"Innovation" is one of the current key issues on European level as well as in all partner countries. According to the aims of Lisbon strategy from 2000 EU is still losing ground on the United States and Japan in the field of innovation and R&D. Therefore, companies need to be encouraged to develop systemic approaches, new skills and competencies linked to the process of innovation, contributing to greater competitiveness, entrepreneurship and new employment possibilities. In 2007 the European Commission published its ideas on ‘Competitive European Regions through Research and Innovation’ and called on Member States and regions to make more effective use of the available funding instruments. In June 2010, the EU Heads of State and government endorsed the Europe 2020 strategy that aims to get the European economy back on track. At the heart of Europe 2020 is the conviction that we need R&D and innovation to create smart, sustainable growth and get Europe out of the current economic crisis.The EU therefore fosters these interactions, within regions and clusters, and their opening up. The European Commission provides support for innovation through a series of initiatives and actions aimed at better innovation support services for SMEs, notably start-ups, by developing and testing new forms of business support and facilitating transnational cooperation with a view to mobilizing more resources for the creation of a European Innovation Space. An important service is offered by the Enterprise Europe Network, which comprises about 600 partners in 44 countries employing around 4 000 experienced staff helping to increase the competitiveness of EU businesses. 12 ASSOCIATED PARTNERS who help us spreading the 2inno idea on EU level:Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) & Standortagentur Tyrol with its clusters (AT); Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Chamber affiliated with Chambers Ireland and the international network of chambers of commerce; IADT - Institute of Art, Design and Technology Ireland; VENTURIA Technology Park in Ljubljana is a venture capital firm supporting innovative Mechatronics projects.; With SYNTEA SA in Lublin, working in Life Science (PL), Phystec (mechatronics) and DVU (IT sector) in AT we found three companies who acted as "test companies" from the beginning on.Innolearn (HU), Spirit (SI), Eblart & FNL (IT) have been involved as experts in promoting innovation measures. Please view the partner profiles for more information.