Introduction: This programme is to strenghten the innovation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).The R&D guide gives you an overall introduction. The programme follows "Co-operative research projects" (for SMEs) and "Cooperative research projects" (for SME associations) in FP6.

The objective: This programme is to help increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Thematic domains: There is no restriction in terms of research topics (bottom-up approach). Similar as Swiss CTI-projects.Types of activities:

• Research for SMEs
  Target participants: a group of SMEs with a common or complementary need and public or private institutions capable of performing research or development activities to find a solution.
• Research for SME associations
  Target participants: associations representing a number of SMEs with a common or complementary need in a sector or value add chain.The associations disseminate the resulting knowledge through appropriate training schemes.

Target public: SMEs, SME associations, Universities of Applied Sciences, Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, Universities, any other organisation doing research.

Calls: 

• Calls open:   FP7-SME-2011        

Are you interested? Know more about Research for SMEs / SME associations here and find a collection of documents and websites here

National Contact Point: Gerhard Gass is your NCP Research for the benefit of SMEs,      e-mail: gerhard.gass@euresearch.ch,  tel. +41 31 380 60 15