Brussels, 10 September – A new report from the European Commission has highlighted the success of measures designed to increase SME involvement in the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP7). The report shows that SMEs received 16.9% of funding under the FP7 Co-operation Programme, up from a target of 15%, and accounted for 19.1% of participants.
Brussels, 10 September – A new report from the European Commission has highlighted the success of measures designed to increase SME involvement in the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP7). The report shows that SMEs received 16.9% of funding under the FP7 Co-operation Programme, up from a target of 15%, and accounted for 19.1% of participants.
The rate of funding to SMEs varied by theme from 5.3% in the socio-economic sciences and humanities theme (which is dominated by research institutions), to 23.1% in nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and production technologies.
SME involvement was significantly higher in the period 2011-2013 than 2007-2011, due to the introduction of measures specifically designed to increase SME participation. Of all grant agreements in the thematic priorities, 74.6% of consortia involved at least one SME, and 11% of projects were co-ordinated by an SME.
The increase in SME involvement in FP7 measures is good news for the Commission, which is hoping to further increase SME involvement in Horizon 2020.
Click to read more about SME involvement in Horizon 2020, or to access the Commission’s report.