New challenges in promoting small and medium sized enterprises: Managing technology transfer and diffusion services for SMEs

Structural changes and the lack of innovative performance of the SME sector are calling to promote innovative activities. Technology transfer and diffusion services aim to serve the need to strengthen the dimensions of innovation in regional policy, too. important partners in this endeavour are the regional chambers of commerce and industry, the existing network of the local enterprise agencies and the municipal authorities. Tasks in international relations include the promotion of cross-border inter-regional co-operation in S&T and regional development. As a main message: technology diffusion policy toward SMEs should have a priority for the modernisation endeavours of a country.