Annex I - Description of Work

Transcription

1 SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME Programme: Research and Innovation Scheme: Stepping up economic and technological intelligence (ETI) Contract for: SPECIFIC SUPPORT ACTION Annex I - Description of Work Project acronym: SMES GO LIFESCIENCES Project full title: Activities supporting SME participation in the instruments particularly Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence - in the areas of Life Sciences in the 6 th Framework Programme Proposal/Contract no.: Related to other Contract no.: (to be completed by Commission) Date of preparation of Annex I: 9-Mar-04 Start date of contract: (to be completed by Commission) Page 1 of 150

2 Table of Contents 1 Project summary Project objective(s) and state of the art Participants list Relevance to the objectives of the specific programme and/or thematic priority Potential Impact Project management and exploitation/dissemination plans Project management Workplan for whole duration of the project Introduction - general description and milestones Work planning and timetable Graphical presentation of work packages Work package list Deliverables list Work package descriptions Project resources and budget overview Efforts for the project Overall budget for the project (Forms A3.1 & A3.2 from CPFs) Management level description of resources and budget Other issues (optional) Appendix A - Consortium description A.1 Participants and consortium A.2 Sub-contracting A.4 Funding of third country participants Page 2 of 150

3 1 Project summary The overall objective of the work in the SMEs go LifeSciences project is to support and foster the participation of SMEs & SME groupings in Life Sciences projects of the 6 th EU Framework Programme (FP6). Particular attention will be devoted to SME participation in the new instruments Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence. Thus, the SMEs go LifeSciences project will significantly contribute to achieving strong involvement of SMEs & SME groupings with regard to the 15% goal of SME participation in the thematic priorities of FP6. SME participation is not only relevant to EU member states, but also to associated and candidate countries. With its approach, the SMEs go LifeSciences project will ensure adequate activities in favour of substantial SME involvement from all over Europe including candidate countries, thus contributing to the creation of a real European Research Area. The overall objective will be achieved by two major lines of activities: 1. Capacity building and training for SMEs & SME groupings, as well as for researchers on how to involve SMEs, and 2. Consortium building & match making for SMEs and researchers preparing proposals for the new instruments. SMEs go LifeSciences is based on a unique consortium involving the major players in supporting European Life Sciences SMEs. The consortium combines the expertise and experience of 28 partners from 26 countries, including 10 candidate countries, 4 associated states (including Switzerland) and 12 member states. The SMEs go LifeSciences project is relevant to the Research and Innovation Programme and in particular to the Specific Support Action of Economic and Technological Intelligence. With its activities, the SMEs go LifeSciences project will promote the transregional cooperation between SMEs, stimulation of networks of Life Sciences incubators and biovalleys, and it will facilitate the creation of cooperations and groupings of SMEs with similar innovation needs in Life Sciences. Page 3 of 150

4 2 Project objective(s) and state of the art Overall Objectives The overall objectives of the proposed work are to raise the quantitative and qualitative level of involvement of SMEs and SME groupings in Life Sciences oriented projects in the 6 th Framework Programme (FP6), with an emphasis on the new instruments Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence. Candidate countries participation will be a special focus of the measures foreseen in this project. The overall objectives of the SMEs go LifeSciences project will be achieved by two major lines of activities: 1. Capacity building and training for SMEs & SME groupings, as well as for researchers on how to involve SMEs in Life Sciences oriented projects in FP6; 2. Support for consortium building and match making activities for SMEs, SME groupings and researchers, preparing proposals for Integrated Projects or Networks of Excellence. The Challenges for SME Participation in FP6 The success of FP6 will be directly related to the quantity and quality of the projects submitted. The new instruments in FP6 have been designed in order to support the creation of the European Research Area. Integrated Projects aim at integrating research and development capacities, for achieving ambitious goals in the production of new knowledge, strengthening European competitiveness and improving the quality of life. Networks of Excellence will assemble the best available expertise to overcome fragmentation and improve the European structures by forming virtual centers of excellence, which will take leadership in Europe and represent a world force. Additionally, Specific Targeted Research Projects (STREPs), Cooperative Research projects (CRAFT) and other traditional instruments that where applied in previous FPs are available in FP6. Collective Research projects will offer new opportunities for SME specific measures initiated by national and European SME organisations. SMEs & SME groupings play a most important role in the innovation systems at regional, national and European level. There are app. 18 Million SMEs in Europe. 95 % of European enterprises are SMEs. SMEs contribute to app. 2/3 of employment and economic turnover. Therefore, the Council and the European Parliament have set the target, that 15 % of the EU funds devoted to the Thematic Priorities in FP6 shall be spent on SME participation, compared to the 10 % target of FP5 in the respective activities. This is a very ambitious goal, particularly as the new instruments are going to be the main modalities for implementation in FP6. However, due to their size and complexity, they represent a challenging framework for involving SMEs. For candidate countries, SME involvement in FP6 presents an even more difficult problem in FP6 as compared to most member states. Page 4 of 150

5 SMEs need Specific Supportive Measures The first and so far best best indication for SMEs capabilities of participation in FP6 are the results of the Expression of Interest (EoI) call in Only 4 % of the EoI submitters in Thematic Priority 1 ( Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health ) were from industry, incl. SMEs. Even in action lines which have a high potential for industrial involvement, the number of identified industrial partners was significantly lower than expected (e.g. only 8-10 % of industry participation in Applications of knowledge and technologies in the field of genomics and biotechnology for health ). Thus, specific and targeted support actions will be essential in order to achieve substantial SME participation and to arrive at the planned levels of SME participation. The SMEs go LifeSciences project addresses exactly this issue. It brings together a consortium of organisations with advanced experience in SME involvement in the Framework Programme. Since the majority of candidate countries are covered by the project consortium, the project will stimulate a substantial participation of Life Sciences SMEs in FP6. The planned set of activities is targeted at various levels of SME assistance and provides tailor-made support to the involvement of SMEs. Activities will not only concentrate on SMEs, but also on researchers, specifically coordinators of Life Sciences proposals under preparations. They are most frequently the ones, who drive the decision on whether or not to include SMEs & SME groupings into their proposals. Thus, researchers and coordinators of proposals have to get training on the issues relevant for involving SMEs (e.g. how to find the right SMEs, legal and financial issues, intellectual property rights, ). A Unique Network Supporting Successful Life Sciences SME Participation The SMEs go LifeSciences consortium brings together the experience and expertise of 28 partners from 26 countries. The partner organisations are National Contact Points (NCPs) (one of the partners is working on behalf of the official NCPs) and associations working in the fields of Life Sciences SMEs, including Euro Top as liaison organisation to EuropaBio, the Biotechnology Industry Association. Partners are representing the majority of candidate countries (10), associated states (4, incl. Switzerland) and EU member states (12). Due to the lack of resources at the respective partners organisations, it was not possible, to involve all candidate countries. In order to keep the management lean and create a cost efficient network, the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium consists of a core group of work package leaders, and of an extended consortium of task leaders and partners (details see sections 6 and 8). The SMEs go LifeSciences project will support substantial SME participation in the sectors relevant to the Life Sciences, which will relate to the following thematic priorities in FP6: Thematic Priority 1 ( Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health ), relevant parts (e.g. nanobiotechnology) of Thematic Priority 3 ( Nanotechnologies and nano-sciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices ) and relevant parts (e.g. bioinformatics) of Thematic Priority 2 ( Information Society Technologies ). 1 Report on the Analysis of Expressions of Interest 2002, Thematic Priority 1.1.1, September 2002 Page 5 of 150

6 Measures foreseen in this project will not only address the app companies classified as Life Sciences according to the recent annual Ernst & Young Report, but also those SMEs with Life Sciences related activities and activities in the areas mentioned above in Thematic Priorities 2 and 3. The project SMEs go LifeSciences consists of activities that are clearly beyond the regular work of NCPs. As shown in the following description, partners will work on capacity building, training and match making at trans-national level. These measures are in full compliance with the Guiding principles for setting up systems of National Contact Points for FP6, agreed upon by member states, associated candidate & other associated countries and the European Commission in June Furthermore, SMEs and researchers particularly including candidate countries will receive direct support, assistance and coaching for successfully participating in Life Sciences projects in FP6. Due to the limited resources of NCPs particularly in candidate countries, trans-national activities, like the ones foreseen in SMEs go LifeSciences, cannot be performed without the support of this ETI-Specific Support Action. Using of synergies with other existing initiatives 11 partners of the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium are also involved in a complementary ETI initiative under FP6, the project SMESFORFOOD (No ). SMESFORFOOD is focused on the Thematic Priority 5 and covers the food quality and safety sector. Due to certain overlaps between both sectors it is very useful to take care of close links between both initiatives. The SMEs go LifeSciences consortium will seek informal coordination with the other intiative. E.g. on the occasion of SMEs go LifeSciences network meetings reports on the activities of SMESFORFOOD will be given and vice versa. These aspects will be also included in the network reports. As a result, both initiatives will benefit from each other by using the created synergies. Page 6 of 150

7 MEASURABLE AND VERFIABLE OBJECTIVES: In measurable and verifiable terms, the following overall achievements of the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium are envisaged: Activities supporting capacity building and training: Contacts to 2500 SMEs relevant for the participation in Life Sciences projects in FP6. High quality profiles and partner searches of 250 Life Sciences SMEs and SME groupings 160 national and 6 major transnational training sessions for SMEs and SME groupings. Contacts to 400 researchers/coordinators of Life Sciences proposals in the new instruments. 100 profiles and partner searches of coordinators or active participants preparing Life Sciences proposals, particularly in the new instruments. 160 national and 6 transnational training sessions for researchers/coordinators preparing Life Sciences proposals, particularly in the new instruments. Contacting, profiling and training of SMEs and researchers will result in 300 consortia taking in at least one additional SME partner (for several topics/projects more than one will join the consortium), resulting in 500 involved SMEs in total. Summary of technology needs of Life Sciences SMEs and SME groupings. Summary of feed-back on training sessions from SMEs and researchers. Profiling of each Life Sciences incubator and biovalley. Training sessions for each Life Sciences incubator and biovalley. Activities supporting consortium building and match making: Proactive match making by organising 3 international brokerage events (real or virtual events). Increasing visibility through preparation of profiles and catalogues of SMEs and SME groupings in the sectors of Life Sciences, presentation at 6 major prestigious conferences and events, thus promoting SMEs as partners in particularly the new instruments. Overviews of SMEs and SME groupings ready to participate in Life Sciences projects in FP6 and promotion via at least 5 success stories. Setting up of a Call Information Network for supporting SMEs participation in ongoing projects in FP6, which are searching for partners entering the projects at later stages. Setting up of an effective European database for match making and brokerage in favour of SMEs and SME groupings. Impact assessment of SME involvement from researchers/coordinators and SMEs, one year after their setting up a cooperation and involving SMEs into consortia. The SMEs go LifeSciences consortium will play a proactive role in disseminating results to and exchange of experiences with complementary initiatives in Life Sciences and Food Quality & Safety. Particularly SME and candidate countries supportive measures will be of relevance. Therefore, maximum synergies and benefit for SMEs & SME groupings from all over Europe including candidate countries will be ensured. Page 7 of 150

8 The effect of these measures will be a higher number of SMEs participating successfully in Life Sciences projects in FP6. Activities will not only concentrate on quantitative results in terms of counting participating SMEs, but also on qualitative results with respect to the impact generated for SMEs and specifically integrated projects and networks of excellence. These measures will lead to an increased number of successful SME participation and will thus foster the co-operation between research communities from member states, associated and associated candidate countries, thus contributing to the creation of a European Research Area. The following chart demonstrates the structure of measures foreseen by the SMEs go LifeSciences project. Life Sciences SMEs successful in FP6 Match making: brokerage, partner searching (WP5, WP4, WP6) Reaching out to SMEs and providing assistance tailor-made to Life Sciences SMEs (WP2, WP3, WP7, WP8) Partners from 26 Countries including a unique comprehensive network serving Life Sciences SMEs in Europe (WP1, WP9) Structure of measures by the SMEs go LifeSciences project in order to achieve successful Life Sciences SME participation in FP6. Page 8 of 150

9 3 Participants list List of Participants Partic. Role* CO CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR Partic. No. Participant name 1 Bureau for International Research and Technology Cooperation 2 Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences 3 The Swedish EU R&D Council 4 Agency for the promotion of European Research 5 Euro Top Cooperation Partners 6 Israel Europe R&D Directorate for FP6 7 Hungarian Science and Technology Foundation 8 Brussels Enterprise Agency 9 Emerging Technologies Network Agency 10 Latvian Technological Center 11 EuroCenter Minsitry of Science, technology and Innovation 12 The Malta Council for Science & Technology 13 Small Business Development Centre Ljubljana 14 Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknik Arastirma Kurumu 15 Research Promotion Foundation 16 Εθνικο κεντρο τεκµηριωσης / εθνικο ιδρυµα ερευνων 17 German Aerospace Center, Project management organisation on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research Participant short name BIT IFTR PAS EU/FOU Radet APRE Euro Top ISERD HSTF BEA ETNA LTC EuroCenter MCST SBDC Tubitak RPF EKT/NHRF PT-DLR Country Date enter project** Date exit project** Austria Month 1 Month 36 Poland Month 1 Month 36 Sweden Month 1 Month 36 Italy Month 1 Month 36 Belgium Month 1 Month 36 Israel Month 1 Month 36 Hungary Month 1 Month 36 Belgium Month 1 Month 36 UK Month 1 Month 36 Latvia Month 1 Month 36 Denmark Month 1 Month 36 Malta Month 1 Month 36 Slovenia Month 1 Month 36 Turkey Month 1 Month 36 Cyprus Month 1 Month 36 Greece Month 1 Month 36 Germany Month 1 Month 36 Page 9 of 150

10 CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR 18 Agency for Small and Medium-Sized CR Enterprises 19 Agency for International Science and Technology Development Programmes 20 Senter 21 SNI-RSI Euresearch 22 Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche 23 SC TEMAGON ROMANIA SRL 24 Centrum pre rozvoj,vedu a technológie 25 Gabinete de Relacoes Internacionais da Ciencia e do Ensino Superior 26 University-Enterprise Foundations Network 27 The Research Council of Norway 28 Beta Technology Limited ASME AISTDP Senter Euresearch Anvar TEMAGON SARC GRICES REDFUE RCN Beta Bulgaria Month 1 Month 36 Lithuania Month 1 Month 36 Netherlan Month 1 Month 36 ds Switzerla Month 1 Month 36 nd France Month 1 Month 36 Romania Month 1 Month 36 Slovakia Month 1 Month 36 Portugal Month 1 Month 36 Spain Month 1 Month 36 Norway Month 1 Month 36 UK Month 1 Month 36 *CO = Coordinator CR = Contractor ** Normally insert month 1 (start of project) and month n (end of project) These columns are needed for possible later contract revisions caused by joining/leaving participants Page 10 of 150

11 4 Relevance to the objectives of the specific programme and/or thematic priority The SMEs go LifeSciences project is fully in line with the objectives and content of the Research and Innovation Programme in general, and Economic and Technological Intelligence (ETI) Measures in particular, as laid down in the respective Work Programme. GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF ETIs As for the general objectives of Economic and Technological Intelligence (ETI) Measures, the following explanation is given in the respective Research and Innovation work programme: In the knowledge-based economy, economic and technological intelligence is a vital component of competitive research and innovation strategies. In the Sixth Framework Programme, this activity will build on the experience gained under the previous Framework Programme. The SMEs go LifeSciences project fully complies with the general objectives of ETIs, because it includes activities relating to economic intelligence (screening, identifying, profiling of SMEs & SME groupings), as well as activities referring to technological intelligence (identifying technological needs relevant to Life Sciences SMEs, match making based on technological intelligence), both elements can be found in all work packages. The activities foreseen in this SMEs go LifeSciences project are clearly building on experiences gained in the 5 th Framework Programme (FP5) without duplication of efforts. The SMEs go LifeSciences project is a further development and stepping up activity of the successfully executed project PARTNERS FOR LIFE, the respective ETI project in FP5. The SMEs go LifeSciences project is further developed in many ways, as detailed below in this section under Taking advantage of the experience gained in FP5. CONTENT OF ETIs In terms of the content of ETIs, the following activities are mentioned in the work programme: Each economic and technological intelligence activity should address a specific research theme or industrial sector. In the first call, projects should concentrate on the participation of SMEs/SME groupings in the Sixth Framework Programme, particularly in integrated projects and networks of excellence. This may be achieved by, for example: facilitating the creation of groupings or clusters of SMEs that have similar innovation needs; the promotion of transregional cooperation between SMEs; Page 11 of 150

12 the stimulation of networks of industrial incubators. These projects may include technology audits to identify SME needs and direct them towards the most appropriate instruments in the Framework Programme, and actions to create bridges across the research-innovation interface. The identification and dissemination of best practice will be encouraged. The projects will be carried out mainly by intermediaries (e.g. SME National Contact Points, industrial federations, networks and associations of research performers, professional associations, chambers of commerce), working with/for the innovation players as well as organisations with expertise in economic and technological intelligence. Regarding the specific research theme and industrial sectors, the SMEs go LifeSciences project will cover activities supporting SMEs in the sectors comprised by Life Sciences, thus including Thematic Priority 1 ( Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health ), relevant parts, e.g. nanobiotechnology, of Thematic Priority 3 ( Nanotechnologies and nano-sciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices ) and relevant parts, e.g. bioinformatics, of Thematic Priority 2 ( Information Society Technologies ). Through its activities, the SMEs go LifeSciences project will particularly support SMEs and SME groupings in getting involved in the new instruments Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence in the Life Sciences related Thematic Priorities. Specifically WP2 (Working with SMEs), WP3 (Working with Researchers), WP5 (Match making), WP6 (Call information network), WP7 (Networking with Incubators & Biovalleys) and WP8 (Biotech Entrepreneurial Networks) will directly support SME involvement into the new instruments via capacity building, training and consortium building activities. Activities foreseen in the SMEs go LifeSciences project comprise all three examples mentioned in the work programme. Through its match making measures and the involvement of SMEs into the new instruments, the SMEs go LifeSciences project will contribute towards the facilitated creation of groupings and clusters of Life Sciences SMEs with similar interests (WP5, WP6). Transregional cooperation between SMEs will be particularly promoted via the profiling, training and match making performed at trans-national level (WP2, WP5, WP6). Networks of industrial incubators will be stimulated via a specific WP devoting its entire activities to Life Sciences Incubators and Biovalleys (WP7). Activities performed in the SMEs go LifeSciences project will include technology audits in the sense that SME needs will be identified so that SMEs and SME groupings will be directed towards the most appropriate instruments fitting their needs and capabilities, 3 major WPs are focussing on these aspects (WP2, WP3, WP5). The research innovation interface will be tackled through the match making not only between SMEs but also between SMEs and researchers/coordinators preparing proposals for the new instruments. For this purpose, activities foreseen are not only Page 12 of 150

13 focussed on SMEs and SME groupings (WP2), but also on researchers preparing Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence (WP3). Via the activities in WP5, both SMEs and researchers will be pro-actively matched, thus fostering the cooperation between research and innovation and working against the European Paradox. The identification and dissemination of best practice will form an integral part of the SMEs go LifeSciences project. Gathering of feed-back from researchers and SMEs and impact assessment of the participation of SMEs will play an essential role, working towards the identification of best practice, which will be broadly disseminated via the success stories of SMEs. These elements are explicitly included in WP5 (Match making). The SMEs go LifeSciences consortium also reflects the criteria as mentioned in the work programme, since it includes partners working as SME National Contact Points (NCP) and thematic NCPs. The SME NCPs and thematic NCPs are in close and regular contact with networks and associations of the broader Life Sciences research & technology communities in their countries. Furthermore Euro Top and ETNA are involved. These two partners are consultancy companies that will use their excellent contacts in the technology communities to provide the liaison to EuropaBio and its national biotech associations, the Biotech Thematic Group of the Innovation Relay Centre (IRC), the European Business and innovation centres Network (EBN), other SME associations representing industrial federations and stakeholders in related technology sectors. These partners will be contractors in the SMEs go LifeSciences project. The duration of the SMEs go LifeSciences is foreseen for 3 years, which will allow creating real successes after the lengthy process of awareness, information, training and assistance, and taking into consideration the cycle of calls for proposals issued by the European Commission. Furthermore, the duration of 3 years ensures that the impact of SME involvement in the new instruments can be assessed (as planned one year after successful invoment of SMEs into the consortia) and results can be used for shaping future activities. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN FP5 The SMEs go LifeSciences project is based on the positive experiences of the previous PARTNERS FOR LIFE project, but stepping up has been done based on the results and experiences gained in FP5, by including the following new key elements: Focussing on regional and transregional cooperation of SMEs through the training and brokerage activities foreseen in WP2, WP3 and WP5. Working with incubators and biovalleys in order to approach Life Sciences SMEs more directly and facilitate the up-take of information & opportunities of SMEs through tight cooperation with the central managers of incubators and biovalleys. Due to the importance of these activities, WP7 is specifically devoted to them. Intensified cooperation with candidate countries through closer contacts which will have a strong impact on the success of WP2, WP3, WP5 and WP6. Page 13 of 150

14 The tight cooperation with candidate countries is also reflected by the fact, that 2 WPs are lead by candidate countries partners, and the majority of subtasks which need extra attention is lead by representatives of candidate countries. National Biotech Industry Associations are important players in the sectors of Life Sciences, therefore, WP8 is specifically taking care of biotech entrepreneurial networks and associations in general and liaising with EuropaBio and its national associations in particular. This WP will thus be lead by Euro Top that will be supported by ETNA. These two partners have excellent contacts to the various identified target groups and are responsible to achieve the deliverables set in WP8. Direct tailor-made assistance to SMEs and groupings by implementing a Call Information Network in WP6, which will support SME participation in already funded/ongoing projects that have the opportunity to include SMEs and groupings after the start of for example Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence. The objective of all activities foreseen in the SMEs go LifeSciences project is to support SMEs and SME groupings participation in all types of Life Sciences projects possible in the Thematic Priorities. However, activities foreseen in the workplan will particularly address the new instruments Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence, as described in WP2, WP3, WP5. Impact assessment covered by WP5 Match making in order to learn from the experiences of SMEs and consortia one year after the integration of SMEs or groupings into particularly Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence. The lessons learnt from this experience will be a useful basis for future activities in support of SMEs. Based on the partner search catalogues generated in FP5, a significantly more elaborate database, match making and networking tool will be set up (WP4) for the SMEs go LifeSciences project, comprising more extensive information on the SMEs concerned and facilitating searching, match making and networking. Setting up the project management structure (WP9) of the SMEs go LifeSciences project strongly took into consideration the experiences gained and lessons learnt, thus allowing setting up a more comprehensive network as compared to the PARTNERS FOR LIFE project in FP5. Page 14 of 150

15 5 Potential Impact EXPLOITATION AND DISSEMINATION PLANS Exploitation and dissemination measures are core activities of the proposed work and relevant right from the beginning of the SMEs go LifeSciences project. They will be performed by the entire consortium under the guidance of the coordinator and work package leaders. Suitable exploitation and dissemination activities will also be continued even after the finalisation of the SMEs go LifeSciences project and will help prepare necessary actions in the sectors of Life Sciences for supporting SMEs` role with regard to the European Research Area and future Framework Programmes. The major platform for dissemination will be the Internet homepage that will be established for the SMEs go LifeSciences project by the overall co-ordinator. Subject to dissemination will be: general information on the SMEs go LifeSciences project and its activities, information material (guidelines, check-lists) produced for dissemination to SMEs, SME groupings and researchers, information on national and trans-national training sessions, information on brokerage and matchmaking events, profiles and partner search catalogues regarding SMEs, SME groupings, researchers coordinating Life Sciences projects, incubators and biovalleys, EuropaBio and its national biotech associations, list of relevant meetings and conferences, reports of meetings, conferences and training, list of funded Life Sciences related Integrated Projects & Networks of Excellence, list of ongoing projects launching calls for partners, success stories of SMEs and SME groupings successfully participating in Life Sciences oriented projects under FP6, particularly in the new instruments. Exploitation and dissemination within the network: The main benefit of the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium is the support for SMEs and SME groupings in consortium building towards Life Sciences oriented projects, particularly Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence, under FP6. Even the best research community or the most ambitious official services will not reach their goals for the implementation of such a complex programme like FP6, if the awareness on the opportunities in European RTD programmes as well as the necessary know-how on how to participate successfully does not sufficiently exist. This is even more so regarding adequate involvement of SMEs and SME groupings. The performance of the different actors (policy level, bridging infrastructure, SMEs and groupings, research organisations) does not only depend on the individual skills of the different actors, but also on coherent networking and access to information. The SMEs go LifeSciences project will set up a tight network of better trained and better interconnected participants, thus ensuring a broader and faster dissemination of SME opportunities in FP6. The service of the participants in the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium will be provided at an advanced level, which will result in Page 15 of 150

16 more high-quality Life Sciences proposals including SMEs and SME groupings, particularly from candidate countries. Consortium participants in network meetings will not only learn and develop know-how themselves but will also have to take care of adequately disseminating and exploiting the gained information to their colleagues and partners at national level. This approach will make sure that the entire NCP networks at national level will take advantage of the activities performed by the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium, thus benefiting SMEs and the research communities in the countries involved. Dissemination channels within the consortium will be the restricted area of the SMEs go LifeSciences internet homepage. Exploitation and dissemination outside the network: The primary, direct beneficiaries of all dissemination activities outside the network will be SMEs, SME groupings and coordinators preparing Life Sciences related projects under FP6. They will also be the ones who will take advantage of better trained NCPs and SME associations. An important channel for dissemination of activities and results outside the network will be CORDIS. The SMEs go LifeSciences consortium will proactively work with CORDIS in order to spread information on SMEs, opportunities of SME involvement and associated candidate countries broadly, thus increasing their visibility. The European Commission (EC) will benefit from the deliverables of the SMEs go LifeSciences project. Profiles and partner search catalogues will provide the EC with important information about the European research landscape in the sectors of Life Sciences, particularly in Candidate Countries. Moreover, SMEs go LifeSciences will be of significant importance, not only for the EC, but even more so for national services (e.g. Ministries of science and research). In some Candidate Countries the support system for SMEs and researchers is still under construction or reorganisation. The deliverables of the SMEs go LifeSciences project can be used as a basis and tool for consideration and decision making on how the research communities can be supported at national level in order to improve their performance in the FP. The activities within the SMEs go LifeSciences project will also have an impact on the role and resources of NCPs at national level, particularly in Candidate Countries. All these elements are not only relevant for the duration of the project, but will also be of significant importance after the project, since they will form the basis for further strategies to be developed in view of supporting SMEs and SME groupings, thus integrating the research communities from Western, Central & Eastern European countries and the creation of an European Research Area. ADDED VALUE IN CARRYING OUT THE WORK AT EUROPEAN LEVEL Due to the nature of the activities foreseen in the SMEs go LifeSciences project, they can be performed only at European level. Core activities such as developing guidelines and check-lists for SMEs all over Europe, transnational and transregional training, Page 16 of 150

17 partner searching, match making, brokerage events, call information network for integrating SMEs into funded Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence, networking of incubators and biovalleys, working with biotech entrepreneurial networks and EuropaBio and its national associations are typical activities to be performed at European level. Only if performed at European level, they will contribute to the successful involvement of SMEs & SME groupings, and to linking and networking between researchers all over Europe, thus ensuring a balanced and adequate integration of researchers and SMEs in Europe including candidate countries. National and international research activities in the areas covered by Life Sciences are strongly taken into account in performing the measures of the SMEs go LifeSciences workplan. In terms of national research activities, countries with e.g. national programmes relating to Life Sciences will have a facilitated start into SMEs go LifeSciences with a better structured research landscape, which will foster the involvement of SMEs into FP6. National research activities will also be considered in the sense of working with national research intermediaries towards promotion of their members involvement into European Life Sciences projects. At the SMEs & researchers level, each of the participants of the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium will work with her/his respective SME & research community, thus clearly taking into account national research activities towards the involvement of SMEs. International research activities will be considered by the coordinator, work package and task leaders of the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium. Together they will establish contacts with relevant international activities in the areas of Life Sciences, e.g. with respect to conferences for presentation of SMEs go LifeSciences, dissemination of profiles & partner search catalogues, organisation of trans-national training sessions,... IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE MEASURES PERFORMED The SMEs go LifeSciences consortium will create a real impact of SME involvement into FP6. Therefore, the impact of SME involvement will be directly assessed. One year after successfully involving SMEs or SME groupings into Life Sciences projects, particularly of the type of new instruments, feed-back from SMEs and groupings on the one hand, and respective consortia (represented by coordinators) on the other hand will be gathered. Data will be analysed and used for the assessment of the impact of SME involvement towards the benefit of SMEs and the consortia, respectively. The information gathered will be an excellent basis for developing lessons learnt from SME participation. Due to the 3 years duration of the SMEs go LifeSciences project, only this rather short term impact assessment will be possible. However, the feed-back and experiences from consortia and SMEs after their involvement will provide first ideas Page 17 of 150

18 of the impact. Extensive impact analysis and studies will have to be done separately after a longer period of SMEs and consortia working together. Page 18 of 150

19 6 Project management and exploitation/dissemination plans 6.1 Project management The consortium consists of a core consortium and an extended consortium. This approach is also reflected by the management structure, as demonstrated in the graphical presentation in Fig. 1. The project is structured into 9 major work packages (WP). Each WP is managed by a WP leader. The overall coordination is defined as a specific WP (WP9). Participant 1, BIT/Austria serves as project coordinator responsible for WP 9 Management. WP leaders have been defined as follows: Work Packages (WP) Organisation, Participant Nr. Country WP1 - Start-up Phase IFTR PAS, Participant 2 Poland WP2 Working with EU/FOU Radet, Sweden SMEs Participant 3 WP3 Working with APRE, Participant 4 Italy Researchers WP4 Matchmaking Euro Top, Participant Belgium and networking 5 facilities WP5 - Matchmaking ISERD, Participant 6 Israel WP6 - Call HSTF, Participant 7 Hungary Information Network WP7 Networking BEA Participant 8 Belgium with Incubators and Biovalleys WP8 Biotech Euro Top, Participant Belgium Entrepreneurial 5 Networks WP9 - Management BIT, Participant 1 Austria Each WP is sub-divided into several tasks, controlled by the respective WP leader. Due to the content of WP2 (Working with SMEs), WP3 (Working with Researchers) and WP5 (Matchmaking), additional management efforts are required. Therefore, these WPs are supported by additional task leaders at management level. This approach was chosen driven by the intention, to support WP leaders and to involve less experienced partners as task leaders, thus allowing learning at the task level and making them fit for becoming WP leaders in future projects. The identification of WP and task leaders was done jointly with all partners concerned and based on their offers for taking over WP and task leads. Page 19 of 150

20 Through the proposed organisation and management structure, an optimal setting for achieving the deliverables envisaged in the workplan will be ensured. Additionally, maximum integration of all participants both of the core consortium as well as of the extended consortium is guaranteed. For graphical presentation see Fig. 1, next page. Management Structure Overall coordinator Leader WP 9, BIT AUSTRIA Leader WP1 IFTR PAN POLAND Leader WP3 APRE ITALY Leader WP5 ISERD ISRAEL Leader WP7 BEA BELGIUM Leader WP9 BIT AUSTRIA Leader WP2 EU/FOU Radet SWEDEN Leader WP 4 Euro Top BELGIUM Leader WP6 -HSTF Hungary Leader WP8 Euro Top BELGIUM Task Leaders from: LATVIA (2.1, 2.2), DENMARK (2.3), MALTA (3.1, 3.2), SLOVENIA (5.2) TURKEY (5.3) Participants from: CYPRUS, GREECE, GERMANY, BULGARIA, LITHUANIA, NETHERLANDS, SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, PORTUGAL, SPAIN, NORWAY, UNITED KINGDOM Fig. 1: Graphical Presentation of Management Structure of the SMEs go LifeSciences consortium WP: Work Package Information flow Financial management of the project Considering the size of the consortium and the new financial regime in FP6, an efficient and effective financial management of the project is of utmost importance. In this respect, all participants of the core consortium (coordinator and workpackage leaders) will play an extremely important role. As described in section 8, person months and related personnel costs are directly allocated to the participants. Therefore, the budget will be transferred to the partners through the coordinator in due time after receipt of the payment from the European Commission. The budget for travel and organisation of the meetings will be allocated to the budget of the WP leaders (for figures see section 8). All participants get their costs for travel, accommodation and daily allowance on a reimbursement basis, as well as the costs for organising an event. The decision about who is going to organise which event and when, will be taken at the network meetings upon offers by participants and agreed Page 20 of 150

21 upon by all partners. All necessary details about the financial regime will be stipulated very carefully in a consortium agreement. Decision making process The core consortium (coordinator and WP leaders) is responsible for the preparation of all decisions on activities. The core consortium has to ensure a democratic decision making process. Fundamental decisions for the execution of the workplan will be taken by involving the core consortium as well as the extended consortium, following majority voting if necessary. In case of the need for immediate decisions or day to day management, the core consortium will take responsibility for it and keep the extended consortium informed. In the core consortium itself, the mechanism of decision making will be at first level an intensive discussion of the issue in question. As a result, either all partners will agree or, if impossible, the mechanism of majority voting will be applied. All necessary details about the decision making process will be stipulated in a consortium agreement. Communication Flow within the Consortium The day-to-day communication will be done via supported by the Xtranet management system (see WP4 description), all partners are interconnected and highly responsive, thereby enabling fast decision-making processes. distribution lists will be established in order to ensure an efficient information flow. Additionally, a website, also linked to the e-management platform with password restricted up and download area for documents will be established which contributes to an appropriate and transparent information flow. A kick-off meeting, 4 network meetings and a final meeting will ensure the regular and well-organised exchange of experiences, discussion of activities, events, results, feed-back from NCPs and monitoring of success versus work plan. Meetings are foreseen for app. every 6 months. Due their importance in terms of the review of project results, extensive monitoring and decision making, network meetings are defined as milestones. Network meeting 3 (app. 1 year after the start of the project) will be combined with a midterm assessment, more information see quality assurance and description of WP9. Upon demand the core consortium can meet between the network meetings, it is foreseen that the core consortium will meet app. every 3 months between network meetings. Page 21 of 150

22 Management responsibilities in detail Core Consortium - Overall Coordinator Tasks of the overall coordinator include: Communication Communication with the European Commission on behalf of the consortium Coordination of organisation of network meetings and meetings of core consortium Ensuring proper communication with WP leaders and the extended consortium Responsibility for project www page, Trans-national press communication Legal management Managing the contract with the EC Managing the consortium agreement with all participants Technical management Overall coordination/progress monitoring of technical activities of the project Overall coordination of the work according to the pre-defined timetable Overall management of resources foreseen for the project Financial management Distribution of funds to participants in line with contract and consortium agreement Overall financial monitoring Coordination of audit certificates Gathering, monitoring and integrating financial data from the partners for submission to the European Commission Administrative management Gathering, monitoring and integration of administrative data from participants, and preparation of annual and final reports to the European Commission The overall coordination will be the responsibility of participant 1 BIT/Austria. BIT will provide strong management to ensure the success of the SMEs go LifeSciences project. BIT will take advantage of the extensive experiences gained in coordinating huge EU projects (PARTNERS FOR LIFE, FELLOWS FOR INDUSTRY, TRAIN- NET) in the 4 th and 5 th Framework Programme, particularly in the sectors of Life Sciences. Core Consortium - Work package leaders Tasks of work package leaders: Communication Ensuring proper communication with the Extended Consortium and the Overall Coordinator Technical management Ensuring full coverage of tasks in each individual WP Close cooperate with the involved task leaders of the individual WP Assisting partners in performing their respective activities and tasks Financial management Settlement of all costs/invoices incurred during duration of their respective WP Page 22 of 150

23 Reimbursement of costs (travel, accommodation, daily allowance, costs for organisation of meetings) for the participants of the extended consortium regarding their respective WP Financial monitoring regarding the budget of their respective WP Preparation of financial overviews for the overall coordinator on a quaterly basis and in between upon request of the coordinator Administrative management Preparation of progress reports for the overall coordinator on a quaterly basis and in between upon request of the coordinator. Extended Consortium - Task leaders Tasks of the task leaders: Communication Ensuring regular communication within the Extended Consortium and respective WP leader Technical management Support of WP leader in order to ensure full coverage of the respective tasks Administrative management Preparation of progress reports for the WP leaders on a quaterly basis and in between upon request of the WP leader Extended Consortium - Partners Tasks of the partners in the Extended Consortium: Communication Ensuring regular communication with the other partners Administrative management Preparation of progress reports on a quaterly basis Core Consortium The Core Consortium will be in regular based contact. Additionally, it will meet between the network meetings of the entire consortium. Core Consortium and Extended Consortium will meet app. every 6 months in the course of the 6 network meetings foreseen in the work plan. Meetings with Core and Extended Consortium will enable the coordinator to monitor the progress of work packages, tasks and participants, as well as to discuss managerial aspects and potential need for fine tuning of the project work plan. Due to the size and the challenging work plan of this SMEs go LifeSciences project, progress monitoring and quality assurance measures are of utmost importance. The core consortium has overall progress monitoring, reviewing as well as quality assurance tasks. Furthermore, it will be the platform for the preparation of the decision making processes within the entire consortium.. Monitoring and reviewing tasks: Control and review of technical progress and financial resources Verifying the correct development of the project plan and adopting appropriate actions in case of deviations from the workplan, Page 23 of 150

24 Decision on proposed modifications to the WPs and tasks in accordance with discussion with the European Commission Monitoring and evaluation of performance Quality assurance: Preparation and update of the management handbook Discussion of results of quaterly reports Quality assurance of achieved results Discussion of feed-back of participants and implementation of quality improvements Midterm assessment will be organised and combined with network meeting 3 (app. 1 year after the start of the project). The midterm assessment will be done with the help of the European Commission and independent assessors. The purpose of the midterm assessment will be quality assessment, thereby ensuring the effectiveness of the network. Page 24 of 150