SMEs – a priority for FP6

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

2. The Sixth Framework Program 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

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. Special measures to encourage SMEs Participation in the new types of projects SME in the 7 thematic priorities EC Objective = to allocate at least 15% of the seven thematic priorities budget (1.7 billion Euro) to SMEs

5. Encouraging SMEs to participate Specific measures taken to involve SMEs in the 7 thematic priorities 1 1700 M€ Specific schemes on any area Co-operative and Collective Research 2 430 M€ 3 Appropriate information and assistance to SME participants

6. SME Definition • 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)

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

8. Encouraging SMEs to participate 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

9. Cooperative Research (SME)

10. Encouraging SMEs to participate 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

11. Collective research (SME)

12. SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas What can project consortia do? • Participation of SMEs • Participation of SME-groupings • Pre-allocated budget for take-up measures

13. SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas Participation of SMEs and SME groupings Possible for the different activities Management, Research Technology transfer, Training Dissemination of results Stronger impact Higher efficiency « Enterprise grouping means any legal entity made up for the most part of SME and representing their interest » (Rules of participation)

14. SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas 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)

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

16. SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas 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

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

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. SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas 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

20. SMEs in the 7 priority thematic areas Possibility to extend contracts to include new participants « 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

21. Task Force on SMEs participation in FP6 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%

22. Economic and technological intelligence “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”

23. Economic and technological intelligence • 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

24. Economic and technological intelligence 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.

25. Encouraging SMEs to participate 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)