Motivation of SMEs

Dimes EU Finland Cooperation Network (DEFCoN)

Project Name

What Motivates SMEs to Participate in EU Research

Project Description

The participation of Finnish SMEs in the 6^th Framework Programme of EU Commission was low. Especially in the ICT sector SMEs received 8,2 % of the total EU R&D funding of the Finnish ICT industry which number was the lowest among the EU Member States.

The SMEs are considered as the main initiator of the innovative products and services. That is why Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, the Federation of FinnishTechnology Industries, and Dimes conducted a study to figure out what iare the arguments which can motivate the SMEs to participate the EU FP7.

The results show that the major way for a SME to enter to an EU project is that the coordinator of a new project consortium has discovered and contacted a small company having the special knowhow necessary for the planned research project. In this way the opportunities of the participation in EU funded project are properly communicated to the small company. The major obstacles of participation in EU projects for SMEs are the lack of time and resources of SMEs to figure out what is available at the EU projects. Certain sceptical prejudgement is typical also for the EU based projects mainly due to bureaucratical reputation of the cooeperation with EU ruled actions.

The EU R&D projects require a considerable amount of professional work for the bureaucracy in preparation of the proposals, managing the projects, reporting the advancement etc. This is mainly carried out by individuals whose education is for research and sciences, not for managing projects.

The study concludes seven action proposals to be carried out by the organizations behind the study; Tekes, the FinnishTechnology Industries, and Dimes. The action proposals cover mainly activities in networking, support to management of EU projects, and communicating the information related to the FP7 of EU research.

Project Contact Persons

The program director of this program is Anssi Kujala, Dimes (anssi.kujala (-at-) dimes.fi).

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Programs DEFCoN EU Networking EU R&D Services Motivation of SMEs LiTe Open SIF	Index > Programs > DEFCoN > Motivation of SMEs Dimes EU Finland Cooperation Network (DEFCoN) Project Name What Motivates SMEs to Participate in EU Research Project Description The participation of Finnish SMEs in the 6^th Framework Programme of EU Commission was low. Especially in the ICT sector SMEs received 8,2 % of the total EU R&D funding of the Finnish ICT industry which number was the lowest among the EU Member States. The SMEs are considered as the main initiator of the innovative products and services. That is why Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, the Federation of FinnishTechnology Industries, and Dimes conducted a study to figure out what iare the arguments which can motivate the SMEs to participate the EU FP7. The results show that the major way for a SME to enter to an EU project is that the coordinator of a new project consortium has discovered and contacted a small company having the special knowhow necessary for the planned research project. In this way the opportunities of the participation in EU funded project are properly communicated to the small company. The major obstacles of participation in EU projects for SMEs are the lack of time and resources of SMEs to figure out what is available at the EU projects. Certain sceptical prejudgement is typical also for the EU based projects mainly due to bureaucratical reputation of the cooeperation with EU ruled actions. The EU R&D projects require a considerable amount of professional work for the bureaucracy in preparation of the proposals, managing the projects, reporting the advancement etc. This is mainly carried out by individuals whose education is for research and sciences, not for managing projects. The study concludes seven action proposals to be carried out by the organizations behind the study; Tekes, the FinnishTechnology Industries, and Dimes. The action proposals cover mainly activities in networking, support to management of EU projects, and communicating the information related to the FP7 of EU research. Project Contact Persons The program director of this program is Anssi Kujala, Dimes (anssi.kujala (-at-) dimes.fi).	Links Panlab ENoLL FIREWorks NetLab
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