Call for proposals for collective research projects involving SMEs

Brussels, 17 Dec 2003

The European Commission has published a call for proposals in the area of 'collective research' under the Sixth Framework Programme's 'horizontal research activities involving small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)' activity. This is one of the areas covered by the 'integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme.

Collective research projects may address any research topic across the whole field of science and technology covered by Article 163 of the EC Treaty.

Collective research (area 9.3 of the work programme) is a scheme whereby research and technological development (RTD) performers undertake scientific and technological research activities on behalf of industrial associations or groupings in order to expand the knowledge base of large communities of SMEs and thus improve their general standard of competitiveness. The industrial associations or groupings retain ownership of the results.

Collective research projects may address pre-normative research issues, technological problems related to the development and implementation of legislation, and technological problems of whole industrial sectors that could not possibly be addressed by cooperative research projects. The dissemination of results to large communities of SMEs and the training of staff from SMEs and industrial associations or groupings are expected to be integral components of these projects.

In specifying the instruments to be used in these areas, the call requests the use of specific research projects for SMEs (collective research projects). Proposers are advised to consult the full call text at the address below in order to find out the particular instruments requested for each area.

The total indicative budget for this call is 41 million euro. To see the call text, please visit: http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/call_details.cf m?CALL_ID=103 Remarks: The deadline for submitting proposal documents is 6 April 2004.

Before contacting the Commission, proposers are strongly advised to consult the original call text in the Official Journal of the European Union at the reference below.

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