Opportunities for SMEs
Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at the core of European industry and key players in research and development. This necessitates the need for them to respond to strong competition in the internal market and globally by increasing their...
Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at the core of European industry and key players in research and development. This necessitates the need for them to respond to strong competition in the internal market and globally by increasing their knowledge base and their research efforts through trans-national cooperation, said Barend Verachtert. He was speaking at a Forum Malta fl-Ewropa funding information initiative to disseminate information on the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and the array of EU funding opportunities for research and innovation which this programme offers to SMEs, coorganised with the Malta Council for Science and Technology (Mcst)
Dr Verachtert, head of sector at the European Commission's DG Research, was the keynote speaker at a recent half-day seminar. His presentation focused on two actions under the FP7: Cooperation and Marie Curie. Cooperation is targeted at supporting all types of research activities carried out by research bodies. The Cooperation programme is sub-divided into 10 distinct themes that include health, energy, environment and transport.
Marie Curie focuses on training, mobility and career development of researchers in both the public and private sectors. The total budget allocated to both actions over a seven-year period (2007-2013) is of approximately €37 billion.
In her opening comment, Forum Malta fl-Ewropa CEO Gabriella Pace, stated that 41 Maltese organisations from the public and private sectors, as well as from academia, are involved in the realisation of 35 projects for which they are receiving €3.26 million. Dr Pace said that the seven year period budgetary allocation of €50.5 billion is set to support goals set by the Lisbon Agenda for research and innovation. Dr Pace reiterated that Forum is giving a lot of importance to the dissemination of funding information through its organisation of seminars and conferences, which are meant to translate the EU's funding programmes in layman's language for the benefit of all potential stakeholders.
SMEs are at the core of the European economy. They number 20 million and employ nearly 75 million persons. In his opening address, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information Chris Said said that the government believes that in order to achieve sustainable development, local SMEs need to invest more in research and innovative procedures. This, he said, could be maximised through financial support from the EU budget, particularly through the Seventh Framework Programme which, he reiterated, offers a great opportunity for such organisations to participate through projects and ideas. Malta Enterprise official and national programme coordinator Samantha Runco, engaged in further detail on the opportunities provided by ME for SMEs wishing to participate in research and development projects. She referred participants to Eureka, a pan-European network for market-oriented, industrial R & D. Operating since 1985, this network has seen more than €25 billion being invested in 2,800 projects. The maximum grant offered to SMEs engaging in innovative projects is €150,000 spread over three years, while that offered to large enterprises is of €186,000, also spread over a period of three years.
Mcst officials, CEO Brian Warrington and programme manager Eric Flask, outlined assistance being given by the Malta Council for Science and Technology to SMEs engaging in research and innovation projects. In fact, government has allocated €700,000 which is being administered by the Mcst for this purpose.
This year Mcst received 40 applications for research and innovation projects. In total these requests amounted to €5.4 million. Seven projects were selected and are being funded under the R&I programme.
The seminar also showcased projects involving Maltese entities and is one in a series of EU funding information seminars organised by Forum Malta fl-Ewropa.
Dr Verachtert, head of sector at the European Commission's DG Research, was the keynote speaker at a recent half-day seminar. His presentation focused on two actions under the FP7: Cooperation and Marie Curie. Cooperation is targeted at supporting all types of research activities carried out by research bodies. The Cooperation programme is sub-divided into 10 distinct themes that include health, energy, environment and transport.
Marie Curie focuses on training, mobility and career development of researchers in both the public and private sectors. The total budget allocated to both actions over a seven-year period (2007-2013) is of approximately €37 billion.
In her opening comment, Forum Malta fl-Ewropa CEO Gabriella Pace, stated that 41 Maltese organisations from the public and private sectors, as well as from academia, are involved in the realisation of 35 projects for which they are receiving €3.26 million. Dr Pace said that the seven year period budgetary allocation of €50.5 billion is set to support goals set by the Lisbon Agenda for research and innovation. Dr Pace reiterated that Forum is giving a lot of importance to the dissemination of funding information through its organisation of seminars and conferences, which are meant to translate the EU's funding programmes in layman's language for the benefit of all potential stakeholders.
SMEs are at the core of the European economy. They number 20 million and employ nearly 75 million persons. In his opening address, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information Chris Said said that the government believes that in order to achieve sustainable development, local SMEs need to invest more in research and innovative procedures. This, he said, could be maximised through financial support from the EU budget, particularly through the Seventh Framework Programme which, he reiterated, offers a great opportunity for such organisations to participate through projects and ideas. Malta Enterprise official and national programme coordinator Samantha Runco, engaged in further detail on the opportunities provided by ME for SMEs wishing to participate in research and development projects. She referred participants to Eureka, a pan-European network for market-oriented, industrial R & D. Operating since 1985, this network has seen more than €25 billion being invested in 2,800 projects. The maximum grant offered to SMEs engaging in innovative projects is €150,000 spread over three years, while that offered to large enterprises is of €186,000, also spread over a period of three years.
Mcst officials, CEO Brian Warrington and programme manager Eric Flask, outlined assistance being given by the Malta Council for Science and Technology to SMEs engaging in research and innovation projects. In fact, government has allocated €700,000 which is being administered by the Mcst for this purpose.
This year Mcst received 40 applications for research and innovation projects. In total these requests amounted to €5.4 million. Seven projects were selected and are being funded under the R&I programme.
The seminar also showcased projects involving Maltese entities and is one in a series of EU funding information seminars organised by Forum Malta fl-Ewropa.