Microsoft, Intel and Hewlett-Packard Form European Small and Medium Enterprise Consortium
IT Sector Leaders Pledge Backing to Expand the EU Grants Advisor Programme to Stimulate Growth, Jobs and Competitiveness Across the EU
BRUSSELS, Belgium — 30 March 2005 — Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp. and Hewlett-Packard today announced a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Consortium through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU will emphasise the consortium’s long-term commitment to supporting the European Commission’s goal to make Europe a more competitive and dynamic place to do business. The MOU also will highlight the investment of resources dedicated over the next three years to help stimulate small and medium-sized enterprises’ productivity and growth through Microsoft’s EU Grants Advisor (EUGA) initiative, which is expanding across all 25 EU Member States.
Stimulating Growth and Opportunity for Businesses
Throughout the EU, almost 20 million small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ 140 million people, are viewed as the economic engine, creating jobs and taxable income as well as stimulating innovation. This investment will significantly raise awareness of EU funding opportunities for the 55 per cent of SMEs currently unaware that they qualify for assistance, while also helping them gain easier access to the funds and increasing their ability to benefit from the funds available.
“The new growth and employment initiative, the new Lisbon Agenda, can only work if it is a partnership project. We particularly need to rely on the involvement of the private sector, especially to develop the enormous innovation potential of the SMEs,” said Günter Verheugen, vice president of the European Commission, in charge of Enterprise and Industry.
”The EU Grants Advisor Consortium is a clear and logical step to kick-start SME growth across the region,” said Jacques Santer, president of the SME Union, and former European Commission president. “The SME Union has always recognised that structural funds are the catalyst to growth in this sector.”
The consortium members will provide resources to deliver SME tools and services focused on EU structural funding opportunities. The EUGA programme includes a dedicated SME website and independent specialised consulting services offering information about available technology, employment and business start-up grants. In addition, the programme will offer SMEs help with the application process should they wish to apply for the grants for which they are eligible. The EUGA programme was originally piloted in Spain; its success there led to initiatives being introduced in Hungary and Poland, and, most recently, adoption in the Czech Republic and France earlier this year.
“The training and predefined templates provided by Microsoft facilitated the identification of the most appropriate grant and reduced the necessary administration of our clients connected to the EU funds applications,” said Róbert Bobrovniczki, sales manager at VT-SOFT Ltd, a Microsoft® Certified Partner in Hungary. ”That was a great help for our clients (mainly Hungarian SMEs) to implement customised IT solutions.”
“The majority of businesses in Europe are small and medium-sized enterprises and, with a contribution of 57 per cent to the GDP, they are a key driving force behind the creation of new and better jobs, as well as stimulating competitiveness and innovation,” said Jean-Philippe Courtois, CEO of Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). “Access to finance is one of the most common obstacles to SME growth. With Intel and Hewlett-Packard, we are able to help SMEs tackle this challenge through practical support.”
“Europe is, and has always been, the centre of innovation, creativity and design; whether it is furniture, fashion or cars, everyone looks at Europe. These are all industries driven and supplied by SMEs. Our goal is to foster and unleash this creativity and allow SMEs to prosper in this new connected world,“ said Gordon Graylish, director of marketing, Intel Corp. Europe, Middle East and Africa.
"Innovation, collaboration and partnerships are the building blocks for competitive success. HP as a leading provider of ICT solutions contributes significantly to competitiveness and sustainable growth of SME business in Europe. The access to EU funds for in SME will enable further productivity increases, lifelong learning and the finance necessary to support the economic growth of the unique European social and political model,” said Ingo Juraske, vice president of Public Sector at HP Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
About Intel
Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at http://www.intel.com/pressroom.
About Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2005, Hewlett-Packard revenue totalled $81.8 billion. More information about Hewlett-Packard (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft employs more than 12,000 people in over 55 subsidiaries, delivering products and services in more than 139 countries and territories.
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Sources for SME information: 2003 Observatory of European SMEs and Europe’s Information Society
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Note to editors — EUGA programme
EU Grants Advisor is designed to help SMEs as well as local and regional governments better understand and benefit from EU funding opportunities at the national and regional level. The initiative provides a collection of tools and resources for SMEs.
Additional information of today’s announcements is available on Microsoft’s EMEA Press Centre website at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre.
Note to editors
If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft in EMEA, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/emea or the EMEA Press Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at the time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact the Microsoft EMEA Press Office at +44 870 243 0515 or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/contactus.
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