european commission dg research co-operative research training session on ifigeneia pottaki research...

European CommissionDG Research

Co-operative Research

Training Session on

Ifigeneia Pottaki Research & SMEs

DG Research - European CommissionDG Research - European Commission

“Training the trainers: SME National Contact Points in FP6”


Structure of the training session

PART A. Overview of the Co-operative Research activity in the FP6

PART B. Detailed description of the scheme

PART C. Comparison with CRAFT in the FP5

The role of the SME NCPs in supporting the participation of SMEs in the Co-operative Research activity in the FP6


PART A.

Overview of the

Co-operative Research activity

in the FP6


Co-operative Research (CRAFT)

is a scheme whereby a limited number of SMEs from different countries

assign a significant part of a specific scientific and technological research

that responds to their common problems or needs to RTD performers

while they retain ownership of the results.


• support SMEs to respond to the pressures for continuous innovation and technological adaptations

• facilitate transnational co-operation in research between SMEs research institutions and other organisations, which is essential to SMEs’ competitiveness and internationalisation of strategies

The CRAFT scheme aims to support SMEs in need of specific scientific and technological research. The ownership of the results lies exclusively with the SME participants.

Objectives


Today more than ever, SMEs need to •create and be part of networks •relate to other institutions that are active players in the European and global economic environment

CRAFT facilitates co-operative relations in research activities between SMEs, research institutions and other organisations and enables SMEs to benefit from the many advantages of networking for innovation.

CRAFT not only delivers a result, but also enables SMEs to benefit from the relations of co-operation, expand their possibilities, connect with clients and enter new markets.

Objectives


CRAFT concerns

SMEs that have specific S&T research needs and a capacity to innovate but lack the necessary research capabilities

SMEs that are low-tech, medium-tech or high -tech


Modalities

DOMAINSAny subject across the whole field of science and technology.

BUDGET

CRAFT = 295 M €.Individual CRAFT project between 0.5 and 2 M €.

DURATION Individual CRAFT project: One to two years


PART B.

Detailed description of the scheme


In a CRAFT project there must beat least

three independent SME participants established in two different Member States or Associated States, of which at least one shall be established in a Member State or Associated Candidate Country,

two RTD performersindependent from the SME participants and established in two different Member States or Associated States, of which at least one shall be established in a Member State or Associated Candidate Country.

in addition, Other enterprises and end-users may participate to the project.

Within the CRAFT consortium overall, participants should be establishedin at least three different Member States or Associated States, of which at least two a Member State or Associated Candidate Country.

Participants


I. A CRAFT project with the minimum number of participants

SME 1

SME 2

SME 3

RTD-P 1

RTD-P 2

Conditions

Conditions

results

CRAFT EC


II. A CRAFT project with many participants

.

.

.

SMEs withlimitedresearchcapabilityandcommonresearchneeds

High-tech

SMEs .

.

.

.

.

.

Research centers, universities etc

...

Other interested parties

CRAFT

RESULTS

SME

Participants

RTDPerformers

Other enterprises andend-users

EC

(conditions)

(conditions)

(conditions)


Eligible SMEs are: legal entities that comply with the (latest) SME definition of the EC and are not research centres or institutes, research organisations or consultancy firms.

RTD Performers are: organisations with RTD means adequate to carry out research at the request of the SMEs (universities, research organisations, industrial companies etc)

Other enterprises and end-users are: firms and users that are interested in the S&T problems to which the project responds and make a contribution to its costs without playing a dominant role at any of its stages.

For the purpose of participation in a CRAFT project,


Research and innovation

Consortium management

Activities and EC contribution

Activities EC contribution

Up to 50%

Up to 100%

(of up to 7% of EC contribution)


Specific conditions will be defined for

the participants in a CRAFT project,

RTD performers must account for at least 40% of the research and innovation-related costs of the project

RTD performers must receive 100% of their total eligible research and innovation costs within a ceiling to be agreed by the consortium


Financial issues• eligible costs,

certain conditions, common for RTD projects in the FP6

•financial regime, common for RTD projects in the FP6EC contribution is limited by a ceiling, a “grant to the budget”. This grant is negotiated on the basis of the estimated eligible costs of the activities of the project, the cost model of each participant, and the rate of EC support for each activity.

•cost models, common for RTD projects in the FP6 three variations: FC, FCF, ACF. For SMEs FC or FCF, but a participant one can only choose one.


The proposal stage

Open call for proposals end 2002, with deadlines for submission of proposals

Evaluation of proposals by Commission services with the assistance of independentexperts -peer review- according to evaluation criteria and respecting certain fundamental principles (gen. to FP6)

Evaluation criteriarelevance S&T excellence potential impact quality of the consortium quality of the management mobilisation of resources

European CommissionDG Research IV. Procedural stages of a CRAFT project

THE PROPOSAL STAGE

PROPOSAL evaluation

Contract

Call for proposals

results

negotiation

Modifications

IMPLEMENTATION

…the parties

…the SMEs

EC

consortium


V. Management of a CRAFT project

EC

SME 1

SME 2

SME 3

Consortium of the CRAFT

projectRTD-P 1

RTD-P 2

Conditions

Conditions

Research and

innovation results

Co-ordinator

Project Officer


The Contract

Content of the contract

Contracting parties

Role of the coordinator

Responsibilities of the

participants

Consortium agreement

Core text, technical annex, general conditions, specific conditions

for SMEs, RTD Performers and others

a SME or a RTD Performer with specific and other agreed tasks

for SMEs, RTD Performers and others

greater autonomy to the consortium, EC guidelines


VI. Procedural stages of a CRAFT projectTHE IMPLEMENTATION STAGE

Audits

Monitoring

EC consortium

IMPLEMENTATION

reporting

payments

managementAudit certificates


The Implementation stage, and follow-up

Modifications

Replacement of participant

Reporting

Payments Schedule

Regular follow-up

Audits

•Work plan•Consortium

Procedure

•Intermediate •Final Reporting

Advance, other payments and balance

PO

Technical / Financial Technological / Ethical


PART C.

Comparison with

CRAFT in the FP5


in FP6 in FP5

Any domain in the whole area

of Science and Technology Domains according to the 4thematic priorities of the FP5

At least 2 RTD Performers At least 1 RTD Performer

Other enterprises and end-users can participate

(not possible)

Member states and associated candidate states treated equally with regard to participation

(not the case)


in FP6 in FP5

Expected to allow RTD Performers to be co-ordinators

as contractors

RTD Performers subcontractors and not possible to be co-ordinators

SMEs with inadequate research capabilities and also high-tech SMEs

SMEs with inadequate research capabilities

The contribution of RTD performers in personnel costs is assessed at evaluation stage

Eligibility criterion that RTD performers must account for at least 50% of the project’s personnel time


in FP6 in FP5

Independent legal entities; independent from each other

Independent and not affiliated to each other

Min budget of individual project=0.5 m€

Min budget of individual project=0.3 m€

Simplified financial regime for RTD projects, a participant chooses one cost model only, there are no cost categories

More complex financial regime


in FP6 in FP5

EC contribution to the consortium as a whole

Defined that EC contribution to individual SME Proposers no more than 50% of their eligible costs

Consortium agreement is a requirement and the consortium has greater autonomy

Consortium agreement is not a requirement


The role of the SME NCPs in the Co-operative Research activity even more important,

Changes in the scheme

Changing economic environment and increased and more complex needs of SMEs

To inform, explain and support SMEs to make full use of the many possibilities opened by the scheme and its reforms under FP6

Innovation, partnership and co-operation fundamental in the competitive market; more SMEs recognising the role of research and innovation, complex S&T research problems, and need for fast and effective

responses.

more autonomy to the consortium and many important decisions are taken by the participants.

Support SMEs to use this increased flexibility for a dynamic response to the challenges of the future.

european commission dg research co-operative research training session on ifigeneia pottaki research...

Documents

research european commission

technological research

smes research institutions

research support smes

research activities

research structure

research craft concerns

cooperative research