Engaging Polish SMEs in European Research Projects: Opportunities and Threats

1. Should Polish SMEs participate in 6th FP projects? Tomasz Cioska

2. Plazmatronika’s profile • R&D company (since 1987) specialising in: • design • manufacture • service of microwave applications in: • industry • construction • laboratory • 10 employees, 0,5 M € turnover (2003), profitable (2003 – first time in 6 years)

3. Participation in EC Projects • 1 EC 5 FP Integrated Project close to complete (SAFE) • 1 EC 6 FP Integrated Project for SMEs in contract negotiation phase (SAFEHOSE) • 1 EC 6 FP Collective Research project in preparatory phase for April 2004 (?) • 1 EC 6 FP CRAFT project in preparatory phase for November 2004 (?)

4. Participation in 5 FP project • Integrated Project (GROWTH) acronym: SAFE • Objective: • development of new safe techniques for the abatement and elimination works of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) • Plazmatronika’s task: • development of the pre-industrial scale microwave cavity • Partners: • the consortium of 8 R&D companies and institutes from France (2 – including the coordinator), Belgium (1), UK (1), Germany (2) + 1 ACM utilisation company from France

5. SAFE project funding • Estimated eligible costs: 2,854,815€ • Maximum EC contribution: 1,747,663 € • Plazmatronika’s share: 245,841 €, • 50% EC’s participation: 122,920 € • additional funding from KBN (80% of EC funding) • Timing: 36 months (end: 30th June 2004) • Maximum negative cash flow: 250,000 PLN

6. New 6 FP project • IP for SMEs SAFEHOSE – new technologies for automotive hydraulics • Budget: 5 M €, EC participation: 50%, Plazmatronika’s share: 250 K €, Additonal KBN funding: 60% of EC participation • Duration: 4,5 years; timing: launching planned for April 2004 • Plazmatronika’s role: design and manufacture of microwave devices

7. Opportunities • Gaining intercultural experience through cooperation with European partners and institutions • Practical preparation for every day work in EU business and institutional environment • Organisational experience • EU-imposed formal project management rules • strict accounting and controlling procedures • Additional funding for technology development • Opening European markets for SME’s products through cooperation with EU partners

8. Threats • Weak position of Polish partners in European projects • Complexity of EU procedures • Communication with European partners (cultural differences) • Lack of clear definition of individual goals • Necessity to prefinance the project (reimbursement of costs) • 1 year of negative cash flow, own funds necessary • Lack of market driven projects and clear definition of project objectives and positions of other partners • Poor project management • Very unstable tax / legal environment in Poland

9. Checklist for participants • Is the project market driven? • Is the dissemination of project results planned? What about IPR? • Are you interests sufficiently secured in the consortium agreement? • Are the roles and goals of other partners clearly defined? • Is the project leadership clearly defined? • Do you have your own funds secured?

10. Contact Plazmatronika S.A. Grabiszyńska 163 (FADROMA) 50-950 Wrocław, Poland tel/fax: (71) 332 6666 e-mail: t.cioska@plazmatronika.pl www.plazmatronika.pl