Participation of SMEs in the

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Participation of SMEs in the Sixth Framework
Programme
Germán Valcárcel European Commission DG
Research - Research and SMEs
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SME participation in FP6
Part 1 The 7 Thematic Priorities
Part 2 Specific Schemes for SMEs
Part 3 Information and Assistance
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Part 1
SME participation in the 7 thematic priorities
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Sixth Framework Programme More focussed and
integrated research at EU level by developing 7
Thematic Priority Areas for research 1 Life
science, genomics and biotechnology for health 2
Information Society technologies 3
Nano-technologies and nano-sciences 4 Aeronautics
and space 5 Food quality and safety 6 Sustainable
development, global change ecosystems 7
Citizens and governance
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FP6 great emphasis on SME participation
7 Priority Thematic Areas budget 11,285 M EC
Objective at least 15 for SMEs ? 1,700
M This is a minimum, not a maximum
Special measures to encourage SME participation
in the new types of projects
Unit B.3 Research SMEs will monitor the
expenditure of this budget
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SMEs participation in theseven Thematic Priority
AreasThe main route for SMEs to participate
will be through
Traditional instruments
New instruments
http//europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/networks-ip
.html
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Specific Targeted Research Projects
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Networks of Excellence
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Integrated Projects
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SMEs in Integrated Projects
How can SMEs participate?

• as individual participants
• as members of participating SME groupings
• as subcontractors

Why should SMEs participate?
7 Priority Thematic Areas budget 11,285 M
80 to New Instruments ? 9,000 M
70-80 to be spent through IP ? up to 7,300 M
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IP Activities for SMEs and SME associations or
groupings
at any stage, from its start to a later phase of
its implementation
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Special measures to encourage SME participation
in Integrated Projects
Targeting of calls in areas relevant to SMEs
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Participation of SME groupings
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Evaluation criteria related to SMEs
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Pre-allocated budget for take-up measures
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Extension of contracts to include new SMEs
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Targeting of calls in areas relevant to SMEs
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Topics specially relevant to the participation of
SMEs, to be implemented through IP, may be
identified in the Work Programmes of each
Thematic Priority Area and will be the subject of
calls for proposals
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Participation of SME groupings
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• SME associations or groupings can participate
• in IP on behalf of their members
• They will bring an added value to the project
• through their broad knowledge of their sector
• This could facilitate the participation of many
  SME
• that might not be able to participate on
  their own

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Evaluation criteria related to SMEs
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One of the sub-criteria for evaluating IP STRP
proposals, regarding the quality of the
consortium, will be the extent to which the
opportunity of involvement of SMEs in the project
has been adequately addressed
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Pre-allocated budget for take-up measures
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• If at the proposal / contract stage,

• not having identified SMEs

• consortium is allowed to have pre-allocated
  budget

• At a latter stage,

• SMEs will be identified

• there may be a competitive call

• or they could be selected by a SME grouping,
• being in the project from the beginning

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Possibility to extend contracts to include new
SMEs topping-up of the Community contribution
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The Rules for Participation allow the Commission
to increase the Community financial contribution
to an indirect action already under way in order
to expand their scope to cover new activities,
which may involve new partners, such as SMEs
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Part 2
Specific schemes for SMEs
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Horizontal Research Activities
Specific schemes Co-operative Research Projects
and Collective Research Projects on any subject
across the whole range of Science and Technology
Individual SME
Co-operative Research (CRAFT)
Industrial associations or SME groupings
Collective Research
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Co-operative Research Projects
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Co-operative Research Financing
Up to 7 of EC contribution
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Collective Research Projects
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Collective Research Participation

• At least
• 2 Industrial Associations or groupings
  (2MS/AS,1MS/ACC) or
• 1 European Industrial Association (1 MS/AS)

• In addition
• SME core group (minimum 2 SMEs)
• and
• 2 RTD performers (2 MS/AS, 1 MS/ACC)

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Collective ResearchFinancing
Up to 7 of EC contribution
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Calls for proposals
Launch of Call for Proposals 17 December 2002

• Cooperative Research
• Deadlines in 29 April 2003 and 27 November 2003
• Collective Research
• Deadline in 6 March 2003
• Proposals following a two-stage approach
• Stage 1 - Outline proposal
• Stage 2 - Full proposal

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Part 3
Adequate information and assistance to SMEs
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More Information

• SME-Helpdesk
• European Commission
• Research Directorate General
• Rue de la Loi, 200
• 1049 Brussels, Belgium
• Telephone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-Mail research-sme_at_cec.eu.int
• SME Website
• www.cordis.lu/sme