GETting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises from Candidate Countries to INcrease Participation on IST Projects GET-IN Eigirdas Žemaitis, Lithuanian Innovation Centre, Infobalt, 22 October

Content 1. Get-In overview 2. Partners 3. Mission 4. Main Objectives 5. Workplan 6. Main Results

Get-In Overview SSA project from IST-2 SSA project from IST-2 Initiative: “General Accompanying Actions” Initiative: “General Accompanying Actions” Overall budget: € Overall budget: € Grant contribution: € Grant contribution: € Starting Date: 1st June 2004 Starting Date: 1st June 2004 Duration: 30 months Duration: 30 months

Partners Inovamais S.A Inova+Portugal Politehnica University of Bucharest – Centre for Advanced Technologies CATNMRomania Lithuanian Innovation Centre LICLithuania Latvian Technological Centre LTCLatvia Applied Research and Communications Fund ARC Fund Bulgaria Politechnika Wroclawska – Centre for Technology Transfer WCTTPoland BIC Bratislava BICSlovakia

Mission Increase the participation rate of the current and former Associated Countries SMEs on IST projects

Main Objectives Guarantee a higher participation in IST activities of SMEs from the ACC Guarantee a higher participation in IST activities of SMEs from the ACC Develop an “IST Participation toolset” of wide general use, which could be later and easily expandable to other SMEs in other countries Develop an “IST Participation toolset” of wide general use, which could be later and easily expandable to other SMEs in other countries Conceive a set of training sessions, focused in both the toolset manipulation and in the familiarization with the 6FP instruments Conceive a set of training sessions, focused in both the toolset manipulation and in the familiarization with the 6FP instruments Promote the transfer of knowledge on SMEs support to innovation agencies in candidate countries Promote the transfer of knowledge on SMEs support to innovation agencies in candidate countries

How to reach these objectives?

Workplan The GET IN project is structured into 5 work packages, divided by two major activity areas: Support Activities “IST Participation toolset” development “IST Participation toolset” development Training sessions Training sessions SME support SME support Broader dissemination activities Broader dissemination activities Management activities

“IST Participation toolset” development a) Self-assessment tool - for analysing IST solution needs and impact -Includes a benchmarking capabilities -Recommendations concerning areas for improvement -Based on InnovationQuest tool, developed by Inova+ b) A set of interactive tutorials - support guidelines documentation, that will guide SME through their process of calculating project costs and filling project participation forms and cost statements

c )Information Repository - for additional information concerning IST scenarios, projects, and documents to support SME's in joining projects. d) Training package – adapted to the needs of the target SMEs, to be used in training sessions. “IST Participation toolset” development

Training sessions Objectives Objectives - provide tailor-made training specifically orientated to increase SME participation from candidate countries Expected results Expected results - Training sessions in 6 candidate countries to a minimum of 200 SMEs Each training session will have a duration of 1.5 days, in average, and will each take place in the six candidate countries

Training sessions Will be based around the “IST Participation toolset” Will be based around the “IST Participation toolset” Information on: Information on: -available funding opportunities and the research areas included in the IST thematic priority area, -Successful cases of SME participation in funded Framework Programmes

SME Support Objectives Objectives support to SMEs in addressed candidate countries, following the organisation of the training sessions and the dissemination of the IST participation toolset and having in view their integration into IST activities

Main Results Design and develop an “IST participation toolset” adapted to the needs of participants countries Design and develop an “IST participation toolset” adapted to the needs of participants countries A minimum of 20 new project proposals amongst (STREPs and CRAFTs) will be submitted to FP6 A minimum of 20 new project proposals amongst (STREPs and CRAFTs) will be submitted to FP6 At least 30% (60 SMEs) will profit from the project support and knowledge transfer in order to participate in IST activities under 6th FP, and in particular under the new funding instruments (IPs and NoE) At least 30% (60 SMEs) will profit from the project support and knowledge transfer in order to participate in IST activities under 6th FP, and in particular under the new funding instruments (IPs and NoE)

Main benefits for SME’s IST Participation toolset (self assessment tool based on ISO software quality process industry standard) will help SME’s to identify needs and capabilities for participation in IST projects IST Participation toolset (self assessment tool based on ISO software quality process industry standard) will help SME’s to identify needs and capabilities for participation in IST projects Training sessions targeted to SME’s ready for participation in IST projects Training sessions targeted to SME’s ready for participation in IST projects Consultant session for individual SME’s Consultant session for individual SME’s

Thank You for attention