Successful launch of "Fit for Health": Supporting research intensive SMEs and researchers for "Health" in FP7
The 3-year initiative, financed by the European Commission, was launched in October 2010. It is based on the successful project “SMEs go Health” in which the focus was on raising the number and quality of participations by SMEs and SME groupings in the Health-related projects of FP7. “Fit for Health” goes further by supporting SMEs and researchers during all phases of FP7-projects, from the project idea to the efficient and effective valorisation of project results, including consortium building, proposal writing, grant negotiation, project management and efficient valorisation of project results. The key assets of “Fit for Health” are the highly qualified consultants and the innovative and diverse hands-on training schemes. The consortium of 26 partners from 21 countries joins highly experienced FP7 NCPs for “Health” and “SMEs” with renowned innovation experts and trainers, ensuring excellent coverage of the entire innovation pipeline. Cooperation between SMEs and academia will be strongly encouraged by dedicated services and tools. A well-established, highly visible database has already been set up to give SMEs and researchers the opportunity to present their expertise and know-how. This increases their visibility among Europe's research community in the Health sector and maximizes their chances of being identified as potential research partners for EU funded projects. Research consortia that are preparing FP7 project proposals and are looking for SME partners can register their project idea in the database. A sophisticated, already proven matchmaking-tool together with FP7 Partnering Days and Virtual Brokerage Events will support effective SME-academia matchmaking through the formation of competitive project consortia. Targeted group-specific on-site and virtual FP7 trainings for SMEs and academia, covering proposal writing, grant negotiations and project management will be a hallmark of the project. Valorisation Trainings and specific Valorisation partnering Events will help SMEs and researchers to successfully exploit project results. An overview about trainings offered is provided at the event calendar on the project website. Moreover, strategy meetings and trainings will provide targeted support to high-tech SMEs and clusters for a strategic approach towards FP7. Particular attention is given to SMEs in Acceding, Candidate and enlarged EU countries via national SME fora - an attractive networking and information platform addressing the FP7 Health theme.
Keywords
Countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom