News Release

EUREKA, the largest European network for industrial R&D and innovation, launches 'E!NNOVEST'

New search and match virtual Web tool for investors and companies

Business Announcement

EUREKA

June 1, 2011 – JERUSALEM, Israel – EUREKA – the largest pan-European network for market-oriented, industrial R&D and innovation, supported by 40 member states and mobilizing more than 1.5 billion euros annually to invest in R&D projects – today announced the launch of "E!nnoVest", its new search & match web tool for investors and companies. This web-based instrument allows investors to identify highly-qualified and pre-screened companies from the EUREKA portfolio of innovative technology-based SMEs and start-ups.

"We initiated E!nnoVest as a new EUREKA instrument in order to leverage one of EUREKA's main assets – its incredibly rich reservoir of innovative companies from all over Europe. With E!nnoVest EUREKA can become a true deal-flow generator," said Israel Shamay – Head of the Israeli EUREKA Chairmanship and Executive Director for European Programs at MATIMOP – the Israeli Industry Center for R&D.

"E!nnoVest is one of EUREKA's priorities this year under the Israeli EUREKA chairmanship, and serves as part of EUREKA's efforts to develop new sources for funding innovation in Europe. Public funding schemes support primarily the preliminary R&D stages of a company, which in many cases fail to complete the process of introducing a product to the market. Injecting private financing is needed to address this market failure," explains Shamay.

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ABOUT EUREKA

Founded in 1985, the EUREKA network seeks to promote international, market-oriented research and innovation through the support they offer to small and medium-sized enterprises, large industry, universities and research institutes. Through EUREKA, these organizations are introducing new products, processes and services to the market, helping make Europe economically strong and socially sound.

Israel's EUREKA chairmanship for 2010-2011 is implemented by MATIMOP, the Israel Industry Center for Research and Development, acting on behalf of the Office of the Chief Scientist in the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor. Dr. Eli Opper, former Chief Scientist is chairing the High Level Group, and Israel Shamay is chairing EUREKA's National Coordinators forum.

For more information, visit http://www.eureka-israel.co.il/. http://innovest.eureka.be/


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