Final Report Summary - EURO-TRANS_DAYS (Promoting and facilitating the participation of SMEs in FP7 EU RTD projects in Surface Transport - automotive, railways, waterborne) The project EURO-TRANS_DAYS aimed to encourage, facilitate and enhance cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of surface transport (road, rail, waterborne and intermodality), and major European RD players and industrial stakeholders of the European Research Area (ERA). The project's objectives were achieved through the realisation of the following.- Two international workshops in Madrid (SP) and Warsaw (PL). Each of them will include presentations of Technology Platforms ERRAC, Ertrac, Waterborne (strategic research agenda, themes of future Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) projects), sessions (thematic / sectorial workshops; horizontal workshops on consortium agreement, IPR), one-to one confidential meetings, coaching appointments. Some 200 to 300 participants per event are expected from all 25 EU Member States, candidates countries, associate countries and third countries. - Coaching services for SMEs to assist them in finding partners, identifying opportunities to participate in new projects, initiating projects from their own ideas, identification of SME expertise, preparation of proposal.The two events gave opportunities to SMEs and other participants to obtain coaching services from the ETD partners. The coaching services have concerned more participants in Warsaw event, than in Madrid because the number of participants and the number project presentations / discussions were more important in the Polish event. The workshops were organised based on the following methodology.- Plenary sessions with presentations of Technology Platforms ERRAC, Ertrac, Waterborne (strategic research agenda, themes of FP7 projects), major R&D players and success stories of SMEs. These presentations aim at providing examples of projects, presenting opportunities for SMEs to participate in R&D projects, presenting themes of R&D of FP7 calls, presenting and explaining specific research programmes for SMEs.- Workshops (targeted on thematic / sectorial projects, or focused on transversal needs such as coaching sessions, consortium agreements and IPR) for developing ideas of innovation and collaborations. Scheduling based on answers to questionnaire filled at registration of SMEs.- Brokerage event and one-to-one confidential meetings to make first contacts and create opportunities of projects and collaborations. Scheduling based on answers to questionnaire filled at registration of SMEs.- Individual coaching appointments for SMEs.The project was developed in five work packages (WPs).WP1: preparation of the two eventsThe specification of the two events were established and were then followed by all necessary actions to prepare the events: objectives of the events, agenda of the two days of each event, identifying speakers, organisation of one to one meetings, pre- and post-event questionnaires, communication strategy for announcement to public and SMEs (websites, e-mailings, announcements in workshops, direct contacts), implementation on EURO-TRANS website, local organisation of the venues.WP2: realisation of the event in WarsawThe EURO TRANS DAYS conference in Warsaw on 17 and 18 October 2007 was focused on:- perspectives of cooperation with Polish industrial key players; - topics and research areas of the second call for proposals under the 'Sustainable Surface Transport' (SST) thematic area of FP7; - parallel road, rail, maritime and intermodal sessions; - research agendas of the European Technology Platforms, focusing on the needs for SMEs; - project proposals for the second FP7-SST call; - project management and coordination issues;- one to one meetings.The event was attended by 201 participants (including 119 from Poland), with more than 50 presentations (plenary, parallel sessions, proposals, open floor for project ideas, etc.), with 96 one to one meetings between the participants.WP3: realisation of the event in MadridThe second event was initially prepared to be organised in Paris, but it was finally organised in Madrid. The EURO TRANS DAYS conference in Madrid on 27 and 28 March 2008 was focused on:- topics and research areas of the second call for proposals under the 'Sustainable Surface Transport' (SST) thematic area of FP7; - improving proposals (panel discussions); - successful SME participations (presentations in round table);- other FP7 research opportunities for SMEs (capacities, CIP enterprise, Eureka Eurostars);- research agendas of the European Technology Platforms, focusing on the needs for SMEs; - project ideas of SMEs for the second FP7-SST call (rail, road, waterborne). The event was attended by 100 participants with 30 presentations (plenary, parallel sessions, proposals, open floor for project ideas etc).WP4: coaching and post-event actionsDebriefing meetings between the partners were carried out at the end of the second day of each event, in order to debate and summarise the main conclusions with respect to the target of the project and the recommendations for future events. It was completed by short reporting provided by the partners, afterwards. Results of post-event questionnaires showed strong interest of the participants in such events (information which is provided particularly through EURO-TRANS website means, opportunity to encounter experts, possibly to find out opportunities to join a project in preparation etc.). However, the conclusion of effective SMEs participations in FP7 projects is in reality low, even the establishment of the first contacts of SMEs with projects in preparation is low. A feedback report was sent to participants and a final report was produced to conclude on the results of the project and recommendations for future actions. WP5: Management Several project meetings have been called and organised by the project manager to set up the preparation and the coordination of the work to realise the two events in Warsaw and Madrid. The project manager was operating the project on a day-to-day basis in close relation with the EU officer in charge of the project, and the project partners as well as the advisory group. A final report was produced for summarising the project's activities and assessing its impact. A second report was produced for summarising the dissemination and exploitation activities. Related documents Final Report - EURO-TRANS_DAYS (Promoting and facilitating the participation of SMEs in FP7 EU RTD projects in Surface Transport - automotive, railways, waterborne)
