eBusiness for SMEs in FP6

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6

• SMEs Participation in FP6 Thematic Priorities
• Specific Support Measures for SMEs
• Innovation programme Gate2Growth
• Marina Manzoni
• DG INFSO - C2New Methods of Work and Electronic
  CommerceApplications relating to businesses
• Tel. [phone]
• Fax. [phone]
• marina.manzoni_at_cec.eu.int

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
SME definition
SME (Small or Medium-sized Enterprise)
Has fewer than 250 employees
Has either - an annual turnover not exceeding
40 million - an annual balance-sheet total not
exceeding 27 million
Is independent, i.e. not 25 or more owned by one
or more organisations which are not an SME
(except public investment corporations,venture
capital companies and funds and institutional
investors)
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
SME participation in FP6
The 7 Thematic Priorities
Specific Schemes for SME
Information and Assistance
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
SME participation in FP6 Thematic Priorities
EC Objective to allocate at least 15 of the
seven thematic priorities budget (1.7 billion
Euro) to SME
Special measures to encourage SME participation
in the new types of projects
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
...SME participation in FP6 Thematic Priorities
Specific measures to encourage SME participation
Participation of SME groupings
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Evaluation criteria related to SME
2
Targeting of calls in areas relevant for SME
3
Pre-allocated budget for take-up measures
4
Possibility to extend FP6 contracts to include
new SME
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
...SME participation in FP6 Thematic Priorities
Participation of SME groupings
Possible for the different activities Management,
Research Technology transfer, Training Disseminati
on of results
Stronger impact Higher efficiency
 Enterprise grouping means any legal entity made
up for the most part of SME and representing
their interest 
(Rules of participation)
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
...SME participation in FP6 Thematic Priorities
Evaluation criteria related to SME
For Integrated Projects and Specific Targeted
Research Projects
Criteria  Quality of the consortium
Potential impact
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
...SME participation in FP6 Thematic Priorities
Targeting of calls in areas relevant for SME
In some thematic priorities, subjects are
described as particularly relevant for SME

• Depending on characteristics such as
• maturity of the field of research
  (fundamental/applied)
• number of SME already involved in the subject
• possibility to create start-ups
• number of high-tech SME
• need to transform traditional industries
• need or presence of SME able to transfer
  knowledge

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
...SME participation in FP6 Thematic Priorities
Pre-allocated budget for take-up measures
Ideal platforms for presenting SME with the
results of the research undertaken
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
...SME participation in FP6 Thematic Priorities
Possibility to extend contracts to include new
participants
 The Commission may increase its financial
contribution to an indirect action already under
way in order to expand its scope to cover new
activities which may involve new participants 
(Rules of participation)
An opportunity for SME to enter into running
projects The addition of new participants would
be done by way of calls for proposals launched
by the Commission and subsequent evaluation
according to the normal procedure
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
SME participation in FP6
The 7 Thematic Priorities
Specific Schemes for SME
Information and Assistance
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
Horizontal Research Activities
Specific schemes for SME Collective Research
Projects and Cooperative Research Projects on any
subject across the whole range of Science and
Technology
Individual SME
Cooperative Research (CRAFT)
Industrial associations or SME groupings
Collective Research
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
Co-operative Research Projects
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
Co-operative Research Financing
Up to 7 of EC contribution
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
Collective Research Projects
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
Collective Research Participation

• At least
• 2 Business Associations (2 MS/AS, 1 MS/ACC)
• or
• 1 European Industrial Association
• (e.g. European Economical Interest Group)

• In addition
• SME Core Group (minimum 2 SME, 2 MS/AS, 1
  MS/ACC)
• and
• 2 RTD performers (2 MS/AS, 1 MS/ACC)

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
Collective Research Financing
Up to 7 of EC contribution
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
Calls for proposals
Launch of Call for Proposals at end 2002

• Cooperative Research
• Deadlines 29April 2003 and November 2003
• Collective Research
• Deadline 6 March 2003
• Proposals following a two-step approach
• Step 1 - Outline
• Step 2 - Detailed proposal

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Specific Support Measures for SMEs
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
• Website www.cordis.lu/sme
• SME National Contact Points
• sme.cordis.lu/assistance/NCPs.cfm

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Community instruments for Financing Innovation
Types

• Improve the supply of capital
• EIF/EIB (ASAP, ETF, Growth Employment, ETF
  Startup)
• Contribute to management capacity
• example Innovation Technology Equity Capital
  (I-TEC)
• Support the networking of relevant actors
• examples EVCA, EASD, EBAN, investment forums,
  Gate2Growth
• Identification and exchange of good practice
• examples Gate2Growth Initiative, Trend Chart,
  FIT, Round Table of Bankers,
• Principles of operation
• direct sources, pre-competitive eg. Community
  RTD programmes
• indirect sources via local financial
  intermediaries
• selection via open call procedures
• develop sustainability

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6

• Actions by Enterprise DG
• examples of specific tools to promote risk
  capital investment
• ETF Start-up Community budget facilities
  managed by the EIF under mandate
• I-TecNet a pan-European thematic network of
  early stage technology venture capital operators,
  supporting exchange of good practice and
  professional development
• Eurotech Data An information service dedicated
  to investment professionals
• European database of investment opportunities
  appropriate deal flow and syndication
• examples of specific tools to promote
  entrepreneurship
• European database of investment opportunities
  putting investment projects on the investor radar
  and increase the chances of finding the
  appropriate investor
• Business planning toolbox material and
  assistance to develop business plans
• Business plan diagnostic
• EVCA Entrepreneurship Education Toolkit
• Thematic networks of innovation professionals
  (incubators, academics, industrial liaison
  offices, etc.)

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6

• The Gate2Growth Initiative
• The Gate2Growth Initiative is a
  multi-disciplinary system of professional
  networks, tools, information and matching
  services, etc.
• Tools
• One-stop shop web portal www.Gate2Growth.com
• Database of investment opportunities and investor
  matching
• Business planning toolbox and Business plan
  diagnostic
• Exchange, training and partnering events
• Networks and partnership programme
• Early stage technology venture capital funds
• Incubators, accelerators, tech seed funds
• Industrial Liaison Offices of universities and
  research centers
• Academia in enterprise and innovation policy
• Business angel networks, business plan
  competitions, investment forums, etc.
• The ultimate objective of the Gate2Growth
  Initiative is to support innovative entrepreneurs
  in Europe

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6

• How does it work ?
• Go to www.Gate2Growth.com and register your
  company or business plan for free
• registration requires general details, but does
  not surrender confidential information. The
  entrepreneur is in charge of the process
• upon completion of the business plan, the
  Gate2Growth.com team checks its interest with
  investment sources in Europe
• if the project meets concrete interest, the
  Gate2Growth.com team further checks if it
  presents the right characteristics. This may
  involve meeting the entrepreneurial team.
• based on this initial due diligence, the
  Gate2Growth.com team may propose to proceed with
  direct investor contact or suggest action to make
  the project investment-ready
• the service may rely on a success fee for
  confirmed investment deals. The entrepreneur is
  at all times in charge of the process. The
  Gate2Growth.com team will only proceed on this
  basis if there is concrete investor interest and
  if it feels confident in the project and
  entrepreneurial team that will be proposed to
  investors

Core feature Database of investment
opportunities

• Listing a business plan in the database is for
  free and can significantly increase the chances
  of finding an appropriate investor
• Listing a business plan in the database enables
  the Gate2Growth.com team of investment
  professionals to spot the project and to check
  its interest with investment sources in Europe

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Additional features Business Planning Toolbox

• Online tutorials
• guide2financing, glossary of financial terms
• news and event listing
• service center directory of innovation
  professionals
• Downloadable tools
• Guide to Business Plan Writing
• Guide to Financial Calculations
• Budgeting Module
• Guide to Financing Innovation
• Interactive Tools
• an interactive Business Plan Company profile
  module, guides the entrepreneur through a set of
  questions to develop a complete picture of the
  business
• discussion forums
• training workshops and business clinics

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Additional features Business Plan Diagnostic

• Check, scoring and graphical representation
• a rapid overview of the completeness of a
  business plan against a number of investment
  criteria
• The criteria vary
• from industry to industry
• depend on the stage of development of the
  business (RD / start-up / early-stage /
  development / exit / MBO)
• The diagnostic includes
• observations, recommendations, guidance as to
  elements in the Business Plan which need
  improvement in an extensive report
• The diagnostic does NOT represent a value
  judgement about
• commercial, technical, financial or operational
  viability of the proposed business project or
  business model

• The business plan diagnostic is performed by a
  team of experienced venture capital and
  investment professionals

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Core feature Thematic networks of professionals

• Gate2Growth is also the home for several networks
  of financiers, experts and service providers,
  supported by the Enterprise Directorate General
  of the European Commission
• I-TecNet (target 70 members)
• the meeting place for early stage technology
  venture capital investors
• ProTon Europe (target 250 members)
• a pan-European network of Technology Offices
  linked to Public Research Organisations and
  Universities.
• Gate2Growth Incubator Forum (target 400 members)
• a pan-European network of professional managers
  of technology incubators and incubators linked to
  research institutes and universities.
• Gate2Growth Finance Academia (target 150
  members)
• a pan-European network bringing together
  academics and researchers involved in innovation,
  finance and entrepreneurship

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Typical activities of TN

• exchange of experience and good practice
• moderated workshops on horizontal (eg. incubator
  management) and vertical (eg. biotech related)
  issues
• networking and event participation
• high tech cluster visits
• human resources development
• junior staff participation grants to short
  courses at business schools and universities,
  cross-border secondment programme, doctoral
  track, etc.
• access to specific services
• eg. Eurotech Data information service eg.
  Database of investment opportunities
• awards and prizes
• eg. incubator management award, case study
  competition, etc.

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6

• What is expected of a Gate2Growth partner ?
• Listing your clients business plans in the
  pan-European database of investment opportunities
  at www.Gate2Growth.com for free and
  significantly increase their chances in finding
  an appropriate investor
• What does a Gate2Growth partner get ?
• Being part of the Gate2Growth Initiative extends
  the scope of the services you offer on a European
  level. You share in the success of your clients.
  
• Being part of the Gate2Growth Initiative and
  making your services known makes it possible for
  the Gate2Growth.com team to refer clients to you
  from other parts of Europe.
• Added value services on fee basis
• What does your client get ?
• Improved access to capital. Even if you operate
  your own investor search locally, you
  considerably expand your clients exposure to
  investment sources across Europe.

Core feature Gate2Growth partnership programme

• Gate2Growth partnership is open to
• incubators, tech transfer offices
• venture capital or seed funds
• business angel networks
• investment forums
• business plan competitions
• all those accompanying and developing business
  projects

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6

• Co-operation with regional partners
• The Gate2Growth Initiative is not a closed system
  active co-operation is sought with regional
  actors and innovation professionals
• 9 regional promotion events across Europe in 3
  years
• NEED search for qualified regional organisors,
  as platform for mobilising regional capabilities
• Co-operation with existing regional operators (
  IRC, EIC, BIC,
• Chambers of Commerce, etc.)
• NEED active search for the most appropriate and
  advanced partners in the regions, those capable
  of providing quality deal flow. Aim is NOT
  awareness raising of training, but reciprocal
  added value.
• Includes investor search, entrepreneurship
  training, business plan development and
  diagnostic, toolbox licensing, business plan
  contests, etc...

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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
Further information

• the financing innovation homepage
• www.cordis.lu/finance/home.html
• on the Gate2Growth Initiative
• www.gate2growth.com

Contact including for interest in partnering
opportunities European Commission Enterprise DG -
Innovation Policy Unit M. Marc Verlinden Office
EUFO 2197 L-2920 Luxembourg marc.verlinden_at_cec.eu.
int
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e-Business for SMEs in FP6
THANK YOU !
Marina Manzoni DG INFSO - C2New Methods of Work
and Electronic CommerceApplications relating to
businesses Tel. [phone] Fax. [phone]
marina.manzoni_at_cec.eu.int