Closing the Gap between Research and Innovation

1
Closing the Gap betweenResearch and Innovation

• Anna Maria Heidenreich / Dr. Gabriele Rose
• Association of German Chambers
• of Industry and Commerce (DIHK)

2
Why Innovation?

• Modification of products and processes
• Individual solutions for clients
• (New) development of products and processes
• Combination of products and services

3
Innovation Policy - Basic questions

• What problems do SMEs face?
• How can technology transfer and innovation be
  financed?
• Contribution of FP7?
• Contribution of an EIT?
• How do the DIHK and the CCIs help?

4
What problems do SMEs face?
Answers of Companies in
Partner could earn too much Knowledge of own
Know-how
No comprehensive legal protection against partner
Couldnt find right partner
Be afraid of hostile takeover
Cooperation could be seen as weakness
Risk on loosing independence of the Company
Cooperations are not necessary
Source DZ Bank AG 2001
5
How can technology transfer and innovation be
financed?

• Own money
• Credits
• Venture capital
• Public funding gt FP7

6
Contribution of FP7?

• Result of DIHKs analysis on business-participatio
  n in FP 6
• ?Decrease of participation, especially of SMEs,
  due to bureaucracy and long period of time
  between proposal and start of projects
• European Commissions intention simplification
• set out in the Commission staff working paper
  (April 2005)
• to be implemented in the rules for participation
  Transparent, simple and unbureaucratic rules are
  crucial for an increased participation of
  business, especially SMEs (e.g. flat rates)

7
Contribution of FP7?

• Business accounts for 70 of RD investments
• ? Focus of EU Research Policy on
  business-interests in order to reach Barcelona
  target (3)
• ? European funds have to be accessable for
  enterprises to exploit their innovation potential
• But
• EU funding is only secondary instrument to foster
  innovation
• business needs innovation-friendly framework
  conditions
• (moderate taxes, flexible labour marktes etc.)

8
Contribution of an EIT?

• EIT would strengthen the profile and raise the
  quality of European research (European label)
• EIT would have signalling effect in the worldwide
  competition of research locations
• Aim link (basic) research and industrial/commerci
  al production within an integrated approach of
  teaching, research and training EIT as the
  partner of the ERC in order to implement the
  ideas/knowledge generated by the ERC
• Not reinvent the wheel but fill the gaps in
  existing programmes/initiatives EIT is neither a
  technology platform or a network of excellence
  nor a copy of the MIT

9
How do the DIHK and the CCIs help?

• ? A strong network of 140 innovation and
  technology consultants in the 81 CCIs in Germany
  in co-operation with the German chambers abroad
  offer a wide range of services for enterprises
• Information brochures, e.g. CE-marking,
  newsletter
• Consulting patents
• Intermediation contacts to scientific
  organisations and universities
  match-making-events, databases, tailor-made
  offers

10
Contact

• Anna Maria Heidenreich
• Tel. [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• e-mail heidenreich.anna_at_bruessel.dihk.de
• Dr. Gabriele Rose
• Tel. [phone]
• Fax [phone] 52216
• e-mail rose.gabriele_at_berlin.dihk.de