Eurostars approved as part of EU Innovation Investment package
15 April 2014
Austria
The European Parliament has voted today the allocation of a EUR 287 million EU contribution to Eurostars, a unique funding programme for transnational research projects led by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The budget is part of an EU-wide innovation investment package of EUR 22 billion, promoting the Union’s participation in joint research and development programmes. The countries involved in Eurostars will contribute EUR 861 million in investment over the next seven years, for a total EU-national joint budget of EUR 1.14 billion. Thanks to the allocated funding, some 800 companies received funding from Eurostars and more than 70% of all applicants were SMEs in the last phase of the programme under the Framework Programme seven (FP7).
Eurostars meets the genuine needs of SMEs engaged in innovation and has attracted a wide interest from this group, with the funding of projects exceeding its initially forecasted budget. The market-oriented nature of the programme being key to its success. This principle will be safegarded in the new phase of Eurostars under Horizon 2020, along with the objective of achieving greater simplification and harmonisation of funding mechanisms between the national authorities involved.
MEP Miroslav Ransdorf rapporting on Eurostars to the plenary stated: 'Some 70% of newly-created jobs are in the SME sector. In some European regions, prosperity is predominantly reliant on SME activity. These companies are finding and exploiting gaps in the market and are rich in innovative capacity.' MEP Zofija Mazej Kukovič, from the leading centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) was assisting Miroslav Randsdorf: 'The first Eurostars programme created almost 10 000 new workplaces.'
The vote also prompted reactions from EUREKA representatives overseeing the programme. EUREKA’s Chairwoman, Dr. Kristin Danielsen, declared 'Operating the Eurostars Programme is one of EUREKA’s core tasks. Eurostars’ first phase under FP7 was a huge success. As a result, Eurostars under Horizon 2020 will be a much larger programme, the member states will have to shoulder a much heavier financial obligation this time. Establishing Eurostars has been a fascinating and complex political process for the Norwegian EUREKA Chairmanship. We are pleased to have secured a good financial framework to operate the programme properly in the years to come, by working hand-in-hand with the EU member states and institutions,' says Dr. Danielsen, who is chairing EUREKA.
Pedro de Sampaio Nunes, Head of EUREKA Secreatariat, the implementing body of the Eurostars programme, delcared: 'We are happy that the European Parliament recognises the prime importance of Eurostars' support to research-intensive SMEs. A strong backing for the programme has come also from the base, with SMEs clearly encouraging us to continue our efforts in offering them the best services. For us, a lot of responsibilities come with such high expectations, from both the companies applying to Eurostars calls in 2014, and the political bodies we support in this Europe-wide action.'
Eurostars meets the genuine needs of SMEs engaged in innovation and has attracted a wide interest from this group, with the funding of projects exceeding its initially forecasted budget. The market-oriented nature of the programme being key to its success. This principle will be safegarded in the new phase of Eurostars under Horizon 2020, along with the objective of achieving greater simplification and harmonisation of funding mechanisms between the national authorities involved.
MEP Miroslav Ransdorf rapporting on Eurostars to the plenary stated: 'Some 70% of newly-created jobs are in the SME sector. In some European regions, prosperity is predominantly reliant on SME activity. These companies are finding and exploiting gaps in the market and are rich in innovative capacity.' MEP Zofija Mazej Kukovič, from the leading centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) was assisting Miroslav Randsdorf: 'The first Eurostars programme created almost 10 000 new workplaces.'
The vote also prompted reactions from EUREKA representatives overseeing the programme. EUREKA’s Chairwoman, Dr. Kristin Danielsen, declared 'Operating the Eurostars Programme is one of EUREKA’s core tasks. Eurostars’ first phase under FP7 was a huge success. As a result, Eurostars under Horizon 2020 will be a much larger programme, the member states will have to shoulder a much heavier financial obligation this time. Establishing Eurostars has been a fascinating and complex political process for the Norwegian EUREKA Chairmanship. We are pleased to have secured a good financial framework to operate the programme properly in the years to come, by working hand-in-hand with the EU member states and institutions,' says Dr. Danielsen, who is chairing EUREKA.
Pedro de Sampaio Nunes, Head of EUREKA Secreatariat, the implementing body of the Eurostars programme, delcared: 'We are happy that the European Parliament recognises the prime importance of Eurostars' support to research-intensive SMEs. A strong backing for the programme has come also from the base, with SMEs clearly encouraging us to continue our efforts in offering them the best services. For us, a lot of responsibilities come with such high expectations, from both the companies applying to Eurostars calls in 2014, and the political bodies we support in this Europe-wide action.'