09. 05.07:
Research Funding for SMEs
The European Commission is currently finalizing proposals for a new research funding initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The new initiative, called Eurostars, will have a budget of EUR400 million during the period from 2007 to 2013, made up of EUR100 million from the EUs 7th Framework Programme for Research and EUR300 million from participating member states. Its focus will be on providing support to near-market research carried out by SMEs.
Projects should last for a maximum of three years and the product of the research should be ready for release on the market two years after project completion. In the case of medical products, two years should be enough to prepare them for clinical trials. The plan is to fund around 90 projects per year, on the basis that each project would have an average overall budget of EUR1.4 million, with public sources covering around 50%. Each project will need to involve at least two SMEs from two different participating countries. Two cut-off dates will apply each year for the receipt of project applications, with the first planned for 2 December 2007. Further details at: http://www.eurostars-eureka.eu/tiles/main.html
