1. INTRODUCTION - OUTLINE OBJECTIVES

1.2. Exemplary down-to-earth work programmes may assist individual SMEs and groupings of SMEs to develop sufficient technological capability and expertise in information networks and application techniques (*1). This response is likely to be enhanced and accelerated, if SMEs Support Organisations, working at local, regional, national and international level, participate in the action and assist their SMEs base (*2) to develop and take advantage of the new information technologies.

(*1) Applications such as use of WWW, EDI, Electronic Commerce, Best Practices, Just-In- Time, Quick Response, Time-To-Market and allied techniques.
(*2) It is estimated that about 2/3 of the approximately 17 million SMEs currently operating in the European Union may be targets for the action generated by this MOU. Currently, approximately 25 to 30 % of target SMEs use computer facilities and only about 2 to 3% of these use information networking as a tool to achieve greater levels of proficiency.

1.3. To achieve this wide-ranging objective, organisations established to support SMEs (hereinafter "SMEs Support Organisations") should themselves be assisted in learning of the opportunities offered by the Information Society, should develop and use the possibilities offered by information networking and should agree on a coordinated approach towards their own SMEs base.

2. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - BACKGROUND -

2.2 Following formalization this MOU will be published by the European Commission.

3. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - CONDITIONS -

3.2 The common action plan forms the core of the MOU; this core is unlikely to require regular updating. Individual activities are those that will be carried out individually by each organisation signatory to this MOU. If need be, these activity tables will be regularly updated.

3.3.1 Signatories to the MOU will nominate representatives to a Working Group. This Group will meet at least annually. It will have the task of examining applications from new Organisations wishing to sign the MOU (*), recording individual activity plans and taking any other action deemed necessary to pursue the objectives of the MOU. The Working Group will elect its own President.
3.3.2 Among other publicity actions MOU signatories will ensure that the MOU and individual plans are distributed to competent European and national institutions, including the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Council.

3.4 Each Support Organisation undertakes to inform the Working Group of its own actions and of changes in its implementation table. Each undertakes also to inform, at regular intervals, all of the other signatories of this Memorandum of the actions it has undertaken and of the benefits for cooperation that may result.

3.5 Individual action plans need to align with the general principles and objectives defined within the core MOU. Each plan must be short (max 4 pages) and concise. Individual plans will be introduced within two months following signature of the MOU and may be updated at yearly intervals.

3.6 Each signatory organisation undertakes to publicise the MOU within its own region and to make every effort to distribute publicity materials and press releases to inform the general public of the action.

3.7 Within the context of the MOU, the European Commission undertakes to carry out the following actions:

• Support the Working Group in its function,
• Publicize the MOU through its press and other channels,
• Ensure that steering members are invited to give presentations about the MOU at conferences, workshops and the like,
• Produce translated versions of the MOU and individual action plans in all main EC languages.

4. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - COMMON ACTION PLAN

• Training courses for members of the support organisations in using electronic networks and in the capture, access and exchange of data and information of interest to SMEs.
  Networks to be discussed may be private or public to include Internet and X.400. Uses of WWW sites to increase market penetration and awareness will also be dealt with.
• Live and interactive demonstrations on the uses and benefits that can derive to SMEs
• Promotion in the creation, updating and support of websites containing information of interest to SMEs
• Stimulation in the creation of SMEs communities on the Internet and other networks.Presentation of examples leading to the creation of virtual, ad-hoc and permanent cooperative networks
• Promotion of open systems, best practice, electronic commerce and similars, and simplification of methods and procedures
• Organisation of workshops and promotion of rewards and success stories for SMEs wishing to re-engineer their business. Participation in fairs and conferences.
• General promotion actions, to include press and information activities, relating to the use of networking technologies,

INDIVIDUAL SIGNATORY FORM

Name.: Position.: Organisation Name.: Full Address.: Country.: Telephone No.: Facsimile No.: Email No.: I sign this MOU as ( ) SMEs Support Organisation ( ) Sponsor Organisation

Please note: Signature of this MOU is not a formal undertaking. It nevertheless implies that the signatory will strive to reach, to the best of his ability, the objectives stated in the MOU and those of the attached individual plan, where available.
The signatory will also contribute to the diffusion of knowledge of this MOU and its objectives to third parties; will keep this MOU updated with his further plans and will inform the other signatories of the actions he has taken.

Signature.: Date.: Until informed otherwise please return this signed form to: Alfredo Sarich, Chairman, ICT Round Table 10, EEMA International Relations, c/o XCOMS International SA, 54 Rue d'Angoussart, 1301 Bierges, Belgium