Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Improvement of Support Capacities for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Agriculture and Agri-food Sector

Project description

Creating a safe foundation in agriculture for SMEs

Strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector is a top priority in the EU. SMEs in agriculture are critical to the development of sustainable food systems. In this context, the EU-funded CollSupportSMEs project will define a new innovation support programme for rural SMEs in the agri-food sector. The overall goal is to promote transnational collaboration and the development of relevant tools and projects. CollSupportSMEs will also highlight good practices and increase social awareness about innovation opportunities. The new programme will be outlined in a Design Option Paper that will include key recommendations for the improvement of innovation systems in the agri-food sector.

Objective

The project focuses on establishing an international collaboration network on an international level in the field of development of public programs that support SMEs, specifically in the agri-food sector. For this purpose, the project uses a twinning methodology based on the identification of best practices and the collaboration and implication of all agents of the R&D+I system that contribute to innovation and the competitive improvement, within the framework of Smart Specialisation Strategies. As a result, a new support program for innovation for rural SMEs in the agri-food sector will be defined and implemented. The proposal is part of the INNOSUP-05 program for the peer-learning of regional and national Innovation Agencies that are working on innovation with SMEs and the three partners are: FIA (Chile), IDEPA (Asturias) and Dev'Up (Loire).
The Agri-food is one of the sectors that enjoys a prominent presence in RIS3 Strategies of Europe (such as in Asturias and Loire). For this reason, the current project aims to improve the measures to support innovation by key agencies of the agri-food sector following these specific objectives:
• Encourage and Promote transnational collaboration
• Development of specific tools and projects for the sector
• Establishment of a mutual learning work methodology between innovation agencies
• Diffusion of best practice cases, focused on the rural sector and SMEs
• In the long-term, Social awareness regarding innovation opportunities
The expected results of the Project are to generate a stable network of collaboration, to define a new program for SMEs in the agri-food sector and Design Option Paper (DOP) with a compilation of recommendations for the improvement of innovation systems in agriculture and the food industry.
To achieve this, a work plan has been defined in five activities:
1) Desk analysis
2) Sharing experiences
3) Design of a Support Program
4) Recommendations for Support Agencies for Innovation and Development
5) Plan

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

CSA - Coordination and support action

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-INNOSUP-2016-2017

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

FUNDACION PARA LA INNOVACION AGRARIA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 50 000,00

Participants (2)

My booklet 0 0