Objectives

"The Lisbon Strategy is not just an idea, another policy or a wish list. Lisbon is a vision and Lisbon will happen. Because we do not have other choice."

Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research on the Conference: Coordinating Framework Programme and Structural Funds to support R&D, Brussels, 3 May 2007.

EUROPEER SME contributes to the future innovation and competitiveness of the EU economy and the strenghtening of the individual capacities and potentials of each European SME.

The overall objective of EUROPEER SME is to make RTD policies directed to SMEs of EU Member States and acceding countries alike more effective and therefore to promote innovation in Europe resulting in higher growth rates of Europe’s future-oriented sectors of the economy.

1. EUROPEER SME fosters mutual learning, elaborates best practices and improves the impact of national and regional RTD support instruments to SMEs
Bringing those together who are engaged in promoting RTD programmes directed to SMEs can help joining forces to provide common answers to common problems. EUROPEER SME comprises 14 partners from old and new EU Member States as well as Candidate Countries. The Consortium contributes to the elaboration of best practices for different programmes. In addition the continuous and dynamic process of mutual learning will help to improve the exchange of different programmes.
»    Achievement of objectives will be benchmarked with the re-design and improvement of 10 or more existing programmes.

 2. EUROPEER SME optimises the exchange of best practices by identifying conditions for transferability and developing transfer schemes
Due to political and cultural frame conditions, legal specifics and budget constraints not every partner is able to adopt programmes from other countries. Identifying conditions or major constraints for transferring certain programmes in different countries will help to formulate policy recommendations for decision makers in the field of RTD policies.
»    Achievement of objectives will be benchmarked with the elaborated transfer schemes as a tool for policy makers.

3. EUROPEER SME diminishes overlap and strengthens the co-ordination of RTD policies directed to SMEs
Elaborating best practices does not only help the programme owners. In combination with transfer schemes it contributes to the adaption of these programmes by other consortium partners. Ultimately, EUROPEER SME aims at supporting co-ordination of research and innovation activities and at developing joint policy initiatives on a European scale. It will achieve critical mass, to ensure better use of scare resources. For reasons of sustainability EUROPEER SME establishes a web-based Knowledge Management System (KMS) and a lasting network between the project partners which is self-supporting after the end of the project and linked with other relevant networks. This network will help to strengthen the co-ordination of RTD policies directed to SMEs throughout Europe. Due to the fact that the network will remain open for new partners and that the findings of EUROPEER SME will be made available in other relevant fora, the network will provide a platform for granting access to expertise. The gains of EUROPEER SME will therefore be applicable in other contexts and partner constellations and reduce overlap of respective RTD support programmes.
»    Achievement of objectives will be benchmarked with a well established partner network.