European research under FP7 for

Small and Medium Enterprises

Bari, 16 September 2006

Gianluca ColuccioEuropean Commission ▪ DG Research

Unit M4: Research and SMEs

Where do we come from?SMEs in FP6 - Facts and Figures

Cooperative Research: M€ 324 3.275 proposals, 390 proposals funded

Collective Research: M€ 147683 proposals, 80 proposals funded

SME participation in the Thematic Priorities(main listed proposals)2003: 12,4%2004 - March 2005: 15,2%IPs: 13,4%NoEs 5,0% STREPs: 16,4%

FP6 – situation today

Outsourcing scheme Full IPR ownership for the target group and 100% reimbursement of the

total eligible costs of the RTDP Minimum share of 40% outsourcing, the average is

50% Average funding rate at project level: 60% High oversubscription (12% success rate)

What’s new in FP7?

Main new elements compared to FP6:

Duration increased from five to seven years Annual budget increased Basic research (European Research Council) New structure: cooperation, ideas, people, capacities

Flexible funding schemes Simpler procedures Logistical and administrative tasks external structures

Cooperation – Collaborative researchCooperation – Collaborative research

People – Human PotentialPeople – Human Potential

JRC (nuclear)JRC (nuclear)

Ideas – Frontier ResearchIdeas – Frontier Research

Capacities – Research CapacityCapacities – Research Capacity

JRC (non-nuclear)JRC (non-nuclear)

EuratomEuratom

+

FP7 2007 – 2013Specific programmes

1. Health

2. Food, agriculture and biotechnology

3. Information and communication technologies

4. Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies

5. Energy

6. Environment (including climate change)

7. Transport (including aeronautics)

8. Socio-economic sciences and the humanities

9. Security and space

+ Euratom: Fusion energy research, nuclear fissionand radiation protection

COOPERATION

Nine themes

1. “Cooperation” programme:

– Areas of particular interest to SMEs will be identified in the individual work programmes

– Dedicated SME strategy under each Theme

– Greater flexibility in choosing the funding scheme

– Facilitating SME participation through improved and simplified financial and administrative procedures

– Technology Platforms support the development and implementation of research strategies in key areas relevant for the European industry Input from and participation of SMEs

SMEs in FP7 proposal Main initiatives

2. “People” programme: Industry-academia partnerships and Marie-Curie actions

– Actions support longer term cooperation between academia and industry, in particular SMEs

– Encouraging increased SME participation in this action through

Staff secondment between research and industry

Temporary hosting of experienced researchers from outside

Possible financial contribution to small equipment related to SME participation

SMEs in FP7 proposal Main initiatives

3. “Capacities” programme: Research for the benefit of SMEs

– Strengthen the innovation capacities of SMEs and their ability to benefit from outsourcing of research

– Help SMEs to develop new products and markets:

• Increasing their research effort

• Extending their networks

• Improving the exploitation of research results

• Acquiring technological know-how

SMEs in FP7 proposal Main initiatives

SME specific measures (I)

Research for SMEs:All SMEs that need to outsource research activities:

Mainly 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 which are normally best

placed to know or identify the common technical problems of their members

SME specific measures (II)

Common features of the two SME specific measures:

• Bottom-up approach: entire field of science and technology

• Types of activities: Research and technological development, demonstration, consortium management (and training, technology transfer, knowledge management and IPR protection)

• Other enterprises and end-users can participate if it is in the interest of the SMEs or SME associations

Evaluation puts a special emphasis on the expected economic impact for the SMEs

SME specific measures (III)

Funding Scheme “Research for the benefit of specific groups (in particular SMEs)”

Support to research projects where the bulk of the research is carried out by universities, research centres or other legal entities, for the benefit of specific groups, in particular SMEs or associations of SMEs.

4. EUROSTARS: Joint implementation of national programmes for research performing SMEs (article 169 initiative)

Initiative launched by Eureka

Targeting R&D performing SME to boost their research and innovation capacity through support of transnational, multipartner R&D projects

Up to twenty-one Eureka countries have agreed to participate in a joint programme

Community could provide financial support to the initiative

Separate decision on the basis of Article 169

SMEs in FP7 proposal Main initiatives

Research for the benefit of SMEs Indicative budget breakdown 2007-2013

118127

137 140 147

214

239

263

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

FP6 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

An

nu

al B

ud

get

[M€]

Total Budget: 1.266 M€

FP6: annual average

Budget allocation to SMEs in FP6 and FP7

€ million FP6 FP7 (revised COM proposal)

FP6 annual average

FP7 annual average

Increase

SME specific measures 473 1.266 118 181 53%

SME participation in Cooperation (if 15% target in FP7) 1.865 4.844 468 692 48%Total 2.338 6.110 586 873 49%

FP7 – situation tomorrow

Higher funding rates for RTD activities► 75% for SMEs and most SME associations► 75% for most of the RTD performers

Wider scope of the measures► demonstration and training activities and

participant category “other enterprise and end-user” for the two SME measures

More flexible IPR regime► Rules for participation: “unless otherwise

agreed”

SMEs in FP7 – Take Home Messages

SMEs are a key component of main-stream research activity: broad participation across the Framework programme

Simplification will foster SME participation

SME strategy in the Themes will provide a wider range of opportunities for SME related research

Sharpened profile of the SME specific measures will increase the impact at programme and project level

Significant budget increase for SMEs

Distribution of Participants in SME Specific Measures FP6

Number of Project Co-ordinators by Country in SME Specific Measures FP6

EC Contribution (€ Million) By Country in SME Specific Measures FP6

Distribution of Italian Participantsin SME Specific Measures FP6

For more information

CORDIS:

sme.cordis.lu/research/fp6_support.cfm

SME TechWeb:

sme.cordis.lu/research/fp6_support.cfm

SME National Contact Points:

sme.cordis.lu/assistance/ncps.cfm