PLATON Consortium

Partner	Country	Responsibility to WP2: CITIZENS Potential for SMEs and Trend Analysis ( CITIZENS NCP)
		The Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE) is a non-profit organisation based in Italy that provides information, assistance and training in order to promote Italian participation in European research, development and technological innovation. APRE was created upon the joint initiative of the Italian Ministry of Research and the European Commission in 1989 and is supported by approximately 80 member organisations, which comprise public and private research centres, industries, industrial associations, chambers of commerce, science parks and 37 universities. APRE's activities consist of providing information, assistance and training, and in particular: information on EU research programmes - through various channels such as a help line for information by telephone, an Internet site, a periodic newsletter and a series of thematic dossiers, collaboration with numerous national and regional magazines, etc.; individual assistance and consultancy to potential participants on how to present research proposals; organisation of workshops, info-days and seminars; training courses. APRE is National Contact Point for the IST, Nanotech, Ecotech, Citizens and governance, SMEs, INCO and Science&Society programmes within FP6. APRE provides the same assistance also concerning all the other Thematic Priorities and activities of the Framework Programme. In 2001 APRE received the Quality Certification for its Project Activity Training, Promotion Activity and Information & Assistance Services regarding research programmes. APRE also has an ISO EN 9001:2000 certified quality system. APRE is a member of the Central Italy Innovation Relay Center (IRC) CIRCE, which belongs to the Innovation Relay Centre Network (IRC). Within the IRC, APRE is member of the IRC Agro-food Thematic Group and of the IRC Information, Communication Technology Thematic group (ICT).

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