Helping SMEs into FP6
The PATENT (Partnership for Telecommunication New Technologies for SMEs) project is nearing the end of its life, its goal to introduce small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to Integrated Projects (IPs) and other research areas funded under the European Commission's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The project has been a success, beating its targets almost five-fold. However, the partners did find that IPs were not as friendly to SMEs as they expected, with SMEs actively requesting different kinds of project formations. Mauro Bianchi is the coordinator of PATENT, and works for Belgium-based Teseo. 'Our project was one of the first projects in FP6 and so we were active immediately, and this gave us some difficulties at the beginning, as it was a learning phase both for us and the Commission. Our target was, among others, to introduce 50 SMEs to IPs or other FP6 projects. In the end we introduced 246 SMEs, but not all to IPs. The majority were linked to other research projects, as those were the places more suited to SMEs, like Specific Targeted Research Projects (STREPs). This occurred because many of the SMEs actively requested non-IP participation,' he said. The PATENT project itself grew out of the 'Partnership Agreement between Content and Technology' (PACT) project, funded under the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5). 'PACT was a project under FP5, PATENT is under FP6, but the two schemes are similar, both focused on ICT. For FP6, the PACT project needed to be adapted. Under FP5, the focus was more on CRAFT [collective research and cooperative research] projects, but under FP6 the focus was to insert SMEs into the new instruments such as IPs in digital media. The stated aims were to demonstrate that IPs are good for participation of SMEs, but the reality is that SMEs face bottlenecks and obstacles to full integration in projects led by big players,' said Mr Bianchi. The project operated by identifying SMEs in the information and communications technologies (ICT) 'value chain'. PATENT found and then approached SMEs via SME representatives, such as industry associations and National Contact Points (NCPs). The SMEs were matched to consultants skilled in both IT and the working of the EU, and able to conduct technological audits of the SMEs. These audits identify technological areas which would be of interest to the larger players. 'We consider calls for proposals, and not just in FP6, but in related programmes, for example e-content, Media+, Safer Internet, eTEN. Every two months, we issue new information to the SMEs. A focus just on IST projects would have been simply too narrow,' said Mr Bianchi. The last step was to invite SMEs to refine the technical audit with a mentoring workshop. 'Companies have needs, angles and illusions, and we try to transform those ideas and dreams into real EU projects,' said Mr Bianchi. The mentoring process is highly involved, and face-to-face meetings were essential. 'The important part was to meet the SMEs, to touch and talk. If people are simply curious, we refuse them. We devote active research to SMEs, evaluating them through auditing.' The mentoring workshop involves two day meetings, with presentations and mentoring. Some SMEs are met at trade fairs, which was also a good way to raise awareness of the scheme. 'When the analysis is complete, the SMEs are presented to the large actors, so they are able to select the characteristics they need. 'We found that there was interest in unexpected areas for SMEs working in ITC, for example in health, sport, transport, energy, and collaborative working environments. For EU-funded IPs, we placed 24 SMEs, but with many more audits, screenings and coaching. We have yet to deliver our report to the Commission, which will say that in fact, IPs are not the most suitable and adequate instruments for SMEs. We hope our results will feed into the FP7 process to further involve SMEs,' he said.
Countries
Belgium