SMEs – a priority for FP6

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SMEs – a priority for FP6

Barend Verachtert

DG ResearchUnit B3 - Research and SMEs

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FP6 = Main instrument for research funding in Europe 2002-2006

Objective = to create a European market

for science and technologythe European Research Area (ERA)

Actors = industries, universities, research centers+ special focus on SMEs

The Sixth Framework Program

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The 7 thematic priorities

1. Life science

2. Information society technologies

3. Nanotechnologies

4. Aeronautics and Space

5. Food quality and safety

6. Sustainable development

7. Citizens and governance

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EC Objective = to allocate at least 15% of the seven thematic priorities

budget (1.7 billion Euro) to SMEs

Special measures to encourage SMEs Participation

in the new types of projects

SME in the 7 thematic priorities

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Encouraging SMEs to participate

Appropriate information and assistance to SME participants

Specific measures taken to involve SMEs in the 7 thematic priorities

Specific schemes on any areaCo-operative and Collective Research

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2

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1700 M€

430 M€

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SME (Small or Medium-sized Enterprise) is an enterprise which:

• Has fewer than 250 employees

• Has either - an annual turnover not exceeding € 40 million

or- an annual balance-sheet total not exceeding € 27 million

• Is independent, i.e. not 25% or more owned by one or more organisations which are not an SME (except public investment corporations,venture capital companies and funds and institutional investors)

SME Definition

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Specific schemes for SMEon any subject across the whole range of Science and Technology

Cooperative Research (CRAFT)

Individual SME

Collective Research

Industrial associations or industry groupings


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Cooperative Research (CRAFT)


Research carried out by Research Performers on behalf of SME from different countries

An opportunity for SMEs with inadequate research capabilities to solve technological problems, to innovate, to increase their

competitiveness and to internationalise their strategies

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Cooperative Research (SME)

ObjectiveTo support SMEs to respond to their needs

for research and innovation

ActivitiesResearch and Innovation,Consortium management

SizeAt least 3 SMEs proposers from 2 differentcountries + Other proposers (not dominant)

+ 2 RTD performers

Duration 1 to 2 years

Total budget Between 0.5 and 2 millions Euro

IPR Ownership to the SMEs proposers

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Collective Research


Research carried out by Research Performers on behalf of industrial associations or groupings on themes of interest to large sectors and communities of SMEs

Objective = to expand the knowledge base of large communities of SME and therefore, to improve their

general standard of competitiveness

Examples: regulatory requirements, pre-normative research, health and safety equipment, environmental performance

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Collective research (SME)

ObjectiveTo expand the knowledge base of large

communities of SMEs

ActivitiesResearch and Innovation,

consortium management, training,promotion and dissemination

Size1 European industrial association

or at least 2 national associations + SMEcore group + 2 RTD performers

Duration 2 to 3 years

Total budget Between 2 to 5 millions Euro

IPROwnership of the results to the industry

associations or industry groupings

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• Participation of SMEs

• Participation of SME-groupings

• Pre-allocated budget for take-up measures

SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas

What can project consortia do?

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« Enterprise grouping means any legal entity made up for the most part of SME and representing their interest »

(Rules of participation)

Possible for the different activities

Management, ResearchTechnology transfer, Training

Dissemination of results

Stronger impactHigher efficiency

Participation of SMEs and SME groupings


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Pre-allocated budget for take-up measuresTake-up activities

Promotion of the early or broad application of technologiesAssessment, trial, validation of technologies

Transfer of best practices for early exploitation of technologies

Ideal platforms for presenting SME with the results of the research undertaken

SME partners identified and involved at the proposal stage

SME to be identified after contract signature (budget set

aside for new partners, call by the consortium)


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Participation in Integrated Projects

• Research (mainly hi-tech SMEs)

• Technological Development

• Demonstration and Prototypes

• Final Users

• Training Provider

• Dissemination and Technology Transfer

• Coordination


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Participation in Networks of Excellence• Training provider/ receiver

• Dissemination and Communications activities to spread excellence

• IT tools designer (e.g. network intranet, web-site…)

• Network Management

• Research, Technological Development, Demonstration and Prototypes, Final Users, Technology Transfer


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Participation in

Specific Targeted Research Projects

• Research (mainly hi-tech SMEs)• Technological Development• Demonstration and Prototypes• Final Users• Dissemination and Technology Transfer • Coordination


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What can the Commission do?• Information for and awareness creation within the research

community

• Evaluation criteria related to SMEs

• Targeting of calls in areas relevant for SMEs

• Possibility to extend contracts to include new SMEs

• Task Force on SME participation in FP6

• Economic and Technological Intelligence

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Targeting of calls in areas relevant for SMEs

In some priority thematic areas,subjects are described as particularly relevant for SMEs

Depending on characteristics such as:• maturity of the field of research (fundamental/applied)• number of SME already involved in the subject• possibility to create start-ups• number of high-tech SME• need to transform traditional industries• need or presence of SME able to transfer knowledge


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« The Commission may increase its financial contribution to an indirect action already under way in order to expand its scope to cover

new activities which may involve new participants »

(Rules of participation)

= An opportunity for SME to enter into running projectsThe addition of new participants would be done by way of calls for proposals launched by the Commission and

subsequent evaluation according to the normal procedure

Possibility to extend contracts to include new participants


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• measures to encourage SME participation in FP6, including specific support actions

• targets for SME participation in each priority thematic area

• method of assessment of SMEs participation in proposals during the evaluation

• monitoring of SMEs involvement in retained proposals and reports to the PC “Integrating and Strengthening the Foundations of the ERA” on progress towards 15%

Task Force on SMEs participation in FP6

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“In the knowledge-based economy, ETI is a vital component of competitive research & innovation strategies”

MAIN OBJECTIVE of ETI in FP6 :

“Each ETI activity should address a specific research theme or industrial sector. Projects should concentrate on the participation of SMEs/SME Groupings in the Sixth Framework Programme, particularly in Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence”

Economic and technological intelligence

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• innovation promotion in SMEs

• activities aimed at facilitating the creation of SME-groupings with similar innovation needs

• the participation of SMEs/SME Groupings in:

– Integrated Projects

– Networks of Excellence

– Specific targeted research projects,

– CRAFT and Collective Research


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ActivitiesSpecific support actions may involve:

• conferences

• seminars

• studies and analyses

• working groups and expert groups

• operational support and dissemination

• information and communication activities

• or a combination of these as is appropriate in each case.


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Appropriate information and assistance to SMEs

• SME National Contact Points (NCP)

• SME Website and Helpdesk:http://sme.cordis.lu/home/[email protected]

• Economic and Technological Intelligence

• Specific support actions (7 priority thematic areas)


Documents

SMEs – a priority for FP6