Josefina Lindblom European Commission DG Research - Unit T4: SMEs SMEs in the

SMEs in FP7 - why? SMEs are at the core of European industry and key players in the innovation system. SMEs have to respond increasingly to a strong competition in the internal market and globally.  Need to increase their knowledge base and their research efforts in transnational co-operations.  Actions at EU level are necessary to complement and enhance the impact of actions taken at national and regional level.

SMEs in FP7 Main initiatives

 Dedicated SME strategy under each Theme  Identification of areas of particular interest to SMEs in the individual work programmes  15% target for SME participation (early indications meeting and exceeding 15%)  Greater flexibility in choosing the appropriate funding scheme  Simplified financial and administrative procedures (e.g. 75% funding rate for SMEs, no bank guarantees) SMEs in FP7 “Cooperation”

Industry-academia partnerships and pathways between public and private research organisations based on a common research project and aim to increase the exchange of skills between the two sectors:  Staff secondment between academia and industry including SMEs  Temporary hosting of experienced researchers from outside partnership  Possible financial contribution to small equipment related to SME participation SMEs in FP7 “People”

Capacities – Research for the benefit of SMEs Research for SMEs:  Low to medium technology SMEs with little or no research capability  Research intensive SMEs that need to outsource research to complement their core research capability Research for SME associations:  SME associations representing their members and their common technical problems  bottom-up approach, no thematic focus

Objectives Strengthen the innovation capacities and competitiveness of SMEs, to develop new products and markets by outsourcing of research. Clear exploitation potential with economic benefits for the SMEs (or for the SME members of the associations) involved. Research for the benefit of SMEs

Research for SMEs:  Strengthening the competitiveness of the SMEs Research for SME associations:  Improve industrial competitiveness

Research for the benefit of SMEs SMEs SME Associations RTD- Performers Investing in Research Results & IPR Other enterprises, End users

Research for the benefit of SMEs SMEs invest in R&D  “Customer-seller” relationship between SMEs* and RTD-performers.  SMEs* invest in the RTD project and outsource part of the research activities to "RTD performers”.  RTD performers invoice their services to SMEs*.  EC contributes substantially, but not all! * or SME associations

Research for the benefit of SMEs Special IPR-principle The default regime leaves full ownership of all project results and IPR with those who pay, i.e. the SMEs or the SME Associations. The consortium may however reach a different agreement in their own best interest, as long as the SMEs or SME associations are provided with all the rights needed for their use and dissemination of the results, and they do not pay the full costs of the RTDs.

Research for the benefit of SMEs Research for SMEsResearch for SME associations Duration1-2 years2-3 years Number of partners Total budget€ 0.5 – 1.5 Million€ 1.5 – 4 Million ActivitiesR&D, demonstration, management, other activities

 Joint programme between EUREKA and the European Commission (EUR 300 +EUR100).  EUREKA: an intergovernmental initiative to strengthen European competitiveness through support to businesses, research centres and universities who carry out pan-European projects to develop innovative products, processes and services.  31 Eureka countries participating.  R&D performing SMEs lead international collaborations. EUROSTARS

Support to R&D projects driven by one or more R&D performing SME(s) in any field of S&T: At least two partners from different Eurostars countries R&D performing SME(s) execute the larger part of the R&D activities Targeted at market-oriented research SME(s) should demonstrate the capability to exploit the project results 24 September 2009 is the next call dead-line! Information: or contacthttp://

Important documents  Workprogramme "Research for the benefit of SMEs"  Guides for applicants "Research for SMEs“ and “Research for SME associations”  Guide to Intellectual Property Rules for FP7 projects  Rules for the submission of proposals These documents and additional information about the open calls are available on the following webpage: 7OpenCallsPage SME Techweb ec.europa.eu/research/sme-techweb