INFO is the name of Murcia’s regional development agency, which is organically attached to the Regional Ministry of Industry and Environment. The main objective of INFO is to boost the development of SMEs in Murcia by means of economic promotion, investment raising, elimination of obstacles and the establishment of an environment favoring competitiveness.

WHAT DOES INFO OFFER?

One of the main objectives of the development agency is to ensure the upgrading and economic growth of regional SMEs by means of the following lines of work:

• Promote technological development by cooperating to ensure that each company can access the technology that best suits its needs.
• Boost international corporate expansion through the Foreign Trade Promotion Plan.
• Promote investment, development and enlargement projects by providing companies inside and outside the region with information, consultancy and counseling services.
• Help finance business projects concerning investment in assets, quality, technology, internationalization and industrial equipment.

1. EUROPEAN SERVICES AND ADMINISTRATION

OBJECTIVES
In order to promote regional development within member countries, the European Union provides companies and institutions with a number of aid programs and tools. These are solicited by the Regional Development Agency of the Region of Murcia, which then transfers them to the business organization.

The various lines of work developed by the department of European Services and Administration intend to:

• Manage INFO as an organization and monitor the Global Grant 2000-2006.
• Analyze, promote and participate in the programs, projects and other initiatives developed by the European Union.
• Support the administration and socio-economic agents from the Region of Murcia in their relationship with European institutions and international bodies. The Office of the Region of Murcia in Brussels plays a vital role, promoting the image and policies of this region in Europe.

2. MARKET ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH

OBJECTIVES
The main goal of the department of Market Analysis and Research is to evaluate prospects and establish the means to ensure INFO’s ongoing adaptation to regional corporate needs. In addition, this department acts as management consultancy designing, selecting and developing internal economic strategies which are then edited and promoted.

3. FOREIGN TRADE

OBJECTIVES
INFO’s department of Foreign Trade, together with the Chambers of Commerce of Murcia, Cartagena and Lorca, develops various lines of work included within the Foreign Trade Promotion Plan. The aim is to upgrade the internationalization process of Murcian companies by promoting new firms, opening new markets and supporting existing ones, as well as improving the variety of the export batch.

The Foreign Trade Promotion Plan 2000-2006, intended to meet the new market challenges, rests upon four pillars: information, training, promotion and financing. In turn, these basic pillars provide nearly forty corporate instruments and tools designed to help companies develop their foreign market policies.

4. CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT

OBJECTIVES
One of INFO’s main lines of work is aimed at providing global corporate support by means of the following development policies and tools:

• R+D and technology transfer promotion
• Business internationalization
• Incentives to the implementation of high-added-value facilities and equipment
• Information Society Development and comprehensive innovation promotion

By subsidizing interest rates of loans, this department allocates funds provided by the Spanish official credit institute and INFO to the creation, development and upgrading of the corporate network. In addition to managing funds provided by INFO’s Aid Programs and the Economic Programs of Regional Incentives, the Corporate Development Department works in the promotion of new corporate financing policies, such as UNDEMUR (Reciprocal Covenant Society) and MURCIA EMPRENDE (Venture Capital Risk Society), as well as the administration of funds from the Ministry of Treasury through the SME consolidation and competitiveness program.

5. INNOVATION

OBJECTIVES
INFO’s Innovation Department works to improve competitiveness by promoting technological innovation strategies and policies among regional companies, especially SMEs.

This department promotes R+D+i within the regional business organization as a basic instrument for modern and efficient administrative management. In order to integrate technology as a primary corporate pillar, the innovation department works to determine the exact situation of Information and communication technologies in the regional business organization. The aim is to improve the regional network by establishing and developing specific technology implementation policies.

6. MANAGEMENT STAFF

OBJECTIVES
The actions and policies carried out by the Regional Development Agency of Murcia, which provides global service to SMEs, have an impact not only on the corporate environment, but also on society as a whole. Two of the main lines of work of the Marketing and Communication department are aimed at managing databases and promoting the INFO’s image and policies regionally, nationally and internationally.

This department helps the entire agency by developing actions related to media communication, internet services, as well as organization of large corporate events and management of databases.

7. PROJECTS

OBJECTIVES
The Projects Department implements any INFO policy aimed at promoting business development by supporting logistics, creating industrial land, and participating in large infrastructure projects. The ultimate goal is to improve the economic and social situation in the Region of Murcia.

8. FOREIGN RELATIONS

OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the department of Foreign Relations are as follows:

• Provide SMEs with economic-financial information
• Promote and participate in events to do with regional economic development
• Establish collaboration agreements with various institutions, such as the corporate, labor union and university networks.

In addition, this department, together with the Institutional Relation Office of Murcia’s Regional Government in Madrid, coordinates policies of investment raising and regional economic promotion. Foreign Relations also works on event logistics, ad campaigns and publications, as well as the promotion of INFO’s corporate image.

9. GENERAL SECRETARIAT

OBJECTIVES
INFO’s General Secretariat provides service to the entire development agency, especially in aspects related to operative actions and initiatives. The main duties of this department are as follows:

• Staff management and industrial relations (through the HR department).
• Legal advice and service to ensure the lawfulness of INFO’s actions at all times.
• Managerial support for the Advisory and Executive Boards.
• Internal economic audits.
• Development and maintenance of computer and communication processes and equipment.
• Control of all actions aimed at purchasing goods and services.
• Ensure the safety, maintenance and improvement of the premises.