Overview
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in European competitiveness and job creation, not only because they represent the overwhelming majority of enterprises in Europe, but also because they are the source of dynamism and change in new markets, particularly those at the leading edge of technology.
Although a heterogeneous community, they are all confronted by increased competition resulting from the completion of the European internal market and the need to innovate constantly and accommodate advances in technology. Besides this, an increasing number of SMEs both need and want to internationalise in search of new markets and business opportunities.
SMEs will participate, for the most part, in the activities implemented under the priority thematic areas of research within networks of excellence, integrated projects and specific targeted research projects. In addition, specific schemes for SMEs in the form of actions on collective and cooperative research will be set up. These will be addressing primarily the large community of SMEs with a capacity to innovate but with limited research capability. However, the cooperative research scheme will also allow innovative SMEs to cooperate with universities and research centres. Overall, in addition to the horizontal activities for SMEs, at least 15 % of the budget relating to the seven thematic priorities under this programme will be allocated to SMEs.
To help SMEs to internationalise in search of new markets and business opportunities and to deal with increased competition resulting from the completion of the European internal market and the need to innovate constantly and accommodate advances in technology.