Irish minister calls for reform of EU Framework Programmes to raise SME participation

Speaking at the opening of the EU Presidency Conference on 'Research, Innovation and European Small and Medium Sized Enterprises [SMEs]' in Dublin on 3 June, the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Michael Ahern, highlighted the benefits to SMEs provided by th...

Speaking at the opening of the EU Presidency Conference on 'Research, Innovation and European Small and Medium Sized Enterprises [SMEs]' in Dublin on 3 June, the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Michael Ahern, highlighted the benefits to SMEs provided by the EU's framework programmes, but called for improvements in the form of a simplification of the system.

The conference was organised by Enterprise Ireland, with the financial support of the EU, with the aim of finding ways for Europe to foster research-driven innovation in SMEs. As part of this objective, the conference reviewed SME participation in the framework programmes and, in advance of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), looked into the potential for future support for SMEs.

'SMEs will play a key role in the realisation of the Lisbon objective of the European Union becoming the world's most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010', said Mr Ahern. 'However,' he added, 'SMEs face many challenges. Primary among these, is the need to be technologically innovative in order to preserve competitiveness in the global marketplace. It is widely acknowledged that advanced economies will be unable to compete on cost, but rather on products and processes underpinned by innovation.'

Mr Ahern explained that Ireland had 'placed research and development [R&D] at the heart of its economic development strategy. In the current national development plan, we are achieving a five-fold increase in investment in technology, innovation and scientific research. Spending of 2.5 billion euro is planned for the period 2000 to 2006, compared with 0.5 billion euro over the period 1994 to 1999.'

Mr Ahern went on to explain that Ireland's decision to invest in R&D has had a major impact on the country's ability to 'attract leading researchers and more sophisticated industrial projects'.

The minister praised the EU's framework programmes for their contribution to research spending and the opportunity they offers to Irish companies, universities and institutes to 'participate in high-quality research in collaboration with their European counterparts.'

He noted, however, that participation by SMEs in FP6 has been relatively low 'due to excessive bureaucracy, and high costs, in terms of time and money.'
Mr Ahern also observed that this is a concern shared by other EU countries. Indeed, he reminded his audience, the conclusions of the Spring Council stated that: 'the Framework Programme must be simplified to make it more user-friendly, in particular for small and medium sized industries and start-ups. The priorities should be to promote cooperation between business and research.'

'The framework programme is too complex,' said Mr Ahern, particularly 'the 'new instruments' introduced in FP6 which provide for bigger and more unwieldy projects than the more traditional instruments.'

It is time to address the issue, added the minister, stating that the recommendations adopted at the conference would be 'taken forward for development in the lead up to FP7.'

Countries

Ireland