By adopting in 2000 the Lisbon Strategy and the Europe 2020 Strategy in 2010, the European Union set the ambitious goal of becoming the most competitive and dynamic knowledge economy in the world. This strong political determination led to a large increase in European financing in recent years. EU countries are supposed to invest 3% of their GDP in R&D by 2020. There are several major funding measures for collaborative projects by consortia of European partners, which may also include players from outside the European Union in some cases.

The EU 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development is the main instrument for funding R&D projects in Europe. It has been endowed with more than EUR 50.5 billion for the period from 2007 to 2013, including EUR 32.3 billion for the “Cooperation” Programme to support transnational collaboration projects. At least 10% of the funding under this sub-programme is reserved for SMEs (more than EUR 4.8 billion). The FP 7 “Capacities” Programme is aimed at enhancing research and innovation capacities and it includes a measure to promote research by SMEs or associations of SMEs with an endowment of EUR 1.3 billion.

European Technology Platforms bring together businesses, research institutes and other organisations to define a joint strategic research programme and mobilise a critical mass of public and private-sector resources at the national and European levels. Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) introduce a long-term framework for public-private research partnerships in strategic areas. The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme has been endowed with EUR 3.6 billion for the period from 2007 to 2013. It is made up of three working programmes: the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, the Information Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme and the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme.

The Cohesion Policy makes it possible to stimulate research and innovation at the regional level. The European structural funds (ERDF, ESF) finance a broad range of actions: clusters, infrastructure, training, and entrepreneurship. At least 20% of each regional programme’s financing must be devoted to research and innovation.

Eureka is an intergovernmental programme made up of 38 European countries and the European Commission. It has a yearly endowment of EUR 50 million, along with EUR 100 million from the Commission for the period from 2007 to 2013. Eureka-endorsed cooperation and R&D projects are carried out at the initiative of industrialists. Eurostars is a specific programme to support collaborative projects by high-tech SMEs.

http://cordis.europa.eu

(December 2010)