Changing the perspectives for manufacturing SMEs. EU funding for industrial SME’s with in-house research capacity

Small- and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) are a driving force for technological innovation and economic growth in Europe. Industrial SMEs with in-house research capacity can push technology to a higher level. In order to use the economic potential of this category of SMEs, a specific funding scheme has been established under the European Framework Programme for Research and Development. The projects funded under this scheme are targeting research issues of interest to individual SMEs and, more in general, to industrial communities in which a high number of SMEs are present. The scheme enables SMEs to conduct research in domains for which they do not have the technological and financial capacity to go it alone. The collaboration with research centres, universities, large companies and other SMEs at a European scale has been a valuable experience for all the participating organisations.

This publication presents six examples of European collaborative research projects targeting industrial SMEs with in-house research capacity. The projects have served as flagship examples for the industrial communities they are targeting. The examples highlight not only the technological results, but also the experiences of individual SMEs.

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