EU research attracts more SMEs than ever before
The European Commission has recently compiled statistics on the participation of SMEs in the Fourth RTD Framework Programme which reveal that by the end of 1998, more than 12,000 SMEs will have taken part in the Programme. This represents more than double the level of SME participation in comparison to the previous Programme. SMEs represent some 32% of participants and will receive around 21% of total EU funding for shared cost research projects. According to the Second Report on Science and Technology Indicators, published earlier this year, this is the highest level of SME participation in any national or international public research programme. The increase in SME participation in the EU's research programmes for the period 1995-98 is largely due to the specific measures implemented to facilitate their participation. The Fourth Framework Programme has supported SMEs directly with around 1,400 "exploratory awards" - financial grants allowing SMEs to prepare detailed research proposals for Community RTD programmes - and some 700 "cooperative research" (CRAFT) projects, involving 4,300 SMEs, which enable groups of SMEs facing common problems, but without sufficient in-house RTD, to sub-contract the necessary research to a third party. In parallel, the Commission has also published a study looking at more qualitative aspects of the participation of SMEs in the Programme. Gathering information on the basis of a questionnaire sent to all 4,000 SMEs which signed a research contract with the Commission during 1995 and 1996, a consortium has prepared a report on SME participation in the Fourth Framework Programme. It shows that participating in the Framework Programme has provided the first experience of public research programmes for nearly two-thirds of these SMEs. The study has been used by the Commission as a major input to the design of SME support measures in the upcoming Fifth Framework Programme. The study reveals that: - A total of 64% of all SMEs taking part in the Fourth RTD Framework Programme were new to EU research programmes; - A total of 63% of SMEs had never previously taken part in any regional, national or international research programmes; - Two-thirds of SMEs taking part in EU research have fewer than 50 employees. The main benefits, as identified by the SMEs surveyed, of participation in the Framework Programme included the creation of international partnerships, the development of a new product or process, access to technology, and the exploitation of their existing expertise. The study looks at the support structures, such as the CRAFT network of focal points, available to encourage and assist SMEs to participate in the Framework Programme and at the effect they have had. It also examines some common reasons why SMEs' proposals were unsuccessful, and why SMEs chose not to submit expressions of interest despite encouragement to apply. Finally, the study shows that, on the basis of their current experience, 96% of the SMEs interviewed would participate again in an EU research project.