FP7 SME actions should focus on innovation, public hearing told
Advice on how to really involve small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU's research programmes was on hand at a hearing on the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) at the European Parliament in Brussels on 7 December. 'In FP7 we have to look at the quality of innovation, and not of research,' said Professor Janet Bainbridge from the Regional Development Agency of North East England. 'For SMEs it's about exploitation and dissemination, not about being at the cutting edge of research,' she added. 'In FP6 we tried pushing them into Networks of Excellence and Integrated Projects, but this hasn't paid off.' According to Professor Bainbridge, the Commission could have significant impact if it focused its SME activities on areas such as training on reporting and dissemination, and perhaps providing a list of competent consultants. Focusing on best practice is also essential, said Professor Bainbridge. 'There are lots of EU initiatives [...] but we need best practice so that we're sharing advice that's effective. Otherwise, networking will be expensive and without much impact on the three per cent objective [raising EU research spending to three per cent of GDP by 2010.' Further advice came from Tom Barrett, Director of the Centre of Expertise for the Knowledge Economy. He welcomed the new collaborative relationship between the European Commission and banks, and declared that a risk-sharing approach is the only way to truly support innovation. SMEs must of course have equal access, he said. EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik was also present at the hearing, and gave his view on what FP7 should do for SMEs. The programme should target two types of SME - those carrying out research and those needing to outsource research, he said. He spoke against setting a quantitative target for the participation of SMEs (a target of 15 per cent was set for FP6), saying that such a target can be destructive. Participation currently varies between five and 20 per cent across FP6, and it is not realistic to set a target for across the board, he said. He promised increased financial support for SMEs, increasing the Commission's contribution to co-funded projects from 50 per cent to up to 75 per cent (the maximum that the Commission can provide in accordance with State Aid rules). 'My message to SMEs is that we really want to increase their participation,' said Mr Potocnik. The Commissioner also pledged to press ahead with the adoption procedure for FP7, even though there has not yet been an agreement on the budget for the programme. The compromise proposed by the UK Presidency 'does not give ground for a growth oriented budget', he said. In the meantime, 'We should not waste time waiting for a compromise, but should push ahead.' He urged Parliament's rapporteur on FP7, Jerzy Buzek, to present his report in February, as foreseen.