Research for SMEs associations aims at developing technical solutions to problems common to a large number of SMEs in specific industrial sectors or
segments of the value chain? through research that could not be addressed under
Research for SMEs. Projects can, for example, aim to develop or conform to
European norms and? standards, and to meet regulatory requirements in areas
such as health, safety and? environmental protection. Projects must be driven by
the SME associations, which are given the opportunity to subcontract research to
RTD performers in order to acquire the necessary technological knowledge for
their members.
Projects must render clear exploitation potential and economic benefits for the
SMEs members of the associations involved.
The SME associations and their members are the direct beneficiaries of the
project: they invest in the RTD project and outsource (subcontract) most of the
research and demonstration activities to RTD performers and receive in return
the technological know-how they need.
The relationship between the SME associations, who act on behalf of their
members, and the RTD-performers under this programme is therefore a
“customer-seller” relationship. The idea is to allow SME associations to assist
their members in further developing their activities by buying knowledge from
RTD performers, who sell their expertise and work. Research and development
activities undertaken by the SME associations themselves (and their members)
with their own resources are essentially focussed on initial specifications and,
later, on validation and testing of the acquired knowledge. In this context, the
real investment or cost incurred by the SME associations includes the price they
pay for the know-how they wish to acquire on behalf or for their members: the
intellectual property rights and knowledge developed during the project.
From the perspective of the associations and their members, but also for a
positive evaluation of the proposal, it is important that it is well verified and
justified how the proposed research investment addresses the needs of large
communities of SMEs. Furthermore it is crucial to demonstrate how the activities
for dissemination and use will ensure that indeed large communities of SMEs
will benefit economically from the project results. The associations and their
members have to keep in mind that, even if the level of public funding provided
is substantial, it will never cover all the costs, shortfalls will have to be covered
by the participating associations themselves.
It is important to note that Research for SMEs associations is a bottom-up
scheme: the projects may address any research topic across the entire field of
science and technology.
A project will typically require a mix of different activities to achieve its
objectives:
- Research and technological development activities (RTD) form the core of the project with a major contribution from the RTD performers. SME
associations, their members and the SMEs directly involved in the project
focus on specifications, testing and validation of project results and the
preparatory stages for further use. - Demonstration activities (DEMO) are designed to prove the viability of new
technologies that offer a potential economic advantage but which cannot be
commercialised directly (e.g. testing of product-like prototypes). This is the
last development stage before products or processes enter production. - Other activities (OTHER) facilitate the take-up of results by the SME
associations and their members, in particular training and dissemination. - Management activities (MANAG) are a regular part of the project and
provide an appropriate framework that brings together all project components
and maintains regular communications with the Commission.
Projects budgets are typically abywhere from €1M up to €4M. If you have an innovative concept and looking for Research for SME Associations funding, please do not hesitate to contact me using the form below.
