Strengthening the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets by helping them outsource research, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know how.

SMEs are at the core of European industry. They should be a key component of the innovation system and in the chain of transformation of knowledge into new products, processes and services. Faced with an increasing competition in the internal market and globally, European SMEs need to increase their knowledge and research intensity, expand geographically their business activities and internationalize their knowledge networks. All Member States have actions relevant to SMEs, but often they do not encourage and support trans-national research cooperation and technology transfer. Actions at EU level are necessary to complement and enhance the impact of actions undertaken at national and regional level.

Specific actions will be implemented to support SMEs or SME associations in need of outsourcing research to universities and research centres (“RTD performers”). These actions will be carried out in the entire field of science and technology. The evaluation of the project proposals will take due account of the expected economic impact for the SMEs. Financial means will be allocated through two schemes: Research for SMEs and Research for SME associations. The first targets mainly low to medium technology SMEs with little or no research capability, but also research intensive SMEs who need to outsource research to complement their core research capability. The second targets SME associations which are normally best placed to know or identify the common technical problems of their members, to act on their behalf, and to promote the effective dissemination and take-up of the results.

In addition to these specific actions, the participation of SMEs across the Framework Programme will be encouraged and facilitated. The research needs and potential of SMEs are duly taken into account in developing the content of the thematic areas of the “co-operation” programme, which will be implemented through projects of different sizes and scope depending on the field and topic.

During the implementation of the Community RTD Framework Programme, complementarity and synergy will be ensured with the actions of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme to encourage and facilitate the participation of SMEs in the Community RTD Framework Programme.

The following two SME specific schemes will be implemented:

• Research for SMEs
  This scheme supports small groups of innovative SMEs to solve common or complementary technological problems. Projects, which are relatively short term, must be centred on the innovation needs of the SMEs which outsource research to RTD performers and must demonstrate a clear exploitation potential for the SMEs concerned.
• Research for SME associations
  This scheme supports SME associations to develop technical solutions to problems common to a large number of SMEs in specific industrial sectors or segments of the value chain through research needed, for example, to develop or conform to European norms and standards, and to meet regulatory requirements in areas such as health, safety and environmental protection. Projects, which can have a duration of several years, must be driven by the SME associations which outsource research to RTD performers for the benefit of their members and must involve a number of individual SMEs.

Common features of the schemes

– Both schemes follow a bottom-up approach, meaning that they can be carried out in the entire field of science and technology.
– Other enterprises and end-users can participate in the schemes if it is in the interest of the SMEs or the SME associations
– In addition to research, the projects should include activities to promote the take-up and effective exploitation of the research results, such as, testing, demonstration, training, technology transfer, knowledge management and IPR protection. For Research for SME associations, projects should also include activities to disseminate effectively the research results to the members of the SME associations, and if appropriate, more widely
– Special rules will apply for ownership and access rights for the two schemes.

Duration: 2007 - 2013
Responsability: DG RESEARCH
Budget: 1.336 Mill. Euro

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