R&D for SMEs: Lessons in best practice
In 1992, a group of research and technology organizations from 13 European countries set about analysing what makes for successful cooperation between industrial research and technology organizations (IRTOs) and SMEs. The Federation of European Industrial Cooperative Research Organizations (FEICRO) and the Danish Technological Institute, with support from DG XIII of the European Commission, undertook three studies, known as the RA280 projects, during the next four years. Over 130 case studies of cooperation between IRTOs and SMEs were examined in detail in order to learn the lessons of best practice. The first study took an overall look at how these organizations had worked with SMEs and identified best practice in relation to generating and carrying out successful projects. The second and third studies examined the questions of identifying relevant subjects and designing successful projects, and how to get the results put into practice by SMEs. The Danish Technological Institute published the results of these projects: - "Cooperative research in Europe: Good practices from 13 countries on research collaboration between RTOs and smaller enterprises" (two volumes), 1992; - "Typical steps in starting up SME research projects", 1993; - "Dissemination of research results to SMEs", 1995.