Research for SME associations : SMEs and research : creating knowledge for growth.
Date: 2007-07-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, EU research policy, competitiveness, group of companies, innovation, investment, small and medium-sized enterprises

Participating in RESEARCH FOR SME 
ASSOCIATIONS: Calls                                                

The  first  call  for  projects  under  Research  for  SME  Associations  will 

close on 1 June 2007. It is open to organisations in all research fields. 

For more information on how to submit a proposal and related details, 

please consult DG Research’s SME TechWeb at:

sme.cordis.europa.eu or cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc

Does my organisation qualify as an SME?                    

EC funding

75% of research costs, 50% of demonstration costs, 100% of 
costs for management and other activities2

.

K

Project duration

2 to 3 years

Number of participants

Typically 10-15

Dissemination of 
results

Extensive

2 The financial support of the community is in accordance with the Rules for participants and 
will be capped at a value not exceeding 110% of the estimated price to be invoiced by RTD 

providers to SME Associations.

I
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-

-

7
7
0
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0
2
2
E
N
D

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If you can answer ‘Yes’ to all four questions, your organisation qualifies 

What else do you need to know?                             

as an SME under the EU definition.

NO

Is the organisation an enterprise, i.e. 
engaged in economic activity?

YES!

Y
O
U
R

NO

Does it have fewer than 250 
employees?

YES!

NO

Does it have an annual turnover not 
exceeding $50 million?*
Or
Does it have a balance sheet total* not 
exceeding $43 million?
To answer Yes, at least one of these conditions must 
be fulfilled.

*according to its most recent audited accounts

YES!

I

O
R
G
A
N
S
A
T
O
N

I

I

S

N
O
T

A
N

S
M
E

.

NO

Is it autonomous?

YES!

For the definition of autonomy, and to learn how your 

enterprise may qualify as an SME even if it is not 

autonomous, see the detailed definition on the SME 

TechWeb.

RESEARCH FOR SME ASSOCIATIONS at a glance  

SME TechWeb

The SME TechWeb  offers a range of information for SMEs that would like 

to take part in EU research. It is designed for technology oriented SMEs, 

especially  those  wishing  to  innovate  and  internationalise.  Using  clear, 

simple language, offering numerous concrete examples of projects, this 

website will be of particular value to those applying for research funding. 

Visit it now at:

SME National Contact Points

sme.cordis.europa.eu

SME  National  Contact  Points  have  shown  their  worth  in  the  past  as 

providers of information and guidance to SMEs wanting to participate 

in  EU-funded  research.  This  role  will  continue  throughout  FP7  (2007-

2013). A complete list of NCPs for FP7 is available at:

cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ncp_en.html

.

E
M
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N
A

S

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N
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O
Y

General FP7 information

For  information  about  related  research  activities,  calls  for  proposals, 

work  programmes  and  schemes  in  FP7,  please  visit  the  following 

comprehensive websites:

Europa: ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/

CORDIS : cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home.html

Contacts 
Martina Daly

Martina.DALY@ec.europa.eu

Objectives

Improve SME competitiveness by investing in the acquisition of 
new knowledge from RTD providers.

Main applicants

Small and medium-sized enterprise associations/groupings (SME-AGs)

Research enquiries service:

ec.europa.eu/research/enquiries

Beneficiaries

SME-AGs and their SME Members 

Owners of IPR

SME-AG participants by default

Total project budget

Typically €1.5 to €4 million

Associations
SMEs and Research: 
creating  knowledge 
for growth

The Seventh Framework Programme 
(FP7) provides financial support to 
innovative SMEs, via Associations 
or groups of SMEs acting on their 
behalf, investing in the acquisition of 
new knowledge from RTD providers to 
improve their competitiveness.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SMEs and Research                                                       

As  the  focus  of  this  scheme  is  on  strengthening  the  competitiveness  of 

SMEs and improving industrial competitiveness across the European Union, 

Forming a RESEARCH FOR SME ASSOCIATIONS 
consortium                                                                     

For many European small and medium-sized enterprises, continued success 

particular emphasis will be given to the economic impact of the results for 

and robust growth is linked to competitiveness in the global economy. Fresh 

the participating SMEs.  In addition, a consortium’s dissemination plan for 

For a project to be eligible for funding, consortium partners must meet 

ideas and novel approaches to business are important for SMEs to compete 

the results of their project will be important in the evaluation process.

certain requirements.

in today’s globalised market. Research is an integral part of that process.

In  the  Seventh  Framework  Programme  (FP7),  the  European  Commission 

will continue to provide financial support to innovative SMEs investing in 

the  acquisition  of  new  knowledge  from  RTD  providers  to  improve  their 

Activities supported by RESEARCH FOR SME 
ASSOCIATIONS (SME-AGs)                                      

• SME Associations/Groupings (SME-AGs) 

  A consortium must contain at least three independent SME-AGs, or 

one  European  SME-AG  established  in  a  Member  State  or  Associated 

Country  according  to  its  national  law.  In  addition  a  European  SME-AG 

competitiveness.

Research  for  SME  Associations  (SME-AGs)  takes  a  multifaceted 

must comprise a minimum of two independent legal entities, established 

Under FP7, the funding scheme Research for SME Associations (formerly 

framework of each project, this scheme will support SMEs in:

Collective  Research)  maintains  its  guiding  principle  to  strengthen  the 

  SME-AGs  are  legal  persons,  composed  mostly  of  and  representing 

innovation  capacities  of  SMEs  to  develop  new  products  and  markets 

•

Research  and  technological  development  activities.  Research 

the  interests  of  SMEs  and/or  physical  persons  having  the  same  kind 

through  the  acquisition  of  new  knowledge  from  those  institutions  best 

undertaken  by  RTD  performers  will  form  the  bulk  of  each  funded 

of  activities.  Examples  of  these  are  sectoral  industrial  associations, 

suited to carry out research.

project. SME-AGs will focus on the testing and validation of project 

national  or  regional  industrial  associations  and  chambers  of  industry 

approach  to  enhancing  participants’  competitiveness.  Within  the 

in two different Member States or Associated Countries.

The  relationship  between  participating  SME  associations  and  RTD 

management  and  Intellectual  Property  Rights  protection  will 

performers  will  be  a  simple  customer-seller  one.  RTD  performers  agree 

contribute to a clear economic impact of project findings.

• RTD performers

results,  and  the  preparatory  stages  for  applied  use.  Knowledge 

and commerce.

to  undertake  research  on  behalf  of  an  international  consortium  of  SME 

  A consortium must contain at least two RTD performers independent 

associations, and will be remunerated for their services with a significant 

•

Demonstration  activities.  These  are  designed  to  demonstrate 

from  any  other  participant.  They  are  legal  entities  able  to  carry  out 

portion of the costs funded by the EU.

the  viability  of  new  technologies  produced  through  the  research 

research  and  technological  development  activities  for  the  benefit  of 

that  offer  a  potential  economic  advantage,  but  which  cannot  be 

SME-AG  participants  and  their  members.  Examples  are  universities, 

RDT  performers  conduct  the  research;  SME  associations  purchase  the 

commercialised directly (e.g. testing of product-like prototypes).

research  organisations  and  industrial  companies,  including  research-

results  for  or  with  its  members.    Alternatively,  SME  associations  could 

performing SMEs.

also  simply  provide  financial  support  in  the  project  in  order  to  lower  the 

•

Training  and  dissemination  activities.  RTD  performers  will  train 

cost of purchase of the results by their SME members.  In each case SME 

technical and managerial staff from the participating SME-AGs and 

• Other enterprises and end-users

associations must ensure broad dissemination of the results to their SME 

their members. It will focus on best-practice utilisation of results and 

  A project consortium may additionally include any “other enterprises 

members.

technologies generated by project research. Dissemination to third 

and  end-users”  that  contribute  to  the  project  and  helps  in  solving 

Principal focus of RESEARCH FOR SME ASSOCIATIONS   

parties  will  be  accomplished  through  conferences,  publications, 

workshops, web-based initiatives, etc.

specific problems of SME-AG participants or their members, though only 
in a secondary role. However, a limited number of individual SMEs1(2-5) 
must participate to ensure that the results of the project address SME 

Projects include activities to effectively disseminate the research 

needs and can be used by a large number of SMEs. The scope of their 

Research  for  SME  Associations  supports  SME  associations  to  develop 

results to the members of the SME-AGs, and if appropriate, more 

activity will be focused on validation, take-up, training and dissemination 

technical  solutions  to  problems  common  to  a  large  number  of  SMEs  in 

widely.  Furthermore,  dissemination  to  policy  makers,  including 

activities, but not on research activities. 

specific industrial sectors or segments of the value chain through research. 

standardisation  bodies,  is  encouraged  to  facilitate  the  use  of 

For example, SMEs are helped to develop or conform to European norms and 

policy-relevant  results  by  the  appropriate  bodies  at  international 

Co-ordination  of  a  funded  project  may  not  be  subcontracted.  The 

standards, and to meet regulatory requirements in areas such as health, 

European, national or regional levels.

safety and environmental protection. Projects must be driven by the SME 

organisation acting as co-ordinator must have the necessary capacity 

and competence to effectively assume all co-ordination responsibilities. 

associations which outsource research to RTD performers for the benefit 

•

Management activities. Over and above the technical management 

Co-ordination will normally be assigned to one of the SME-AG participants 

of their members and must involve a number of individual SMEs.

of  individual  work  packages,  these  activities  will  provide  an 
appropriate  framework,  bringing  together  all  project  components 

or RTD performers, however in some cases it may be entrusted to an 
“other  enterprise  and  end-user”  specialised  in  professional  project 

As Research for SME Associations is a bottom-up scheme, topics will span 

and maintaining regular communication with the Commission.

management.

the entire range of science and technology challenges faced by SMEs.

1 

SME Definition Commission Recommendation 2003/361/ECEC