SME perception of the
dissemination of RTD information
Aquaflow Technical Leaflet 2003-127
European Network for the Dissemination of Aquaculture
RTD Information (Q5CA-2000-30105) and previously FAIR-3837, URL: http://www.aquaflow.org/
Since 1998, AquaFlow has been providing information
on the results and progress of EU funded and National aquaculture research
and technological development (RTD) programmes to producers across Europe.
The network is coordinated by the European Aquaculture Society (EAS) and
managed by EAS and the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP).
This survey represents the views of approximately 740 SMEs in the 19
countries of the network, where information is disseminated in 16 languages.
The European aquaculture sector is principally made up
of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) employing less than 50 people. More
than half of the respondents employ less than 10 and are family businesses.
76.4% of the respondents in this survey are members of national, regional or
species-specific producers associations. An overwhelming majority (93.7%) of European
aquaculture SMEs are interested in receiving RTD information (such as
provided by AquaFlow), showing their desire to be kept up to date with
progress in aquaculture research. Most receive information through the press
(specialised journals: 54.9%, trade press: 26.6%) or publications of their
producer associations (41.8%) and more than one-third (33.9%) of the total
respondents cited AquaFlow as their main source of RTD information.
Only 37.5% of SMEs in the survey have participated in
RTD projects. The majority of these are Nationally funded, although 39.5% of
SMEs have taken part in EU-funded RTD projects. The principle reasons for
beneficial participation are technological improvement and increased
competitiveness. Those SMEs not having participated state a lack of
information and time as the principle reasons.
69.8% of SMEs participating in this survey have heard
of AquaFlow and the general perception is very positive.
Information (in the form of one-page simplified summaries of RTD
projects and translated into the 16 languages of the network) is generally
received by post, although 31.2% of respondents receive it by e-mail or by
visiting the AquaFlow web site (www.aquaflow.org). 21.8% of respondents have
no Internet access, although the vast majority (86.6%) confirmed that they
would be connected within the next two years.
One of the underlying principles of AquaFlow is that
information should be available to all aquaculture SMEs, irrespective of
company size, language or location. When considering that 93.7% of SMEs in
the survey would like to have RTD information; that a majority receive that
information by post or in the newsletter of their producer association and
that 80.9% of SMEs are very small companies, it would appear that a
multi-lingual AquaFlow is currently satisfying most of these needs.
The full report (in English) is available on request
from EAS as a PDF file.
For more information:
Mr. Alistair Lane
European Aquaculture Society
Slijkensesteenweg 4
B-8400 Oostende - Belgium
Tel.: +32 59 32 38 59
Fax: +32 59 32 10 05
E-mail: aquaflow@aquaculture.cc