Why should SMEs get involved? Common SME problems & DETECT-it2 solutions:

1. FW6 project DETECT-it 2Rein Ruubel, PhD Tallinn Technology Park TEHNOPOL, ESTONIA

3. Why should SMEs get involved? Common SME problems & DETECT-it2 solutions: • Lack of awareness and understanding about FPs: • SMEs have access free of charge to a regional BIC who can explain about FPs and how to get involved through DETECT-it2. • Perception that FP opportunities are too large scale and complex for SMEs; • In some cases they are! but DETECT-it2 FP7 experts will help to find the most suitable instrument for SME research proposals and put SMEs in touch with other suitable partners to build bottom up proposals. • DETECT-it2 aims to ensure SMEs have a meaningful role in projects. • Costs of proposal preparation versus low success rates; • The DETECT-it2 FP7 expert panel is available free-of-charge to provide feedback on new research ideas and in some cases to provide hands on technical expertise to help build new bottom up proposals coming from regional clusters. This will help to improve the success rate and lower costs.

4. Common SME problems & DETECT-it2 solutions: The long term priority areas of European research do not always correspond with the short term research priorities of SMEs; • Each research idea is examined by an FP7 expert panel. If there isn’t a good match with EC research priorities you will get this feedback so you don’t waste time preparing a full proposal. • However DETECT-it2 aims to work with regional clusters on identifying suitable bottom up proposals which do correspond with EC funding. • Shared or cooperative approach to research leads to concerns about IPR protection for SMEs; • Expert advice on this subject is available from FP7 experts who specialise in SME involvement in FP projects with larger partners

5. Common SME problems & DETECT-it2 solutions: • Identifying suitable partners from other EU member states can be difficult for SMEs who do not have international networks in place. • There are over 1000 SMEs looking for partners on the DETECT-it database. Throughonline forums, BIC advice and networking brokerage events, DETECT-it will help find the most suitable partners for each SME • Innovate or die! SMEs need to know about emerging technologies in their sector • DETECT-it2provides SMEs with opportunities to become involved in both top down and bottom up European FP research projects which bring together the leading researchers in Europe in different industry sectors.

6. Why should research institutes get involved? • DETECT-it2 and the BIC network provide access to a network of partners not accessible through other initiatives. The BICs work with specialised high tech start-ups and developing companies with high innovation potential. • DETECT-it2 is taking a bottom up approach to building FP proposals. We need research partners to turn the ideas of SMEs and clusters into successful research proposals. • DETECT-it2 wants to work with research institutes who are new or emerging players in European research. Many established research institutes don’t need DETECT-it2 – they have their own networks in place. DETECT-it2 is set up to help the new players – SMEs, research institutes and industry associations.

7. Why should clusters get involved? • Innovation is the key to future growth. Cluster members, in particular SMEs, need to know about emerging technologies in their sector • DETECT-it2 provides SMEs and other cluster members with opportunities to become involved in European FP research projects • FP projects bring together the leading researchers in Europe in different industry sectors • Cluster managers bring new services to their members • The DETECT-it2 FP7 expert panel is available free-of-charge to evaluate and help build new bottom up proposals coming from regional clusters • Clusters aim to stimulate networking among members • DETECT-it 2 provides opportunities to network with other clusters across Europe through online forums and networking brokerage events

8. RESULT: DIRECT INCREASE IN SME RESULT: DIRECT INCREASE IN SME PARTICIPATION PARTICIPATION IN FP7 RTD PROJECTS IN FP7 RTD PROJECTS IDENTIFY COMMON IDENTIFY COMMON RESEARCH PRIORITIES & RESEARCH PRIORITIES & BUILD BUILD NEW BOTTOM UP NEW BOTTOM UP PROPOSALS IN PROPOSALS IN ICT/BIOTECH/ENERGY ICT/BIOTECH/ENERGY Food cluster Food cluster Photonics Photonics Energy cluster Energy cluster Ger/ Ger/ Esp Esp /Italy /Italy Cluster Cluster Biomass ( Biomass ( Hu Hu ) ) BICs BICs SEEK ACTIVE SEEK ACTIVE UK/Germany UK/Germany ACADEMIC, RESEARCH ACADEMIC, RESEARCH INVOLVEMENT OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT OF THEIR INSTITUTIONS, INDUSTRY, INSTITUTIONS, INDUSTRY, REGIONAL CLUSTERS REGIONAL CLUSTERS Eco Eco - - buildings buildings FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS BioAlps Bio - Alps Examples of clusters Examples of clusters Mobile/Games Mobile/Games – – BIC ANIMATORS BIC ANIMATORS IDENTIFY PRIORITY IDENTIFY PRIORITY Cluster (Fr) Cluster (Fr) cluster cluster STIMULATE NETWORKING STIMULATE NETWORKING Finland/UK Finland/UK RESEARCH TOPICS RESEARCH TOPICS INTERNATIONALLY INTERNATIONALLY Other Other Ubiquitous Ubiquitous Other Energy Other Energy Biotech Biotech technologies technologies Clusters Clusters clusters clusters DETECT-IT2 works – through regional clustering

9. Targetresearch themes in FP7 for DETECT-IT 2: ICT Energy Food, agriculture & biotechnology

12. DETECT-IT2 HELPDESK in ESTONIA Tel.: +372 680 0204 Languages: English/Russian/Finnish/Estonian E-mail: info@tehnopol.ee Web: www.detect-it.org Fax : +372 680 0210 Project Co-ordinator: Rein Ruubel, PhD TEHNOPOL, Akadeemia tee 19 EE-12618 Tallinn