CORDIS Archive

- to help implement innovation policies in the European Union, in particular by contributing to the creation of an environment conducive to innovation,

- to enhance public awareness of the benefits of innovation,

- to improve the economic and social impact of framework programme research activities by ensuring better dissemination and exploitation of their results, as well as the transfer and dissemination of technology from various sources, taking account of the needs of customers and users,

- to facilitate access of programme participants (particularly SMEs), through provision of information and advice, to instruments which support innovation.

- to stimulate SME participation in the research programmes and technology transfer to SMEs — both SMEs active in research and high technology and those with little or no research capability but with substantial technological needs and a capacity to absorb new technologies; to help SMEs throughout the European Union to develop their technological capabilities, taking into account also specific problems of SMEs in less-favoured regions,

- to assist SMEs in setting up transnational networks and partnerships for the absorption and diffusion of new technologies,

- to encourage the development of transnational links between SMEs, large companies, research centres and universities.

- identification and dissemination, in concert with the other programmes of the framework programme, of adequate mechanisms to facilitate, in the life-cycle of projects, the exploitation, private financing and transfer of technologies and results produced, while guaranteeing protection of the knowledge acquired,

- development, validation and implementation of methodologies for technology transfer actions integrating the technological, economic and social aspects of innovation and, where necessary, transnational dissemination and exploitation of results not stemming from the thematic programmes (taking account of the particular characteristics of each sector of activity),

- coordination of studies and analyses carried out in various fora and integration of their results, with a view to establishing a common reference framework in the area of innovation policy.

- management of a single complementary entry point for SMEs — for all the research programmes — in the Commission’s departments, making use of existing support networks in Member States; definition and management of common tools facilitating SME participation in the programmes (fullest possible use of electronic methods for information dossiers, submission of proposals, ‘help line’, specialised Intranets to stimulate SME participation in innovation, etc.); provision of information on programmes and training on proposal preparation;

- increasing involvement of SMEs at all stages in the consultation/assessment process; where appropriate, their representative associations may also be consulted; ensuring a structured and rapid feedback system for all applicants; assistance for the establishment of consortia; simplifying procedures and further increasing the efficiency of contract and payment arrangements; and improving transparency,

- permanently open calls for proposals for measures specific to SMEs, such as exploratory awards or cooperative research activities,

- assistance to SMEs in identifying their current and future technological needs and provision of information and advice with a view to meeting those needs.

- actions at Community level for the rationalisation and coordination of networks providing information and assistance on the Community’s research and innovation activities; management, in concert with the other programmes of the framework programme, of the support network for innovation and technology transfer, making best use of the innovation relay centres and the CRAFT focal points; consolidation of mechanisms for gathering and disseminating information, such as the CORDIS information service,

- provision of information and advice, as well as pilot activities, in the areas of:

The objective of the pilot activities will be to improve the existing capacities for information, advice and analysis and to facilitate access to existing public and private instruments at national or Community level without providing financial subsidies to enterprises or creating a competing financial instrument;

-identification and promotion, in concert with the other programmes of the framework programmes, of best practice and innovation.

- encouraging preparation for the exploitation and dissemination of results during the research phase,

Support for SME participation in RTD and demonstration activities to be carried out in the programmes:

- ‘cooperative research’ activities enabling at least three mutually independent SMEs from at least two Member States jointly to seek the resolution of their common technological problems internally or by entrusting it to third legal entities with appropriate research capacities,

- activities to support and encourage SME participation in collaborative and cooperative research projects (for example on the basis of ‘exploratory awards’ respecting the needs of SMEs for a flexible and easily accessible support system.

Support for ensuring and improving dissemination and exploitation of results within the thematic programmes.