Innovation 2007, Prague, 4 December 2007

The Eurostars Programme

Svatopluk Halada, EUREKA Secretariat

Why Eurostars?

• No specific European support for R&D performing SMEs– CRAFT is an outsourcing programme, not

for R&D performing SMEs, lengthy procedures…

– EUREKA conditions and call procedures unbureaucratic …

– National instruments by definition not all-European…

Eurostars will ...

• Support R&D-performing SMEs to– be in the driving seat – conduct market-oriented research, managed

from the bottom up– perform the core research and to exploit the

results – shorten time to market exploitation

• Facilitate access to funding coupled with fast application procedures

• Align national programmes

R&D-performing SMEs?

Existing and starts-up companies• EU definition for SME applies• plus Eurostars criteria:

– 10% of full-time equivalent engaged in R&D

or – 10% of turnover dedicated to R&D

SME definition

EU SME definition

Improvement for Eurostars participating SME

• Similar procedures for all participants– Timing calls – Evaluation

• Funding can be assured– Public or private

• Higher level of funding possible– Community contribution

Message of SMEs

• SMEs stand for innovation

• SMEs become more international

• SMEs rely on themselves

• SMEs still struggle with many obstacles

SME Action DayBrussels 21 November 2007

SMEs are innovative

• The development of new products and services and national expansion are particularly relevant

• For half of all SMEs, in-house R&D activities are a key source for innovation, and to a lesser extent R&D alliances and purchased solutions

• Only one in five companies (17%) receives subsidies in this regard, with national and regional programmes being more common than European programmes

SME Action DayBrussels 21 November 2007

SMEs are ambitious

• Four in five European SMEs consider growth to be very important for their company

• About 50% plan to grow at rate of over 10% in the next three to five years. One fifth aim at future growth rate of more than 20%

• International growth is perceived to be more important than external growth

SME Action DayBrussels 21 November 2007

SMEs in EUREKA projects

Nearly 12,000 partners from across Europe

– and beyond

In what technologies can EUREKA projects be found?

A Eurostars ‘simulation’

• Out of 400 projects endorsed since June 2003:– 180 projects were led by an SME– 150 projects of these also

involved another SME in addition to the leader

• Demonstrates a potential for the Eurostars Programme

Eurostars by combining existing instruments

THE BEST OF THREE WORLDS• By exploiting Article 169 of the EU Treaty

bringing together combination- The EUREKA network and procedures and access to companies (SMEs)– National funding programmes (financial, critical

mass)– The EC FP7 (financial incentive)

Eurostars Launch event on 2 October 2007

• EUREKA Chairman Mihelič• EU Commissioner Potočnik• Pres. of the High-Tech SMEs Le Prince

The Eurostars Programme

• A joint programme with EUREKA and the European Community

• 27 countries committed so far• Estimated public budget: 400 million euro • A target of 560 projects for 7 years• First deadline for project proposals

on 8 February 2008• Next cut-off date forecasted in Nov. 2008

Eurostars participating countries

Status October 2007

What is a Eurostars project?

• Bottom-up and market-oriented• Any technological field • The R&D-performing SME in the driving

seat• At least two Eurostars countries involved• Other project participants – SME, large

company, research institute, university• The leading SME performs the core

research… …and gets to exploit the results

• Fast application procedures• Fast time to market

Eurostars eligibility criteria

• The main participant is R&D-performing SME based in a Eurostars participating country– R&D-performing SME must meet EU definition and

Eurostars criteria • Minimum two project participants from two

Eurostars participating countries • All project participants are legal entities • R&D-performing SME(s) undertaking at least

50% of the total R&D project costs • Balanced partnership whereby no partner or

country is performing more than 75% of the total project costs

• Duration of project is 3 years or less Market introduction is foreseen within 2 years

after the project has ended

Common international evaluation criteria

• Basic Assessment– Project structure – Partners and management

• Technology and Innovation– Technological risks– Achievements envisaged

• Market and Competitiveness– Market potential– Business aspects

Eurostars Funding Principles

• The Programme is co-funded by the Eurostars participating countries and the European Community

• Funding level of project participants depends on National rules/ Programmes

• The Community contribution to the Programme is up to 25% of the total public funding available in Eurostars

Legal issues

– IPR focussed on use of results• According to the FP7 guidelines• Consortium agreement to be signed

before first payment is made– Contract is signed with National

funding agency/authority• According to national rules• National percentage

EUREKA / Eurostars legal arrangement between partners

Consortium agreement should cover • The rights and obligations of the partners (in

clear and simple language)• Project management and communications• The project plan, time schedule and milestones• Ownership of the results• Exploitation routes and agreements• Procedures for partner changing• Termination provisions • Confidentiality matters • Settlement of disputes• Which national law should be applied

Expectations for the first call

• Available budget – 65 million euro – 90 to 100 projects – 1.5 million euro average total cost

per project– 1-2 SME partners per project plus

other participants– 300,000 – 750,000 euro average

request per partner for public funding

Planning first call for proposals

Opening of call17 sept 2007 Cover Note

14-mar-08

IEP RankingMeeting4-apr-08

Technical assessment14-mar-08

Approval HLG11-apr-08

Submission of proposalsPre Screening

IEP Evaluation19-mar-08

Ranking communicated to NPCs

18-apr-08

Cut-off date8-feb-2008

Eligibility checkSelection of experts

22-feb-07

Communication of results25-apr-08

14 weeks from cut-off date to communication of results

Eurostars management

• Eurostars participating countries network

• EUREKA Secretariat in Brussels• Eurostars Advisory Group • Eurostars High Level Group

Eurostars Programme: Staying in touch

• Information on Programmewww.eurostars-eureka.eu

– Application form and other information– Guidelines– Contacts in the EUREKA network– Frequently asked questions

• Eurostars Help desk - information request

eurostars@es.eureka.be

Information websitewww.eurostars-eureka.eu

EUREKA National Project Coordinators

Ing. Josef MartinecNational Project CoordinatorMŠMT – odbor 32tel. +257 193 512fax +257 193 793josef.martinec@msmt.cz

Role of your NPC

Information, advice and support

Similarities EUREKA

• Bottom-up principles• Using EUREKA network• Using National programmes for

funding

Higher, faster, stronger

• Eurostars is targeting research-performing SMEs and allowing them to aim higher in their research efforts.

• With its bottom-up, flexible approach, the results of Eurostars projects will reach the market faster.

• The economic future of Europe is dependent on its improved innovation efforts. The results of Eurostars projects will make Europe stronger.

Thank you for listening

Svatopluk HaladaEurostars ProgrammeEUREKA Secretariat

svatopluk.halada@es.eureka.be