was officially announced in the presence of Vladimir Spidla, EU Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. During today’s conference organized by the Employers Association Lewiatan, representatives of public administration, employers association, non-governmental organizations and business sector discussed on effective forms of education and vocational reinsertion at times of economic crisis.
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Employability Alliance as a successful laboratory in the CSR Toolbox event in Madrid
Date: 2009-5-19 Topic: Employability
Foretica, one of CSR Europe s national partner organisations in Spain, launched on 19 May in Madrid its CSR Toolbox based on the work of the collaborative Laboratory projects coordinated by CSR Europe and its national partner organisations under the umbrella of the European Alliance for CSR. The Toolbox is designed to help companies and their stakeholders address CSR challenges in five thematic areas.
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European Investor Summit
Date: 2009-5-12 Topic: Innovation
Coinciding with the first European SME Week, Microsoft will bring together key players from the investment community, entrepreneurs and start-ups, innovation organizations, incubators, Partners and Microsoft executives involved in the next generation of technologies and programs to support early stage companies. Start ups who are seeking funding can pitch to 80+ investors from across Europe. This year´s event will be organised in conjunction with the EU SME Week.
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MS Sweden and national Swedish Public Employment Service Awarded ESF Funds
Date: 2009-4-2 Topic: Grants
The project 2nd sITe was awarded a grant from the European Social Fund for carrying-out a feasibility analysis. The project 2nd sITe is the result of the collaboration between Microsoft, the Swedish Employment Agency in Stockholm and Almega (organization of IT and Telekom companies). The objective of the project is to improve effectiveness of the recruitment process of unemployed for the IT sector. 2nd sITe aims at developing virtual meeting forums which will permit ongoing direct contacts between job seekers and employers and as such, create opportunities for employment/recruitment while providing a learning experience for job seekers. 2nd sITe will be implemented in September 2009.
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Toolbox Tuesday Conference Call
Date: 2009-3-24 Topic: Employability
CSR Europe invites its members and national partners to participate in its Toolbox Tuesdays and Thursdays, a bi weekly opportunity to dial into a one hour conference call update where you and your colleagues can benefit from a mini training on the new CSR tools and networks launched as part of CSR Europe s Toolbox in December 2008.
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The employability initiative in Luxembourg committed to raise the level of training
Date: 2009-3-20 Topic: Employability
Microsoft, State Street and Randstad have started the Employability Alliance in 2007 in Luxembourg in partnership with the NGO Caritas. The focus of the employability initiative is to better address the socio-economic integration of underserved communities by providing basic ICT skills to public of all ages and condition on a local level. The success of the project is based on the co-joint efforts from the founding members of the Alliance whereby funding was used to invest in Community-based Technology and Learning Centers (CTLCs) that are part of the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Community Technology Skills Program. By the end of 2006, six Training Sites were in place, spread out across Luxembourg, offering access to full computer training and responding to a considerable demand.
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European Business Summit
Date: 2009-3-14 Topic: e-Skills
The 7th edition of the European Business Summit will take place on 26 and 27 March 2009 in Brussels. The theme of this year’s event, aimed at high-level decision-makers and business people in Europe, is "Dare and Care: sustaining Europe s ambitions - Financing, Staffing and Greening". The EBS offers CSR Europe members a 50% discount on the conference fee.
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EBAN s 9th Annual Congress and 4th Award Ceremony
Date: 2009-3-12 Topic: Growth
The annual gathering of the European association for business angels and early stage investors - EBAN - will take place this year in the beautiful and dynamic city of Madrid, Spain on the 27th and 28th of April 2009. The EBAN Congress is Europe s leading awareness raising and networking event for business angel group leaders since 1999.
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Microsoft Bulgaria s Innovation Day 2009
Date: 2009-3-11 Topic: Innovation
More than 300 students and 20 professors from the leading Bulgarian universities as well as government representatives, Microsoft partners, U.S. Embassy representatives and media attended the event. The forum provided them with the opportunity to become acquainted with the latest innovations in computer technology, as well as to interact with the Microsoft Bulgaria team.
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Microsoft’s 5th annual growth and innovation day
Date: 2009-3-5 Topic: Innovation
Government leaders, industry stakeholders, academics and the media have the opportunity to take a look at the European Research & Development technology building the future, revolutionizing the way European citizens receive their news or manage their health, work, leisure, energy consumption or their children’s education.
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Helping women over 45 find a job
Date: 2009-2-25 Topic: Employability
"Force Femmes" initiative helps women above 45 to find a job. The programme includes sets of IT trainings and e-learning, laptops (recycled laptops from Microsoft France), software, free Web banners (MSN Actions Solidaires,France s Web channel dedicated to NGOs), support of Microsoft volunteers and access to European Grant consultancy (EUGA). In 2009, 137 women have already signed up for IT trainings for the first semester of the year. These sections will introduce them to basic IT tools and progresses till the creation of their first web pages on Office Live. The NGO also plans to launch around 30 thematic workshops reaching at least 200 women this year.
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European Multi-stakeholder Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility
Date: 2009-2-5 Topic: PPP
On 10th February 2009 the European Commission is hosting a plenary meeting of the European Multistakeholder Forum on CSR. The aims of this meeting are to review progress on CSR in Europe and globally, and to discuss possibilities for future joint initiatives. The Forum will bring together about 250 persons from key stakeholder groups, including employers and business representatives, trade unions, investors, academics, civil society organisations and public authorities. For reasons of space, participation in this meeting is by invitation only.
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The University of Umeå and Microsoft Sweden launched the Microsoft Innovation Accelerator
Date: 2009-1-26 Topic: Innovation
The University of Umeå and Microsoft Sweden launched the Microsoft Innovation Accelerator, a regional collaboration with the aim to establish relations and partnerships between researchers and entrepreneurs. Through the collaboration, Microsoft hopes to establish contacts with local researchers developing IT solutions of tomorrow. Researchers and entrepreneurs in Umeå will be able get in touch with Microsoft locally, says Nils Stadling of Microsoft Sweden, referring to BizSpark and EU Grants Advisors (EUGA) as concrete tools and services Microsoft can offer. According to Mr Stadling, Umeå University offers an attractive combination of design together with computer science and technology. Umeå proposes a new innovation system within applied IT research, says Stadling. It’s exciting for Microsoft to be part of this from the very beginning.
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Cisco, Intel and Microsoft Lead Collaboration to Improve Global Education Assessments
Date: 2009-1-13 Topic: Employability
Three leading technology companies announced today a collaboration aimed at transforming global educational assessment and improving learning outcomes. At the Learning and Technology World Forum in London, Cisco, Intel and Microsoft unveiled plans to underwrite a multi-sector research project to develop new assessment approaches, methods and technologies for measuring the success of 21st-century teaching and learning in classrooms around the world. During the session, the three companies called upon educational leaders, governments and other corporations to join in the effort.
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European Year of Creativity and Innovation launched
Date: 2009-1-7 Topic: Growth
The Czech Presidency of the EU and the European Commission have officially launched the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 today in Prague with the slogan “Imagine. Create. Innovate”. The aim of the Year is to promote creative and innovative approaches in different sectors and help equip the European Union for the challenges ahead in a globalised world.
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Avocats sans Frontières project awarded
Date: 2008-12-30 Topic: Growth
In December 2008, "Avocats Sans Frontières" was informed that its project was accepted and funded at 80% through a grant of the European Commission. Thanks to the synergy created by EVP, EUGA and MSN Actions Solidaires, ASF will initiate its project to promote the knowledge and the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Torture in Nigeria. Recently, Microsoft and ASF signed an Agreement which allowed ASF to benefit from several MS initiatives in favor of NGOs, among which the Employee Volunteer Program (EVP). As such MS staff can volunteer to support the NGO through their specific expertise. In addition, ASF also benefits from MSN Actions Solidaires which helps NGOs to increase their on-line presence and visibility and get advice on public funding through the European Union Grants Advisor (EUGA). “Microsoft´s support and expertise has been crucial in submitting a successful request for European funding” said François Cantier, President of ASF France.
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CSR and competitiveness
Date: 2008-12-8 Topic: PPP
The European Commission sees Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as part of the business contribution to sustainable development and to the European Growth and Jobs Strategy. We believe that CSR has the potential to contribute to various common goals, such as social cohesion, economic competitiveness and a more rational use of natural resources. In the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry we have a particular interest in knowing more about the links between CSR and competitiveness. These links might exist at a micro-level (individual enterprises), and also at a systemic level (sectors and regional/national economies). Below you will find various sources of information that explore the links between CSR and competitiveness.
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Microsoft Bulgaria Annual Entrepreneurship Forum
Date: 2008-12-3 Topic: Growth
Different Microsoft initiatives (EUGA, BizSpark, or S2B) were supporting and advising students and young entrepreneurs in Bulgaria at the annual Entrepreneurship Forum in Bulgaria. The Forum was held in the leading university in the country – University of National and World Economy (NEW) on December 3, 2008. This session successfully encouraged and promoted the entrepreneurship spirit among young people showing them the most important aspects of starting their own business, offering them knowledge, know-how and support and this way fostering local innovation and supporting local economy development.
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Commission announces e-Inclusion award winners at conclusion of 2008 e-Inclusion
Date: 2008-12-2 Topic: Growth
The winners of the 2008 European e-Inclusion Awards were announced at the e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference in Vienna, the concluding event of the Commission´s ´Be Part of it!´ campaign. Seven European initiatives, among which two Microsoft partners: Milton Keynes Council - UK and Windows to the Future - Lithuania have been selected for their innovative uses of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to promote digital and social inclusion in Europe.
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TechSoup Europe recognized as finalist in EU eInclusion awards
Date: 2008-11-30 Topic: Employability
TechSoup Europe where among the 35 finalists at the 2008 European European eInclusion Awards held in Vienna. The awards winners were announced at the eInclusion Ministerial Conference in Vienna, the concluding event of the Commission s Be Part of it! campaign. TechSoup Europe were medalists in the Digital Literacy category for effectively providing a platform for NGOs and non-profits throughout Europe to receive donated technology products and services from major US corporations. William Hoyle CEO of Charity Technology Trust, TechSoup partner in the UK and French Partner Vincent Blanchard of Ateliers de Bocage represented TechSoup Europe at the exhibition that ran alongside the conference.
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Vienna hosts the concluding event of the 2008 e-Inclusion: Be Part of It! campaign
Date: 2008-11-30 Topic: Employability
Almost 1500 delegates attended the 2008 Ministerial e-Inclusion Conference and exhibition in Vienna on 30th November to 2nd December 2008. With 90 exhibition stands and more that 130 speakers, delegates enjoyed access to a wealth of rich experience and knowledge.
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Telecentre Europe network goes live at EC e-Inclusion event
Date: 2008-11-27 Topic: e-Skills
The telecentre-europe network was launched in Vienna at the e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference. Made up of organisations from sixteen EU member states and a further seven European nations, the new partnership creates a huge opportunity for developing digital inclusion networks right across the continent.
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1st European SME Week,"Small business, big ideas", 6-14 May 2009
Date: 2008-11-24 Topic: Innovation
The Commission is organising the 1st European SME Week from 6 to 14 May 2009. The SME week is an umbrella campaign aiming to promote entrepreneurship and inform entrepreneurs about support that is available to them at European, national and local level. The SME week is coordinated by the European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General and will be launched in Brussels on the 6th of May next year. The opening will be followed by an array of events organised by public administrations, business organisations and SME support providers at the national and local level throughout Europe.
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EU ready to tackle economic challenges
Date: 2008-10-29 Topic: Growth
The current financial crisis has an impact on the growth and jobs strategy. The Commission’s response has included the 29 October communication “From financial crisis to recovery: a European framework for action”. It contributes to the ongoing debate on how best to respond to the crisis and its aftermath.
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Improving Europe s Skill Base: New IT career portal launched
Date: 2008-10-9 Topic: e-Skills
Leaders of the IT sector have launched a new initiative to promote e-Skills in Europe, at the e-Skills conference held in Thessaloniki, Greece. Set up under the leadership of the e-Skills Industry Leadership Board (ILB) and supported by the European Commission s DG Enterprise and Industry, the pilot e-Skills career portal is a keystone in long-term strategy to address the skills gap in the IT sector.
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The European Alliance for CSR Event 2008: CSR Europe s Toolbox ; Equipping Companies and Stakeholders for a Competitive and Responsible Europe
Date: 2008-10-8 Topic: e-Skills
CSR Europe s
event on 4 December 2008 will be a unique opportunity to explore how collaborative efforts between companies and stakeholders can contribute to building responsible competitiveness in Europe and gain insight into the first results of the CSR Laboratories launched under the umbrella of the European Alliance for CSR. -
State aid: Commission adopts Regulation automatically approving aid for jobs and growth
Date: 2008-7-7 Topic: Growth
The European Commission has adopted a Regulation, which will come into force in the coming weeks, giving automatic approval for a range of aid measures and so allowing Member States to grant such aid without first notifying the Commission. The Regulation authorises aid in favour of SMEs, research, innovation, regional development, training, employment and risk capital.
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Bridging the Fulda Skills Gap
Date: 2008-6-5 Topic: Employability
During the last decade, which region has seen the greatest economic growth? Most people assume it is Asia. But while China and India get most of the headlines when it comes to economic expansion, Central and Eastern Europe has grown more rapidly
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Launch of the TITAN Programme
Date: 2008-6-3 Topic: Employability
Furthering the expansion of the European Employability Model developed by this Laboratory, the Hungarian chapter was launched on the 19th of May, where Ferenc Gyurcsány, the Hungarian Prime Minister, and Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, officially launched the European Alliance on Skills for Employability in Hungary. The project aims to train 235 000 people every year. The Hungary chapter is in collaboration with the Hungarian EUGA Leadership Board (HELB), a not‐for‐profit multi‐stakeholder partnership, created and operated by the Hungarian IT industry. The HELB members include all of the major multinational IT companies as well as innovative Hungarian SMEs. On the organisation’s Advisory Board are stakeholders from academia, trade associations and NGOs, and functions in close co‐operation with public authorities. Relying on EU recommendations and similar prestigious initiatives, HELB is also the Hungarian working party for the E‐skills Industry Leadership Board and now the European Alliance on Skills for Employability.
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EU reaches out to promote flexicurity approach in the Member States
Date: 2008-5-19 Topic: Growth
The European Commission launches an initiative to help put the EUs flexicurity approach – balancing flexibility in the job market with employment security for workers – into practice at national level. This
aims to reach out to workers, employers and others through a series of country visits over the next two months. -
Help us make research in Europe more European, say researchers
Date: 2008-4-24 Topic: Growth
Careers and mobility, international co-operation, research infrastructures, joint programming and knowledge sharing are main concerns of European research actors, according to a report just published by the European Commission. The responses show strong overall support to further consolidate the European Research Area through new and more ambitious actions at all levels in the EU – regional, national and transnational. Respondents also draw attention to crucial interactions between research, education and innovation.
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EU finance day for SMEs Series of one-day events in 2008-2009
Date: 2008-4-5 Topic: Growth
EU Finance Day for SMEs is a series of events in the Member States that the European Commission is organising to inform about the EU financial instruments for SMEs together with the national financial intermediaries that implement these instruments locally. The aim is to raise awareness about different sources of finance and provide a forum for sharing good practices in helping innovative SMEs get easier access to finance.
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New EU guide to encourage combining research funding sources
Date: 2008-3-27 Topic: Grants
The EU supports research and innovation activities through a range of programmes, including the Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7), the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) and Structural Funds. Now the European Commission is developing a guide to help researchers select the right programme for their activities and even combine funds from different sources. A draft version of the guide is now ready and the Commission is keen to receive feedback on the document from the research community.
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State Street, Microsoft, Randstad, ECDL launch new skills for employability partnership in France
Date: 2008-3-14 Topic: Employability
The State Street Foundation, Microsoft, Randstad and ECDL have signed a partnership agreement to support and foster the work of Force Femmes, an organisation created in 2005 by women business leaders. This initiative is the first adaptation in France of the Skills for Employability Alliance, a programme launched at the European level.
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Danuta Hübner welcomes Slovenia s plan to invest in innovation for jobs and growth
Date: 2008-3-13 Topic: Growth
Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, makes a keynote speech at the Conference on Territorial Dialogue in 2008. This high-level meeting has been convened to promote EU regions involvement in the Lisbon process for jobs and growth.
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Southeastern European governments and leading technology companies to invest in regional eGovernance centre
Date: 2008-2-23 Topic: PPP
Slovenian Minister for Growth Dr Žiga Turk and Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates announced a major public-private partnership between Southeastern European governments, nongovernmental organisations and leading technology companies to create a centre for eGovernance in the region.
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The European Commission’s commitment to small enterprises: Small Business Act
Date: 2008-2-8 Topic: Growth
Its objective is to put small and medium sized enterprises at the forefront of decision-making in the EU and to introduce concrete measures to unlock the SMEs growth potential.
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Vice President Verheugen launches Enterprise Europe Network, European business support at your doorstep
Date: 2008-2-7 Topic: Innovation
European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen launches Enterprise Europe Network, a new and powerful European support network for enterprises.
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IT skills: Big names help youngsters press right buttons
Date: 2008-1-25 Topic: e-Skills
IT companies have a long history of helping and supporting young people gain access to information technology and skills. But what has changed radically over the years is the nature of this support.
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Microsoft aims to create new opportunity for everyone through education
Date: 2008-1-22 Topic: Growth
Company expands the impact of Partners in Learning program over the next five years, reaching up to three times as many students, teachers and schools.
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Barcelona Supercomputing Center and Microsoft Create Joint Research Centre in Barcelona for Parallel Computing
Date: 2008-1-18 Topic: Innovation
Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC) and Microsoft Corp today announced the creation of the BSC-Microsoft Research Centre, which will focus on the way microprocessors and software for the mobile and desktop market segments will be designed and interact over the next 10 years and beyond.
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European Commission proposes actions to foster 21st Century e-Skills
Date: 2008-1-7 Topic: e-Skills
Recent reports and surveys indicate that Europe may face severe e-skills shortages and mismatches in the coming years. At the same time, e-skills are becoming central to boost innovation, productivity and employability and to respond to global challenges.
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European Commission communication on media literacy
Date: 2007-12-20 Topic: e-Skills
The European Commission (EC) in 2007 published a communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the regions: A European Approach to Media Literacy in the Digital Environment.
