European Business Angel Network (EBAN) is the European trade association for early stage investors, an independent and non-profit association representing the interests of business angels networks (BANs), early stage venture capital funds and other entities involved in bridging the equity gap in Europe. EBAN was established with the collaboration of the European Commission in 1999 by a group of pioneer BANs in Europe and EURADA (the European Association of Development Agencies).

EBAN's main purposes are to:

• Represent the early stage investment market in Europe
• Carry out research on the angel market and produce facts and trends
• Identify and share best practice Promote the role and visibility of business angel networks and early stage funds in Europe
• Promote synergies and networking opportunities among actors in the industry
• Support the emergence of professional structures and quality standards across Europe
• Support the internationalisation of the angel and early stage industry and movement

The membership of the Association is composed of:

• Federations of business angels networks
• Business angels networks with a transnational, national, regional and local coverage
• Early stage venture capital funds
• Other entities involved in promoting the early stage investment market in Europe.

ProTon Europe is the pan-European network of Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs) and companies affiliated to universities and other Public Research Organisations (PROs). The purpose of ProTon Europe is to 1) promote innovation in Europe by more effective knowledge transfer from universities and other research organisations funded primarily from public sources (Public Research Organisations), and 2) support the professional development of Knowledge Transfer Offices across Europe through networking, the exchange of good practice, staff exchanges and the delivery of appropriate training.

As of July 2006, ProTon Europe had more than 230 direct institutional members employing about 2000 knowledge transfer professionals. In addition, ProTon Europe has partnership agreements with the national associations of transfer offices in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain and United Kingdom. On a consolidated basis, ProTon Europe and its partner national associations cover more than 500 transfer offices in Europe. ProTon Europe is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) has a membership of about 150 regional development agencies from 25 different countries across the European Union. Agencies from almost all the Member States of the EU are EURADA members.

EURADA brings together and disseminates good practice in economic development for the benefit of its members. EURADA also lobbies and briefs the European Commission on behalf of member agencies. Through round tables and reflection groups individual EURADA members can play a direct role in the development of policy at the Commission, and form their own links with officials.

EURADA has strong international links, particularly through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in the United States, but also with economic development networks in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) connects professionals worldwide to the research and teaching of Stanford University faculty in the School of Engineering and related academic departments. Qualified individuals may study for master of science degrees on a part-time basis, pursue graduate certificates and professional certificates, take individual graduate courses and professional courses, participate in workshops, view free online seminars and more. Courses are delivered online, on the Stanford campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, and at the work site.

The Business Association of Stanford Entrepreneurial Students (BASES) is one of the largest professional groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has more than 5,000 members, half of whom represent about 15 percent of the Stanford population. The other half resides outside of Stanford, comprised mainly of alumni, entrepreneurs, executives, venture capitalists, and others interested in entrepreneurship.

The organization facilitates an environment for the exchange of entrepreneurial ideas and aims at connecting capable students with experienced representatives from industry. BASES hosts a wide range of educational and motivational programs to help provide Stanford students with employment resources, business plan development assistance, and company start-up seminars.

Today, BASES includes undergraduate and graduate students along with faculty members from all schools at Stanford, including Business, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Humanities and Science. BASES strives to help strengthen entrepreneurship collaboration at Stanford by working with a variety of student groups across campus.