Final Report Summary - SMES GO HEALTH (Supporting SME-academia collaboration in the area of biomedical research in FP7 through efficient matching facilities and tailor-made information ...) SMES GO HEALTH was a European initiative designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and academic researchers interested in research cooperation and participation in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), particularly in the 'Health' area. The objective was to raise the number and quality of involvement of SMEs and SME groupings in 'Health'-related projects of FP7. SMES GO HEALTH provided a European-wide pool of high-quality SME profiles and partner searches in a well accepted and user-friendly online database, improving the visibility of SME know-how and the expertise of researchers among the European scientific community. A well-rehearsed network of 29 institutions from 27 countries ensured Europe-wide implementation of the planned activities, addressing the low participation of SMEs in FP7, especially in new Member States and Associated Candidate Countries, and thus contributing to the implementation of FP7. The consortium supported both SMEs aiming to get involved in research projects and researchers looking for suitable SMEs as partners in their consortium. SMES GO HEALTH thus focused on awareness building, information and training, as well as on consortium building and matchmaking of SMEs and researchers preparing EU project proposals in the 'Health' area. The project addressed all types of researchers, from companies, universities or research organisations, whether they act as project coordinators or partners. The three-year initiative, co-financed by the European Commission, started in February 2007 and was coordinated by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. Based on the outstanding effort of the SMES GO HEALTH consortium, the online database consisting of expertise profiles of SMEs and academia gathered a remarkable amount of those profiles. Numerous SMEs and academia have taken the advantage by using this platform to present their expertise and know-how to the scientific community, thus increasing their visibility among Europe's research community in Life Sciences and maximising their chance to be identified as potential research partners for EU funded projects. A booklet, representing the 'Health' key actors in Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey has been published on the SMES GO HEALTH website. First aid packages, providing tailor-made and hands-on information on FP7 issues such as funding possibilities, finding suitable project partners, financial and legal information as well as project proposal preparation have been prepared. More than 7 800 packages have been distributed to SMEs and researchers at the occasion of consultations, training events or partnering days. SMES GO HEALTH acted as a helpdesk informing and training SMEs and researchers on FP7 issues. The SMES GO HEALTH consortium assisted in total more than 8 000 times (2 238 SMEs and 5 805 academia) in questions regarding legal and financial topics, intellectual property right (IPR) issues, proposal preparation and writing as well as financial requirements and the participation of SMEs in research projects. Transregional information and training events were organised at the occasion of large biotech events or fairs, considering the coverage of diverse European regions, in particular new Member States and Associated Candidate Countries. In total, about 380 SMEs and researchers from European and international countries attended the training workshops in Riga (87), Berlin (100), Paris (120), Istanbul (40) and Stockholm (25). Based on statistical analysis of feedback forms gathered from the participants, training content was modified after each training, taking into account the heterogeneity of participants, ranging from newcomers in the framework programme to experienced coordinators of research projects with long lasting experience. Therefore, concepts for tailor-made trainings were prepared, including hands-on training examples and practical exercises. The workshops provided extensive information on research areas in health and biotechnology, funding opportunities, preparation and submission of project proposals, consortium building, experience reports from successful coordinators and evaluators and offered a special section on financial aspects and cost planning. An interactive website structure was developed based on the agreement of the consortium about e-management procedures, access levels, reporting structure and confidentiality rules. It was adapted and revisions and corrections were done on a regular basis. Questionnaires, user guides and trainings for the correct use with the e-management tool (Xtranet) were prepared in order to allow efficient work with the internal (Xtranet) and external (SMES GO HEALTH website) databases. Efficient database use was established and updated regularly according to new matching facilities, the preparation of newsletters and articles, etc. A new electronic matchmaking tool and process was established and an internal training of all partners for the virtual matchmaking arranged. This was a prerequisite for successful virtual matchmakings. The new tool was installed in the public database and allowed all new validated profiles / partner searches (PSs) to immediately be matched with existing PS / profiles and matching possibilities are listed and presented to the SME / researcher. Each SME / researcher could therefore contact directly the profile holder he found interesting through the system and the system recorded these initial contacts. As a conclusion out of this assessment, SMES GO HEALTH has clearly contributed in mobilising SMEs and researchers with respect to calls launched by the FP7 'Health' Theme. Importantly, many of the cooperation initiated via SMES GO HEALTH have to be considered as a mid- and long-term rather than a short-term perspective, supporting future involvement of SMEs in the EU Framework Programme. Related documents Final Report - SMES GO HEALTH (Supporting SME-academia collaboration in the area of biomedical research in FP7 through efficient matching facilities and tailor-made information )
