Transcript Funding and support in FP6 for SMEs Kalev Kaarna

Funding and support in FP6 for
SMEs
Kalev Kaarna
ESTIRC
Purpose of the presentation
Help SMEs to see opportunities
and get ideas
• How SME plans fit into FP6 instruments
• How to overcome potential problems
• Who can help
Funds for SMEs
1,7 billion Euros
How SME plans fit into FP6
Aim
New product
Next generation product
Group problem
Participation
Writing experience
Get ideas
Instrument
STREP, CRAFT
IP
IP, CRP
IP, CRP, STREP,
CRAFT
E
none
Name
IP
CRP
integrated
project
collective
research
projects
specific
STREP targeted
research
coCRAFT operative
research
E
evaluator
Target
Duration Scale
(years) (MEuro)
over 3
3-7
integrate critical mass of
activities and resources to
generate applicable
breakthroughs
research carried out by SME
2-3
groupings to address common
problems, develop standards,
diagnosis, safety equipment etc.
improve exisiting or develop
2-3
and/or prove viability of new
products, processes or services
SME's assign research and
1-2
innovation activities to R&D
performers
work as an evaluator of project proposals
2-5
1-2
0.5-2
training
Encourage SME participation
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Participation of SME groupings
Evaluation criteria related to SME
Targeting of calls in areas relevant for SME
Pre-allocation budget for take-up measures
Possibility to extend FP6 contracts to include
new SME
Integrated project & problems

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Multi-national corporations (MNC) are
probably main players
MNC see SME roll in Integrated Projects as
subcontractors and not partners. Because:
– risks of including SME are high (long project)
–
MNC will be responsible for failure
SMEs want high level ownership but offer low
level financial contribution
–
value from including SMEs is seen to be low
–
Risks of including SME
Risk of including SME is high compared to value
Risks are hard to decrease what about
increasing value?
Value of including SME
VALUE =
Percieved Benefits
(Cost + Harm)
Benefits of including SME
 Income
 Costs
Benefits  Income
MNC can
offer
 Costs
How many of SME skills and resources
allow to “sell through”?
CLIENT
Benefits
SME can
offer
IDEA
TESTING
APPLICABLE
KNOWLEDGE
IDEAS
What if SME could constantly
develop innovative improvement ideas?
Fortunately there are methods to do it
IDEA
TESTING
APPLICABLE
KNOWLEDGE
TRIZ: Based on more than 2 million patents
 40 main conflicts were found
(like: speed increase vs loss of information)
 40 main solutions to these conflicts
(like: speed vs loss of information problem solutions can
be copying)
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35 trends in technology evolution
(like: point-line-curve-3D surface or commodity-productservice-experience-transformation)
IDEA
TESTING
APPLICABLE
KNOWLEDGE
Advantages:
–
–
–
–
–
–
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Is in public domain
Makes innovation systematic
Allows derive knowledge from other fields
Allows to find markets to your solutions outside
traditional fields
Is applicable in software development
Makes SMEs more willing to give up greater share
of ownership of their idea
Allows long term partnership with MNC
IDEA
TESTING
APPLICABLE
KNOWLEDGE
CLIENT NETWORK

Knowledge about clients

Readiness to modify product for a
segment
Test-marketing
Clients who are ready to pay for R&D
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IDEA
TESTING
APPLICABLE
KNOWLEDGE
FUTURE SUB-CONTRACTOR
Testing and developing capabilites and
skills for being a perfect sub-contractor for
the new generation product
Relevance to MNC
Decision is that SMEs have to be
included into Integrated Projects
 Including SMEs as partners is strongly
encouraged
 Evaluators know that it is not easy and
look for “just on paper” partnerships

Relevance to MNC
Risk and include SMEs as dummies
OR
Develope a non-traditional
co-operation model where SMEs are true
value creators
Who can help? IRC network
GOAL
support sharing and implementation of
innovative solutions in European SMEs
IRC network
Support offered
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Finding partners with needed capabilities,
know-how, products or client network
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Finding partners who need your capabilities,
know-how, products or client network
Support for negotiations, contracts and IP
Know-how about financial support
opportunities
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ESTIRC consultant contact
Kalev Kaarna
SA Archimedes
Kompanii 2, Tartu
Phone: +372 7 300 338
E-mail: [email protected]
Thank You!