The Local Futures Group
Project Coordinators

The Local Futures Group is an independent research and strategy consultancy, specializing in economic development in the UK and internationally. Our expertise centres on the knowledge economy and national and regional competitiveness. We also have extensive experience in policy fields relating to human capital development, innovation systems and technological change in the public and private sectors.

3 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AU, United Kingdom
Lee Pickavance: lee.pickavance@localfutures.com
Britta Ziemann: britta.ziemann@localfutures.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 7520 8120
Fax: +44 (0)20 7520 8150
Web: www.localfutures.com


Transport Operations Research Group
University of Newcastle upon Tyne

The Transport Operations Research Group (TORG) was established in 1972 and is now within the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. In TORG, there are currently 20 members of academic, research and support staff and 18 PhD students. Recent research has been sponsored by the European Commission, national funding bodies (such as EPSRC), UK Government Departments (specifically the Department for Transport), local authorities, Passenger Transport Executives, bus companies, and consulting firms. TORG is dedicated to excellence in research and teaching.

Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
Simon Edwards: Simon.edwards@ncl.ac.uk
Phil Blythe: p.t.blythe@ncl.ac.uk
Web: www.ncl.ac.uk

SpringBoard4Business Ltd.

Based in West London, SpringBoard4Business Ltd, is dedicated to the delivery of services focused on training and development of commercial businesses in Europe. The main focus is on technology adoption and how this can transform business performance. We therefore work with key stakeholder groups to supply these services - be they public sector bodies with an objective to improve business performance in key commercial sectors; private sector technology companies who use us to support their sales partners in reaching customers with technology messages; or the technology end user businesses themselves.
SpringBoard4Business is unique in blending instructor-led classroom training with distance learning material from the government-backed Learndirect programme. We have developed a rich portfolio of training programmes specifically for the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) market designed to deliver education to individual users or accreditations to businesses. We train over 30,000 businesses/people per year and uniquely blend together the best of public sector support with private sector sponsorship. In this area, we also undertake R&D programmes for SMEs. These are specifically defined public sector-led initiatives designed to deliver improved understanding and performance to businesses around particular areas of latest developments - e.g. wireless, security, or e-procurement.
Credentials - Park Royal Trade Online is an initiative which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund to help SMEs in the West London Objective 2 area develop online trading activities. SpringBoard4Business Ltd. and Middlesex University are working together as a delivery partner to the regeneration partnership. Together, we have helped 200 companies through this programme.

Jenny Searle Managing Director
SpringBoard4Business Ltd.
West London Centre
15-21 Staines Road
Hounslow
Middlesex
TW3 3HR
Tel: 0208 607 4656
Mob: 07785 938071
Email: jenny.searle@sb4b.com
Web: www.springboard4business.com

Dr Alan Rae 01483 832124
alan.rae@aiconsultants.co.uk

Transport Academy Bavaria

The Transport Academy Bavaria (Verkehrsakademie Bayern - VAB) provides training, consulting and research in transport and logistics. TAB cooperates with many major actors in the field like Daimler- Chrysler, MAN, IVECO, NEOPLAN and the European Commission. We continuously anticipate to new developments in the branch and offer a broad range of services: TAB education & training, TAB professional vocational training and TAB consulting and project management. We have experience in teamwork with both global players and innovative SME. TAB teams up with 5 partner Academies and 11 Institutes in Germany.

Am Goldenen Feld 19
95326 Kulmbach, Germany
Marc van Aurich: marc-van-aurich@verkehrsakademie.de
Tel: +49 9221 76075
Fax: +49 9221 76060
Web: www.verkehrsakademie.de

Czech University of Agriculture Prague
Faculty of Economics and Management,

The Czech University of Agriculture Prague, Czech Republic, was established in 1906. It is a leading educational centre in the in the Czech Republic. It has 6 faculties. The Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) educates specialists in management, economy, business, finance, banking, insurance, informatics, trade. The FEM is a dynamic and developing institution employing highly qualified teaching staff and research, exploiting intensive contacts with professional communities and universities in the Czech Republic and worldwide. As particularly important the FEM considers: (1) participation in EU framework programmes (2) coordination and/or participation in projects PHARE, MINERVA, Grundtwig, Socrates - Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Copernicus, COST, (3) individual membership of the staff in international councils, organisations and communities, (4) visiting lectureships of the staff abroad and of foreign lecturers at the university, (5) organisation of conferences, seminars, workshops and summer schools at the FEM.

Kamycka 129, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic
Jaroslav Havlicek: havlicekj@pef.czu.cz
Tel: 004200224382352
Fax: 004200220920321
Web: www.czu.cz

Technical University of Kosice was established in 1952 and at present has eight faculties with more than 12,000 BSc and MSc students and about 650 PhD students. The Faculty of Economics was established in 1992 with the aim to satisfy educational needs implied by ongoing transformation process in the Slovak Republic, especially in the area of finances, investments and banking, and applications of ICTs in private and public sector. The Faculty has accredited study programs in Bachelor, Master, and PhD study. It has more than 800 full time and part time BSc, MSc PhD students.

Nemcovej 32 040 01 Kosice, Slovak Republic
Natasa Urbancikova: natasa.urbancikova@tuke.sk
Tel: +421556023294
Fax: +421556023294
Web: www.tuke.sk/ekf

Szentmihályi 131, 1152 Budapest, Hungary
Peter Kövesd: trebag@mail.inext.hu
Tel: 00 36 1 419 4214
Fax: 00 36 1 419 4172
Web: www.trebag.hu

Seahorse International Ltd was established by private individuals in 1991 as a company specialized for International freight forwarding and logistics.
Since then Seahorse invested much in infrastructure: efficient industry tailored software together with fast communication tools to establish efficient information flow to the clients from the transport market.
Currently Seahorse Ltd's activities comprehend a wide range of forwarding and logistical business like FCL/LCL overseas-, road-, air-, rail-, and project cargo shipments practically worldwide.
Seahorse International built up an international network of subcontracted agents (in Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, USA and the whole Far East) on basis of trustworthiness, reliability and full responsibility. Seahorse International's goal is broaden its cooperation on European market to gain the utmost of cost effective operations and up to date market information. Permanent adjustment to up to date logistic systems and to the development of e business in transport industry are the mission of the company aiming to strengthen its market presence in the long run.
Our vision is permanent growth based on efficient operations of cooperating mid size partners of our industry.

Tállya 28 A2, 1121 Budapest, Hungary
Pelsoczi Tamás: tamas.pelsoczi@seahorse.hu
Pelsocziné Hosszú Katalin: katalin.pelsoczi@seahorse.hu
Tel: 00-36-1-212-7654; 00-36-30-9529-642; 00-36-30-9904-279
Fax: 00-36-1-213-8898
Web: www.seahorse.hu

The SZKKÉSZ (The Association of Small and Medium size Forwarding Enterprises - A.S.M.F.E) was founded in 1998 with 27 members. The requirement of the members was to be represented and protected against the squeeze of the leading, multi-type forwarders, who wanted to create strict, new rules restrictions and barriers - by the law, for diminish our SME-s activity. The introduction of new regulations was prevented by the chairman and the 9- member presidency of ours, while negotiating, arguing with the chairmen of the biggest leading forwarder's associations and the ministries concerned. By now ASMFE has a Code of Ethic, accepted by the similar, co- alliances, we have considerable results and reputation, appreciated by the old ones and the 68 new members.

Ötvös János u.2, 1021 Budapest, Hungary
Tasnádi Pál Julianna: juli_pal@formentor.hu
Tel: 00 36 1 275 7010
Fax: 00 36 1 392 5233
Web: www.szkkesz.inf.hu