Supporting member organizations on the European Marketplace Ferenc Hargitai Secretary General Budapest, 14 January 2009

Profile EMF: The European Network of e-Excellence Not-for-profit association – founded in corporate members – 20 association members– 21 individual members (Executive Advisors) EMF activities: –Promotion of innovation marketing in the ICT and digital media sector –Preferential service provision: International business development International project development Funding acquisition –Management of projects and special interest groups

Digital Clusters & Associations Convention The EMF coordinates a cooperation platform for the national and regional multimedia /digital media clusters & associations in: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary (IVSZ, MATISZ), India, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, UK. A network of companies throughout Europe and international Objectives: reach critical mass through –joint services –joint projects –joint events –joint representations

Profile MATISZ: Hungarian Association of Content Industry Not-for-profit association – founded in members – mainly SMEs from content production sector, also some IT-multis, ISPs, educational institutes, libraries, other associations MATISZ activities: –performs professional interest representation and protection for members operating on the field of IT content development, distribution and related infrastructure; –promotes free flow of information, the eContent market and the more effective social exploitation of information; –accelerates the international economic and R&D relations of the Hungarian content industry; –harmonizes interests of social development and membership on the field of law making, regulation and introduction of new processes related to content industry; –watches over the professional and ethical norms of the IT-sector and takes steps against practices violating generally accepted norms; –organizes events (workshops, symposia, conferences) to implement the above objectives.

EMF Network Europe

EMF Network International San Francisco Santiago Bangalore

Main services for entreprises European Seal of E-Excellence –Visibility E-Accelerator –Markets E-Facilitator –Cash Lexelerator –Law

European Seal of e-Excellence The Seal distinguishes ICT & digital media companies with an excellent track record in innovation marketing It has been issued annually since 2003 by the EMF and its national and regional partner associations and clusters Each year, the Seal is supported by several corporate sponsors The winners of the European Seal of E-Excellence are announced at CeBIT The winners of the Seal can apply for the e-Accelerator international business development audit service - for free!

e-Accelerator One-stop-shop service platform for ICT & digital media companies seeking to expand internationally –Five main hubs in four continents: Brussels, Vienna, San Francisco, Santiago, Bangalore –Network of specialised consultants throughout the world & numerous agreements with other support organisations (trade development agencies, chambers of commerce, trade associations, incubators...) Services: –International business development audit –Market research & business intelligence –Business expansion planning –Interim business expansion management –Partner & client search –Training and coaching

e-Facilitator Support platform for international project development & funding acquisition Project idea screening through project questionnaire Advice on adequate funding: private or public funding programmes (EU, EUREKA, national) Assistance in business plan writing Assistance in project building and project lobbying Consortium building, international partner search Project management

Lexelerator Web 2.0 platform for Legal information in e- Business Legal Wiki: legal issues relevant for e-business described by legal professionals in non-legal language News: events, links, documents, legislation, highlights Blogs: legal and e-business subjects reviewed by specialists Forum: for knowledge and experience exchange

EMF Methodology Tell us what your needs are! –important for filtering potential companies / EU contacts Respond to our Questionnaires –MATISZ uses e-Accelerator and PATENT forms –IVSZ uses its own online R&D and product forms ( „K+F Kérdőív”) The Secretariat evaluates and forwards to relevant Executive Advisors The Executive Advisors provide insights We discuss with you We make proposal We may carry out our proposal on your behalf… Bottom line: you get free advice worth several days of work

Questionnaires The e-Accelerator international business development audit service ( accelerator.eu) provides marketing support for a company to reach EU & global marketplace. The e-Accelerator questionnaire therefore collects company facts & figures as well as marketing aims to investigate unique company opportunities. The winners of the European Seal of e-Excellence can apply for the e-Accelerator service - for free! The PATENT service ( provides support in establishing EU R&D co- operations, possible porject opportunities. To survey the needs, 4 PATENT forms necessary: – Company Profile Form – Contact Form – Technological Audit Form – Screening of Project Ideas Form

e-Accelerator questionnaire

PATENT questionnaires

Advice GENERAL Invest enough time in providing your input Describe what you have already achieved INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION Is your position in the home market secure? Decide which product(s) is(are) prepared for international expansion The technical features of your product are important, but ultimately secondary – what matters is how well you market your product How well do you really know the target market(s)? Put a price on each step of your expansion strategy

Advice (cont.) FUNDING ACQUISITION In the current climate: fund your expansion from your own income! Private (banks / business angels / VC): you need to have a full-blown business plan and your timing must be right Public: –Make sure you do not become overly dependent on this type of financing –Plan your public funding strategy over the medium/long term –Work with partners who already have experience –Always talk to the officials in charge of the programme

To be avoided Sloppy answers to questionnaires No clear focus (products – markets) No evidence of clear corporate strategy (may change, but must be there!) No evidence of marketing & sales successes in the home market No evidence of financial funds in support of your plans The illusion of short-term benefits…  There will be advice available at all stages of your development, but there is no free lunch!

Hungarian Association of Content Industry (MATISZ) Ferenc Hargitai Tel: , Hungarian Association of IT Companies (IVSZ) Klára Heilingbrunner Tel: , European Multimedia Forum (EMF) 55, rue Hector Denis B Brussels Belgium Philippe Wacker Executive Director E-Accelerator Tel: Fax: Contact