IRDAC opinion on SMEs and Community RTD programmes

IRDAC, the European Commission's Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee, held a round table on SMEs and Community RTD programmes in September 1996. A report has recently been published by IRDAC, outlining the conclusions of the round table, with a view to makin...

IRDAC, the European Commission's Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee, held a round table on SMEs and Community RTD programmes in September 1996. A report has recently been published by IRDAC, outlining the conclusions of the round table, with a view to making recommendations for the Fifth RTD Framework Programme.

In particular, the round table discussed the effectiveness of the Technology Stimulation Measures for SMEs. These were initially suggested by IRDAC, in 1988, as a way of increasing participation of SMEs in the Framework Programme. There are now two main measures:

- Exploratory awards, which provide financial support for the preparation of proposals;
- Cooperative research (CRAFT), whereby groups of SMEs with little or no research capacity can contract research work to a third party.

The round table addressed all aspects of participation in the Technology Stimulation Measures, and heard from a number of participants of their experiences. The report contains a number of recommendations:

- SMEs should be given special attention in research programmes, but should not be the subject of a separate programme;

- Community RTD activities should be based on the real needs of SMEs, using a bottom-up approach, and implementation should be efficient and transparent;

- The Technology Stimulation Measures, in particular CRAFT, are very effective instruments for facilitating SME participation and involving new groups of SMEs. The future success of these measures will depend on their addressing SMEs' real problems;

- The Measures should be developed further, within the Fifth Framework Programme, into a coherent instrument ensuring a common approach throughout the specific programmes. A single "one-stop shop" should be established where SMEs may present proposals regardless of scientific or industrial field;

- The Technology Stimulation Measures should be implemented in a more user-friendly way, including clear and unambiguous application procedures and materials, and transparent and rapid evaluation procedures. The open calls and two-stage procedures should be continued;

- The networks and relays currently in place across the EU need to be better coordinated and more effective, to ensure SMEs are better informed about the possibilities of Community RTD programmes;

- Arrangements need to be established for supporting the exploitation phase, with exploitation awards or venture capital, to ensure that SMEs' RTD results are fully exploited.