07/01/2010

European Union. The 4th Progress Report on SME participation in the 7th Framework Programme was recently published

European Commission, Directorate General Research recently published the fourth report on the participation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP7).

The report comprises an analysis of SME participation rates through the themes of the Cooperation Programme and the EU contribution to SMEs in FP7 Grant Agreements signed before 1st October 2009. It should be recalled that no less than 15% of the funding available under this specific programme should go to SMEs. As the analysis shows, funding granted to this category of entreprises so far is 13.4 %. Some programmes lend themselves more easily to the participation of SMEs than others. Therefore a uniform application of the 15% target throughout all the themes of the Cooperation Programme is hardly possible. The analysis also indicates the high commitment of SMEs to FP7 projects.

The report includes key figures from the Capacities Programme “Research for the benefit of SMEs” Theme and from two Marie Curie Actions within the People Programme: “Marie Curie Industry Academia Partnerships and Pathways” (IAPP) and “Marie Curie Initial Training Networks” (ITN).

Related Links:
SMEs participation in FP7 Report (in DG Research SME Publications Web page)

Related news in IPR-Helpdesk:
23/04/2008. European Union. First figures on the participation of small & medium enterprises (SMEs) in FP7 projects are available