Objectives
SMEs go LifeSciences' aim is to raise the quality and quantity level of SMEs and SME grouping involvement in Life Sciences oriented projects in FP6.
It is focusing on the one hand on capacity building and training of SMEs and researchers regarding EU project participation of SMEs in Life Sciences related areas.
On the other hand it provides support activities for consortium building and matchmaking for SMEs and researchers preparing EU project proposals.
Activities
2,500 Life Sciences related companies will be contacted all over Europe, informed and trained on topics like IPR issues, EU project management and financial aspects of EU projects within FP6.
The initiative addresses also researchers from universities or research organisations preparing a project proposal with SME partners or acting as project participants. It offers advise and training on proposal writing, identification and involvement of SMEs, financial and legal issues.
160 national training events and 6 transnational training sessions will be organised.
A series of real and virtual brokerage events and the establishment of a high quality database with SME profiles will create the basis for efficient match making between SMEs and research consortia.
SMEs go LifeSciences ensures an adequate involvement of Incubators and Biovalleys as important hosts of Life Sciences SMEs.
Working with relevant associations and groupings is another focus of the initiative. Close exchange with EuropaBio, the Innovation Relay Centre (IRC), the European Business and Innovation centres Network (EBN) and other associations relevant to Life Sciences is envisaged.
Services offered by SMEs go LifeSciences
This initiative provides SMEs as well as researchers with various services supporting the successful participation in FP6 research projects in the areas of Life Sciences. They get information and consulting, starting with the project idea, over activities for consortium building and matchmaking, to support during the submission and negotiation phase.
SMEs get offered
- information and training on EU project related financial, legal and managerial topics within FP6, like IPR, EU project management, etc
- a partner search platform where SMEs can place their SME profiles at the disposal
- support to get integrated into already existing projects through a Call Information Network
Researchers get offered
- information and training on all aspects how to successfully involve SMEs and SME groupings into Life Sciences proposals, especially for Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence
- support in identifying and finding suitable SMEs possible through an established partner search platform
- advise and training on proposal writing, on financial and legal issues
- networking with Bioincubators and Biovalleys as important hosts of a high number of SMES in Life Sciences
Project coordinators of running projects get offered
- support in launching calls for integration of SMEs
- assistance in partner searching for finding the right partner in a later project stage (Call Information Network)
If you want to know more about this project, Pierre LAMY (+32/ (0)2 422 00 28, pla@abe.irisnet.be ) and Erwan LE GUEN (+32/ (0)2 422 00 46, elg@abe.irisnet.be ) remain at your disposal.
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