One of the results from the concerted action TANNET, is the creation of a network for the European Leather Industry. The network consists of 218 members (mainly SMEs). The membership includes tanneries, leather institutes, suppliers to the leather industry, universities, legislators etc. The members have all shown an active interest into research relating to environmental problems for the leather industry. The membership has been used in order to define the future environmental research priorities for the leather industry. The network will be used in the future to increase the participation of SMEs (tanneries) into EU Research programmes. This will be done by dissemination of information of EU Programmes to the network members and the creation of research consortia based on the members in the network.