The Responsible Partnering initiative [23], developed by 4 major European university and industry associations (EIRMA, EUA, ProTon, EARTO), presents key insights into how effective research collaboration can be created.

the Commission: has established Market Access Teams in key export markets bringing together Member States’ trade councillors and EU business organisations, which will help to improve SMEs’ information on trade barriers markets outside the EU will actively seek the opening up of third countries markets, in particular in developed and advanced developing economies, through WTO negotiations and bilateral agreements will in particular seek the opening up of non-EU countries’ procurement markets, which should lead to mutual and reciprocal benefits, through its bilateral and multilateral negotiations (WTO Government Procurement Agreement), in ...[+++]particular with fast-growing countries will promote trade facilitation both in the context of the WTO and in bilateral negotiations will continue to facilitate EU SMEs’ access to the markets of candidate and other neighbourhood countries, in particular through the Enterprise Europe Network and by promoting the “Think Small First” principle in these countries, including through exchanges of good practice based on the European Charter for Small Enterprises and the SBA intends to establish European Business Centres in 2009 in selected markets, starting with the fast-growing economies of India and China intends to launch a ‘Gateway to China’ scheme, focusing on establishing an Executive Training Programme in China to enable European SMEs to be more competitive in the Chinese market by 2010. the Member States are invited to: encourage coaching of SMEs by large companies in order to bring them to international markets.

8. The European Charter for Small Enterprises is a splendid statement of intent, but needs to be translated into binding action not only at Community level but also within Member States, where sharing of best practice should be specifically encouraged. Specifically the tenth and final principle on strengthening the representation of the interests of small enterprises states that a review will be completed of how the interests of small businesses are represented at EU and national level, including through the social dialogue. This is a ...[+++] key requirement, given that the current Social Partnership composition is primarily reflective of larger businesses and their employees; while noting that the Commission's current implementation Report focuses on three other key priority areas of the Charter, calls for early completion and publication of this review; in the meantime, calls on employer representatives to represent the interests of small businesses in their role as social partners without delay;

11. Welcomes the European Road Safety Charter as it so clearly demonstrates that road safety is a shared responsibility and provides a means for interested stakeholders to undertake commitments; is concerned, however, that the Charter has not attracted as many adherents or publicity as initially foreseen; proposes promoting the Charter by a new initiative shared by the European and national level in connection with marketing of the undertaking concerned; calls for adequate financial resources also by the European Institutions to be ...[+++] committed and a strengthened communication strategy to be developed so as attract the interest of more actors, such as SMEs, and to spread best practices in each domain; calls for yearly road safety awards to be given to best performers at highly publicised events; invites the Commission to study the possibility of reaching individual citizens by means of personal road safety commitments;

11. Welcomes the fact that the European Road Safety Charter so clearly demonstrates that road safety is a shared responsibility and provides a means for the stakeholders concerned to undertake commitments; is concerned, however, that the Charter has not attracted as many adherents or publicity as initially foreseen; proposes that the Charter be promoted by a campaign organised jointly at European and national level to publicise the commitments undertaken; calls for adequate financial resources to be committed also by the Community ...[+++]Institutions and for a strengthened communication strategy to be developed so as to attract the interest of a greater number of players, such as SMEs, and to disseminate best practice in each field; calls for yearly road safety awards to be given to best performers at highly publicised events; invites the Commission to study the possibility of reaching individual citizens by means of personal road safety commitments;

In addition, this report maintains that universities need to coordinate their activities more effectively in order to obtain and exchange information about common programmes and projects, types of instruction, the introduction of quality assessment systems and their outcome, and postgraduate training.