The major initiatives that favour the involvement of SMEs include selection of SME-relevant topics, SME dedicated calls, a budget earmarked for SMEs within specific calls and coordination and support actions across the Themes.
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It should be noted that SME participation is not uniform across the Themes. Across the Themes particular attention has been paid to ensure enhanced SME participation within the various calls for proposals, particularly with regard to knowledge-intensive SMEs. Research in the interest of SMEs is promoted with an explicit reference to the expected impact upon SMEs. The expected results of these projects must be of interest and potential to SMEs, the consortia should have a significant share of the requested EC funding going to SMEs.
Areas of particular interest to SMEs have been identified in individual work programmes. Financial and administrative procedures have been simplified and funding rates for the R&D activities of SMEs have been increased to 75%. There is also greater flexibility in choosing the appropriate type of project.
The ten themes include:
- Health
- Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
- Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies (NMP)
- Energy
- Environment (including climate change)
- Transport (including aeronautics)
- Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
- Space
- Security
What are Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI)?
The JTIs will build on European Technology Platforms (ETPs) by bringing together different partners to undertake projects that cannot be reached via the Calls for Proposals, where enhanced collaboration and considerable investment are essential to long-term success. The JTIs aim to establish long-term public-private partnerships in research at the European level. They are large-scale multi-financed actions intended to coordinate research efforts and respond to the needs of industry, leading to flagship projects for increasing European competitiveness.
Under the Cooperation Specific Programme currently six fields are envisaged, including:
- Innovative Medicines (IMI)
- Nanoelectronics Technology 2020 (ENIAC)
- Aeronautics and Air Transport (Clean Sky).
- Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES)
Other possible themes are to be identified at a later date.
How to participate in projects?
Source: European Commission
