EraSME is a network of 18 national and regional research programmes supporting SMEs, currently supported under the Seventh Framework Programme. Started under the Sixth Framework Programme, the EraSME project was the first to take an integrated transnational approach and make cross-border SME-research cooperation possible.
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SMEs with winning concepts frequently lack the equipment and ability to perform the necessary research in order to develop and test their ideas. In contrast, universities and other research bodies often have excellent resources and skills but lack the entrepreneurial expertise and business experience that resides within SMEs. EraSME offers an operational platform for programme owners and managers to exchange best practice, execute joint activities and launch joint calls for proposals. EraSME will therefore:
- facilitate transnational partnerships between SMEs and research organisations
- reduce programme administration costs by joint actions and shared expenses
- enhance complementarity between programmes at regional, national and European level by creating a common framework for actions
- create the conditions for sustained, long-term co-operation between programmes
Who can apply?
SME(s) wishing to engage in a transnational R&D project with Research Organisations (universities, research centres,) and established in one of the participating counties/regions. Specific conditions should be checked in the calls for proposals.
Which activities are supported?
EraSME is organizing joint calls for proposals in which project consortia may apply. Unless specified in the call for proposals, there is no thematic focus, meaning that projects can come out of any S&T field. As EraSME is an ERA-NET its scope of activities is much broader that the funding of R&D in itself; The R&D programmes are working in the following key areas:
- Facilitating transnational partnerships between national research programmes to support innovative ideas, giving SMEs the research competence needed for their initial ideas to lead to practical and commercially exploitable innovations.
- Promoting joint actions to enable partnerships that will benefit Europes national and regional programmes in this field.
- Creating a common transnational framework for action that will enhance complementarities between programmes at regional, national and European level.
- Creating the conditions for sustained, long-term cooperation between national and regional programmes.
How does it work?
EraSME is based on the national and regional participating programmes and regularly proposes joint calls for proposals. Projects must be transnational, close-to-market and innovative. They must aim to develop new products, processes or services. Funded projects must be driven by SMEs, who must be able to demonstrate that they will be the main recipients or beneficiaries of the results from the project.
What does the funding cover?
Funding is available for the activities executed in the frame of the transnational R&D projects by the SMEs and their partners. However, as it is based on the national/regional programmes, national funding rules apply. The coordinating activities of EraSME are supported by the EU funding This includes the exchange of best practice between participating programmes and organisations in key aspects of programme design and management, in order to raise programme efficiency and effectiveness.
