European Commission DG Research Co-operative Research Training Session on Ifigeneia Pottaki Research & SMEs DG Research - European Commission Training the trainers: SME National Contact Points in FP6

European Commission DG Research Structure of the training session PART A. Overview of the Co-operative Research activity in the FP6 PART B. Detailed description of the scheme PART C. Comparison with CRAFT in the FP5 The role of the SME NCPs in supporting the participation of SMEs in the Co-operative Research activity in the FP6

European Commission DG Research PART A. Overview of the Co-operative Research activity in the FP6

European Commission DG Research Co-operative Research (CRAFT) is a scheme whereby a limited number of SMEs from different countries assign a significant part of a specific scientific and technological research that responds to their common problems or needs to RTD performers while they retain ownership of the results.

European Commission DG Research support SMEs to respond to the pressures for continuous innovation and technological adaptations facilitate transnational co-operation in research between SMEs research institutions and other organisations, which is essential to SMEs competitiveness and internationalisation of strategies The CRAFT scheme aims to support SMEs in need of specific scientific and technological research. The ownership of the results lies exclusively with the SME participants. Objectives

European Commission DG Research Today more than ever, SMEs need to create and be part of networks relate to other institutions that are active players in the European and global economic environment CRAFT facilitates co-operative relations in research activities between SMEs, research institutions and other organisations and enables SMEs to benefit from the many advantages of networking for innovation. CRAFT not only delivers a result, but also enables SMEs to benefit from the relations of co-operation, expand their possibilities, connect with clients and enter new markets. Objectives

European Commission DG Research CRAFT concerns SMEs that have specific S&T research needs and a capacity to innovate but lack the necessary research capabilities SMEs that are low-tech, medium-tech or high -tech

European Commission DG Research Modalities DOMAINS Any subject across the whole field of science and technology. BUDGET CRAFT = 295 M. Individual CRAFT project between 0.5 and 2 M. DURATION Individual CRAFT project: One to two years

European Commission DG Research PART B. Detailed description of the scheme

European Commission DG Research In a CRAFT project there must be at least three independent SME participants established in two different Member States or Associated States, of which at least one shall be established in a Member State or Associated Candidate Country, two RTD performers independent from the SME participants and established in two different Member States or Associated States, of which at least one shall be established in a Member State or Associated Candidate Country. in addition, Other enterprises and end-users may participate to the project. Within the CRAFT consortium overall, participants should be established in at least three different Member States or Associated States, of which at least two a Member State or Associated Candidate Country. Participants

European Commission DG Research I. A CRAFT project with the minimum number of participants SME 1 SME 2 SME 3 RTD-P 1 RTD-P 2 ConditionsConditions ConditionsConditions results CRAFT EC

European Commission DG Research II. A CRAFT project with many participants... SMEswith limited research capability and common research needs High-tech SMEs Research centers, universities etc... Other interested parties CRAFT RESULTS SME Participants RTD Performers Other enterprises and end-users EC (conditions)

European Commission DG Research Eligible SMEs are: legal entities that comply with the (latest) SME definition of the EC and are not research centres or institutes, research organisations or consultancy firms. RTD Performers are: organisations with RTD means adequate to carry out research at the request of the SMEs (universities, research organisations, industrial companies etc) Other enterprises and end-users are: firms and users that are interested in the S&T problems to which the project responds and make a contribution to its costs without playing a dominant role at any of its stages. For the purpose of participation in a CRAFT project,

European Commission DG Research Research and innovation Consortium management Activities and EC contribution ActivitiesEC contribution Up to 50% Up to 100% (of up to 7% of EC contribution)

European Commission DG Research Specific conditions will be defined for the participants in a CRAFT project, RTD performers must account for at least 40% of the research and innovation-related costs of the project RTD performers must receive 100% of their total eligible research and innovation costs within a ceiling to be agreed by the consortium

European Commission DG Research Financial issues eligible costs, certain conditions, common for RTD projects in the FP6 financial regime, common for RTD projects in the FP6 EC contribution is limited by a ceiling, a grant to the budget. This grant is negotiated on the basis of the estimated eligible costs of the activities of the project, the cost model of each participant, and the rate of EC support for each activity. cost models, common for RTD projects in the FP6 three variations: FC, FCF, ACF. For SMEs FC or FCF, but a participant one can only choose one.

European Commission DG Research The proposal stage Open call for proposals end 2002, with deadlines for submission of proposals Evaluation of proposals by Commission services with the assistance of independent experts -peer review- according to evaluation criteria and respecting certain fundamental principles (gen. to FP6) Evaluation criteria relevance S&T excellence potential impact quality of the consortium quality of the management mobilisation of resources

European Commission DG Research IV. Procedural stages of a CRAFT project THE PROPOSAL STAGE PROPOSAL evaluation Contract Call for proposals results negotiation Modifications IMPLEMENTATION …the parties …the SMEs EC consortium

European Commission DG Research V. Management of a CRAFT project EC SME 1 SME 2 SME 3 Consortium of the CRAFT project RTD-P 1 RTD-P 2 C o n d i t i o n s C o n d i t i o n s Research and innovation results Co-ordinator Project Officer

European Commission DG Research The Contract Content of the contract Contracting parties Role of the coordinator Responsibilities of the participants Consortium agreement Core text, technical annex, general conditions, specific conditions for SMEs, RTD Performers and others a SME or a RTD Performer with specific and other agreed tasks for SMEs, RTD Performers and others greater autonomy to the consortium, EC guidelines

European Commission DG Research VI. Procedural stages of a CRAFT project THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGE Audits Monitoring EC consortium IMPLEMENTATION reporting payments management Audit certificates

European Commission DG Research The Implementation stage, and follow-up Modifications Replacement of participant Reporting Payments Schedule Regular follow-up Audits Work plan Consortium Procedure Intermediate Final Reporting Advance, other payments and balance PO Technical / Financial Technological / Ethical

European Commission DG Research PART C. Comparison with CRAFT in the FP5

European Commission DG Research in FP6 in FP5 Any domain in the whole area of Science and Technology Domains according to the 4 thematic priorities of the FP5 At least 2 RTD PerformersAt least 1 RTD Performer Other enterprises and end-users can participate (not possible) Member states and associated candidate states treated equally with regard to participation (not the case)

European Commission DG Research in FP6 in FP5 Expected to allow RTD Performers to be co-ordinators as contractors RTD Performers subcontractors and not possible to be co- ordinators SMEs with inadequate research capabilities and also high-tech SMEs SMEs with inadequate research capabilities The contribution of RTD performers in personnel costs is assessed at evaluation stage Eligibility criterion that RTD performers must account for at least 50% of the projects personnel time

European Commission DG Research in FP6 in FP5 Independent legal entities; independent from each other Independent and not affiliated to each other Min budget of individual project =0.5 m Min budget of individual project =0.3 m Simplified financial regime for RTD projects, a participant chooses one cost model only, there are no cost categories More complex financial regime

European Commission DG Research in FP6 in FP5 EC contribution to the consortium as a whole Defined that EC contribution to individual SME Proposers no more than 50% of their eligible costs Consortium agreement is a requirement and the consortium has greater autonomy Consortium agreement is not a requirement

European Commission DG Research The role of the SME NCPs in the Co-operative Research activity even more important, Changes in the scheme Changing economic environment and increased and more complex needs of SMEs To inform, explain and support SMEs to make full use of the many possibilities opened by the scheme and its reforms under FP6 Innovation, partnership and co-operation fundamental in the competitive market; more SMEs recognising the role of research and innovation, complex S&T research problems, and need for fast and effective responses. more autonomy to the consortium and many important decisions are taken by the participants. Support SMEs to use this increased flexibility for a dynamic response to the challenges of the future.