• In 1996, the European Observatory for the SME estimated that more than 5 million companies in Europe (about 30% of all European companies) should have to face their transfer in the next years. In Spain, the percentage of family companies that face an inheritance process rises to 65% of the companies.
• The mortality rate of a family business compared with the other SMEs boosts to double, often failing in the moment of having to pass the baton of its management: one out of two family businesses does not survive to the change of the second generation.
• But in front of these weaknesses, the family business SMEs have long tradition and experience; and knowledge often accumulated through working experience. Validating  and formalizing this learning acquired usually by not formal or informal ways (practical knowledge and tacit competences) to allow its transmission to the next generations are key values for the business continuation.
  From all this, we can conclude that it is necessary to elaborate and make available for the family business SMEs some measures and tools to favor the business transfer and the knowledge management. The transmission of knowledge is an important question for the survival and development of these companies in the present changing context and to reach a learning culture.

For thar reason, the Project Magister it is about facilitating and enhancing the transition into the family business more quickly, efficiently and using the expertise available and help them develo­ping a new knowledge manage­ment strategy, through a realistic common methodology and tools

The Foundry Association of the Basque Country and Navarre (AFV) has since 1978 the purpose of defending and promoting the professional interests of the foundry sector.

It has 145 associated companies which employ 13,000 workers. The main activities the AFV does to defend and benefit its members are placed in: commercial issues, economical issues, general issues and technical issues. Concerning the technical issues, the AFV arranges every year an ambitious training program.

AFV has also taken part with the government in the development of occupational training programs and in the establishment of professio­nal training plans specific for the foundry sector.

Contact person:
Gorka Sagasti
Phone: +34 94 470 07 07
Fax: +34 94 421 19 88
Email: programas@feaf.es
Website: www.feaf.es

FVEM is the largest sectorial business association in Biscay (1,060 companies, 40,000 workers), whose purpose is to have an economic influence on the coordination of the issues that concern the companies in the metal sector, by establishing agreements with public and private institutions. It participates actively in the main business forums, forming part of the government organizations CEBEK, CONFEBASK, CONFEMETAL, among others.

What is more, our experience in certification plans, which is one of the objectives of this project, is more that extend. We have participated recently in the METALCERT project, a transnational device to certify the key competences in the metal sector, and we have swift relationship with several bodies of qualification, at regional and national level and direct communication with the target group of this project.

Contact persons:
Jaime Fernández Alcedo
Joseba Sainz de Baranda
Phone: +34 94 439 64 69
Fax: +34 94 434 25 19
Email: metal@fvem.es; joseba@fvem.es
Website: www.fvem.es

SEA is a non-profit Business Association, which defends and repre­sents the interests of the Alava business community before different Institutions and Bodies.

It was created in 1976, but was not constituted as an association until 1978. Initially it grouped together companies from the metal sector, but today embraces all business sectors: Construction, wood, electrical installation, heating and air conditioning installation and maintenance, winemaking sector, car dealerships, bakeries and patisseries, chemi­cal sector, graphic arts, services, etc.

Together with ADEGI and CEBEK, it constituted CONFEBASK, with which, in turn, it is managing to extend representation of the Alava business community on a national scale.

At present, it boasts over 1,200 voluntary member companies, directly or through sectorial groups, bringing together the most varied areas of the business network.

Contact persons:
Aitor Otaola
Mikel Hernández
Phone: +34 945 000 400
Fax: +34 945 132 185
Email: aitor@sea.es; mhernandez@sea.es
Website: www.sea.es

GIP-FCIP is the research and development unit of the Academy (Local Education Authority) of Aix-Marseille in southern France. It works closely with the local GRETA (training centers) which, as an integral part of the French National Education System, brings together several state schools and colleges to offer vocational an technical training courses. GIP FCIP (32 employees) has broad experience of co-operating in transnational projects, having been partner in projects with Leonardo, Equal, Grundtvig and FSE founds.

Specific competences:

• Engineering and consulting in training
• Engineering and management consulting of skills:
  • Job analysis for transfer of skills
  • Consulting beside companies to promote equality between men and women
• Engineering of international projects: driving or participate to interna­tional or European projects

Contact person:
Janick Robert
Phone: 00 33 6 08 63 64 82
Fax: 00 33 4 42 90 41 01
Email: janick.robert@ac-aix-marseille.fr
Website: www.gretanet.com

Confindustria Veneto SIAV Ltd is the Service Agency created by the Provincial Associations and by the Industrial Federation of the Veneto Region. It promotes the organisational development of regional enterprises, mainly small sized, in the transition from a family business organisation to an industrial one. SIAV is able to offer an integrated system of service and advice ranging from Training, Quality, Environment and Innovation. SIAV is operatively structured in five specific areas: Association (planning and implementation of training projects), Enterprises (assistance in consulting projects), Knowledge & Innovation Unit (the real R&D Division, laboratory of training and consulting service), Events (management of Campiello Literary Prize and Meetings of Young Entrepreneurs) and Administration (of the whole structure).

Contact person:
Gabriella Bettiol
Phone: +39 041 2517511
Fax: +39 041 2517573
Email: area.progetti@siav.net
Website: www.siav.net

The CCI-CJ is an autonomous, non-governmental, apolitical organi­zation representing the interests of its members, numbering 1,600 companies.

CCI's Cluj main activities are three folded:

• Providing professional services to members.
• Lobbying the interests of the local business establishment to authorities and government bodies in Romania and abroad.
• Collaborating with institutions for regional development.

The mission of the Cluj Chamber is to promote economic development and international cooperation. In accordance, the specialized depart­ments of the Chamber offer:

• Business contacts, trade missions, business partnerships & match making.
• International cooperation, through a network and a joint program with other CCI's, institutions abroad.
• Business information.
• Consulting and assistance (legal, international trade, standardiza­tion, project management).
• Commercial arbitration.
• Training & career development courses through The Chamber Center for Training.

Contact person:
Elisabeta Dumitrescu
Phone: +40 364 730 986
Fax: +40 364 730 984
Email: international@ccicj.ro
Website: www.ccicj.ro