Co-operative and Collective Research projects for SMEs
- 00:01:51
- European Commission
Co-operative and Collective Research projects for SMEs
Introduction to the four SMEs projects RASTUD, BULKSUBSTRATE, MEPROS and FASTOOL. Small and medium-sized enterprises play a crucial role in European competitiveness and job creation, due to their potential to develop new products and services across all business activities. The overwhelming majority of firms in the European Union are SMEs. They currently generate 63 % of GDP. In the same manner as large firms, a growing number of SMEs are faced with increasing competition within the internal market and globally, consequently many SMEs need to outsource their research activities in order to innovate, grow and solve technological problems. The European Union supports trans-national SME research activity under two SME-specific funding schemes: 1. COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTs which supports small groups of SMEs to solve a common technological problem and, 2. COLLECTIVE RESEARCH PROJECTs which targets large groups of SMEs in specific sectors via their trade associations. We now present four examples of SME research projects from the 5th and 6th Framework Programmes where SMEs have successfully co-operated with universities or research organisations to expand their business operations and their knowledge base in fields of endeavour such as: Environment, Medicine, Agriculture - Food and Engineering.
European Commission | January 1, 2006
