1. 1 SMEs – a priority for FP6 Barend Verachtert DG Research Unit B3 - Research and SMEs

2. 2 FP6 = Main instrument for research funding in Europe 2002-2006 Objective = to create a European market for science and technology the European Research Area (ERA) Actors = industries, universities, research centers + special focus on SMEs The Sixth Framework Program

3. 3 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

4. 4 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

5. 5 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 area Co-operative and Collective Research 1 2 3 1700 M€ 430 M€

6. 6 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

7. 7 Specific schemes for SME on any subject across the whole range of Science and Technology Cooperative Research (CRAFT) Individual SME Collective Research Industrial associations or industry groupings Encouraging SMEs to participate

8. 8 Cooperative Research (CRAFT) Encouraging SMEs to participate 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

9. 9 Cooperative Research (SME)

10. 10 Collective Research Encouraging SMEs to participate 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

11. 11 Collective research (SME)

12. 12 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?

13. 13 « 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, Research Technology transfer, Training Dissemination of results Stronger impact Higher efficiency Participation of SMEs and SME groupings SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas

14. 14 Pre-allocated budget for take-up measures Take-up activities Promotion of the early or broad application of technologies Assessment, 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) SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas

15. 15 Participation in Integrated Projects Research (mainly hi-tech SMEs) Technological Development Demonstration and Prototypes Final Users Training Provider Dissemination and Technology Transfer Coordination SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas

16. 16 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 SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas

17. 17 Participation in Specific Targeted Research Projects Research (mainly hi-tech SMEs) Technological Development Demonstration and Prototypes Final Users Dissemination and Technology Transfer Coordination SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas

18. 18 SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas 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

19. 19 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 SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas

20. 20 « 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 projects The 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 SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas

21. 21 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

22. 22 “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

23. 23 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 Economic and technological intelligence

24. 24 Activities Specific 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. Economic and technological intelligence

25. 25 Appropriate information and assistance to SMEs SME National Contact Points (NCP) SME Website and Helpdesk: http://sme.cordis.lu/home/index.cfm research-sme@cec.eu.int Economic and Technological Intelligence Specific support actions (7 priority thematic areas ) Encouraging SMEs to participate