Council Resolution on SMEs and technological innovation
The Council of Ministers of the European Union has adopted a Resolution on small and medium-sized industrial enterprises (SMEs) and technological innovation aimed at encouraging measures which will promote the international dimension of SMEs, in particular by strengthening their technological potential. In its Resolution, the Council stresses the major role played by SMEs in the process of technological innovation and the need to create and strengthen more technology-based SMEs in Europe. In particular, the Resolution calls on the European Commission to: - Improve access of SMEs to information and advice; - Facilitate industrial cooperation between SMEs and larger enterprises, higher education institutions and research and technological development centres; - Increase real and effective participation by SMEs in Community R&D programmes; - Strengthen relations between the framework R&D programme and EUREKA, especially through the exchange of information on projects and improvements in institutional contacts; - Facilitate training in new technologies for SME staff and entrepreneurs, in the framework of existing instruments; - Strengthen measures to disseminate and transfer technology in close collaboration with the Member States. The Council further requests the Commission to work with the Member States to consolidate and optimize existing networks in which industrial SMEs and/or their associations participate, and develop any other networks needed. Finally, the Commission is urged to examine alternative financial arrangements to facilitate development and participation by SMEs in activities connected with R&D and technological innovation, such as risk capital or soft loans, and to provide better targeted financing, in particular for smaller SMEs. As a follow-up to this Resolution, the Council is planning to hold a debate, during the second half of 1996, to analyze and review the Commission's findings and progress on these issues.