Introduction. Data protection authority to monitor EU research policy and projects Released: 05/05/2008. Content. News.

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1 May Europa Media Newsletter Introduction Are you ready to try your product on the market? Have you finished your research but can t seem to find the support to get it to market? All focus seems to be on the Seventh Framework Programme, which does offer many opportunities, but there is more to EU funding than just FP7... There is a vast range of possibilities for companies to receive EU support for their ideas in order to increase their opportunities in the Single Market, advance their business activities and better contribute to creating the world s most advanced, knowledge-based economy. In this issue we are taking a look at some of the policies supporting and opportunities offered by the EU s Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP). Data protection authority to monitor EU research policy and projects Released: 05/05/2008 News The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) states that EU research projects, particularly in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT), need to ensure that privacy and personal data protection requirements are fully respected. The EDPS monitors the EU administration s processing of personal data and advises on policies and legislation that affect privacy. In its latest policy paper, the EDPS recommends that a privacy by design approach should be applied in research projects funded under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Given the growth of data protection issues in relation to ICT, the EDPS will focus mainly on research undertaken in this field. However, the authority says it does not exclude the possibility of monitoring a select number of projects from other FP7 thematic areas, such as Security Research, Health and Transport. good jobs for all means jobs that help build a responsible society, both locally and globally. It means jobs that are contributing to progress through innovation and respect for the environment. Vice President Günter Verheugen European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Content Introduction 1 EU Competitiveness Policy: 2 Heart of the Lisbon Strategy The first cycle of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs is now over and its second cycle has recently been launched. Did You Know That? 3 99% of all enterprises in the EU are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)? Quiz 4 Deadlines 5 Appropriated from the Source: OC=2&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=0119c7da69a4:2c68:6b08d6ac&RCN =29403

2 May EU Competitiveness Policy Heart of the Lisbon Strategy It is repeatedly stated that the Lisbon Strategy serves as the basis for the development and implementation of a wide range of EU policies, and sets the horizon for Europe s social and economic prosperity. While several policy components have been engineered to respond effectively to the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, the competitiveness policy of the EU possibly sets the main context and comprises the key instruments in support of the Strategy. This month we take a look at the EU competitiveness policy and those tools supporting its implementation. The first cycle of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs is now over and its second cycle has recently been launched. According to the EU Competitiveness Council1, the Lisbon Strategy has so far proved to be effective and has made an important contribution to the positive economic development of the EU. The challenge now in the second cycle ( ) is to keep up the pace with the implementation of the reforms and turn the challenges of globalization into opportunities. The validity of the four priority areas of the Lisbon Strategy is confirmed by the European Council 2 :» concern for citizens» concern for the environment» a more competitive economy» knowledge and innovation EC funding and instruments In line with these four priority areas, the Competitiveness Council lays emphasis on four key actions to be pursued:» Investing more and more effectively in knowledge, research and innovation» Unlocking business potential, especially of SMEs» Transforming Europe into a sustainable economy» Encouraging European success in the global marketplace Undoubtedly, Community funding and instruments will continue to play a significant role in achieving the goals of the competitiveness policy and contributing to the realization of the actions listed above. Research, development and innovation are key to achieving competitiveness. Significant amounts of EU funds are therefore mobilized to support actions of R&D that lead to technological advancement and innovation. Two major Community Programmes, namely the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), together with part of the massive Structural Funds (SF) constitute three fundamental avenues through which the EU channels its resources in support of such actions. These instruments go hand in hand and are meant to function in a way to create synergies. That is why, while they are directed at a common strategic objective achieving competitiveness, innovation, more growth and jobs the types of actions and nature of projects to be financed may differ significantly from one instrument to another. In the table below, we try to briefly introduce FP7, CIP and SF in a comparative manner. While double funding is strictly prohibited in European programmes, complementary European Summer Academy July 2008 Siófok Hungary Unique Useful Understandable Early bird registration before 6 June 2008! News The euro at ten EU celebrates ten years of its single currency Released: 07/05/2008 Ten years ago this month, EU leaders took the historic decision to launch the euro. The currency hit the markets in January 1999 and the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) was born. Now some 320m Europeans in 15 countries more than the population of the US use the same currency and benefit from an integrated EU market. The European Commission declared that the Euro is a resounding success, saying that within the span of a decade it has clearly become the second most important currency in the world. Average government budget deficits in the EU fell to a record low of 0.6% of GDP in 2007 (compared to 4% in the 80s and 90s). Reflecting this trend, the Commission was today able to recommend to the Council to close the surveillance procedures on the Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal and Slovakia for running excessive deficits. A milestone in the process of EU integration, EMU will have to be adapted to meet the challenges of globalisation, scarce natural resources, climate change and the ageing population in the years to come. Appropriated from the sources: finance/emu10/index_en.htm economy/080507_1_en.htm

3 May financing is definitely possible. In other words, you cannot charge the costs of your project to two different EU funding sources (e.g. FP7 + SF), however, parts of a project can be funded by different programmes, or different phases of a project may be supported through different instruments. For instance, a prototype which was developed during an RTD project co-financed under FP7 can be followed up with a market uptake project under CIP. It is important to note that CIP supports those projects which have already been technically demonstrated with success but which have not yet penetrated the market (due to risks). It is quite probable for project proposers to get confused about whether their project idea goes under FP7, CIP, Structural Funds or another scheme. However, the Work Programmes and Guides for Applicants of these programmes are quite informative and explanatory, and therefore must be carefully read by those who seek financing for their projects through one or more of these programmes. FP7 vs. CIP vs. SF* FP7 Objective: Strengthening the scientific and technological base of European industry and encouraging its international competitiveness, through research that supports EU policies. Actions: Research projects carried out by transnational consortia with European added value; fellowships supporting mobility of researchers; enhancing European research and innovation capacities; supporting individual research teams in frontier research. CIP Objective: Encouraging the competitiveness of European enterprises, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by supporting innovation activities (including eco-innovation), providing better access to finance, take-up and use of information communication technologies (ICT), and promoting the increased use of renewable energies and energy efficiency. Actions: Intervention mechanisms facilitating SMEs access to finance; grants to transnational consortia for pilot and market replication projects, exchange of best practices and networking actions with European added value. Opportunities for single applicants (without the need to build a European partnership) for actions on innovative solutions of interest for Europe as a whole. Structural Funds Objective: Raising the EU s long-term research and innovation performance, both through its focus on investments which promote economic development and through the policy-making, implementation and evaluation methods which it promotes. Actions: Experimentation with innovative approaches and exchange of experiences across the EU, which facilitates and promotes learning and social innovations in administrations, organizations and enterprises. * ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/practical-guide_en.pdf Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and CIP Participation of SMEs in European research, development and innovation activities is vital for the European economy. SMEs are important in the innovation process since they can guarantee that innovative efforts bring practical results, and contribute to economic development. To this end, SMEs are encouraged to participate in European projects in particular in FP7 and CIP. Indeed, CIP is mainly dedicated to supporting enterprises, especially SMEs. Comprising three sub-programmes, CIP aims at encouraging the competitiveness of European enterprises, supports actions encouraging a better uptake and use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), and promotes the increased use of renewable energies and energy efficiency.» Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP)» ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT-PSP)» Intelligent Energy Europe Programme (IEE) EIP aims at achieving better access to finance for SMEs, at support services for business and innovation delivered through a network of regional centres, at the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation and at support for policy making that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation. While SMEs are targeted particularly under the EIP pillar of the programme, SME participation is also vital in the other two pillars, IST-PSP and IEE, given the overall nature and objectives of the programme.

4 May Several support structures exist to facilitate the participation of SMEs in CIP and other European programmes. EU E Portal, Enterprise Europe Network, Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs), Euro Info Centres (EICs), etc. not only present well-structured information, but also provide assistance for partnerships, respond to inquiries, etc. In the table to the right is a brief list of links, which could be of use for project proposers as a first step with their endeavors to participate in European programmes. The next step is to manage to put together a professional, competitive project proposal together with a strong European partnership (where it is an eligibility criterion to have several partners on board), and be patient! Support structures for SMEs: SME Portal - Support services across Europe Euro Info Centres (EICs) Enterprise Europe Network index_en.htm Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs) Quiz 1. More growth and jobs is one of the common objectives of FP7 and CIP as well as a part of the Structural Funds. 2. R&D stands for &development. 3. The second cycle of the Lisbon Strategy is from One of the four priority areas of the Lisbon Strategy is and innovation. 5. CIP supports projects that facilitate market of innovative products. 6. If you want to find out to which funding scheme your project idea belongs, you should take a look at the schemes Programmes and Guides for Applicants. 7. funding for the same activities is strictly forbidden within the framework of EU programmes. 8. projects are not co-financed by CIP, and should be directed at FP P A R T N E R S H I P & P R O J E C T S The 4 th Annual International Seminar on EC Project Development Energy & Environment St. Julians, Malta September 2008 Revealing Resourceful Revolutionary Further information:

5 May Did you know? SMEs the backbone of Europe s economy Did you know that 99% of all enterprises in the EU are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)? There are around 23 million SMEs in the EU providing over 65 million jobs, in some sectors more than three quarters of all jobs, and generating 56.9 % of total value added. SMEs account for the majority of new jobs created, and make an important contribution to the EU s goal of more growth and better jobs. Deadlines As defined by the EU, SMEs are companies with fewer than 250 employees and which are independent from larger companies. Furthermore, their annual turnover may not exceed 50 million, or their annual balance sheet total exceed 43 million. Micro enterprises (employing from 1-9 persons) account for 29.8% of all jobs in the private sector, small enterprises (from persons) account for 20.8%, medium enterprises (from persons) account for 16.5%. Statistical data obtained from: Call Identifier Specific Programme Theme Deadline European Tourist Destinations of Excellence TEN Transport CIP-IEE OMC-NET - Support to bottom up policy coordination initiatives undertaken by several countries and regions TEN Energy Action Information activities for young people and youth workers FP7-SCIENCE-IN- SOCIETY ERA-NET / ERA-NET PLUS Call 2008 FP7-ENERGY TREN-1 ACTION ENT/ IMA/08/ FP7-COH OMC-NET CIP-Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme TEN-T: Trans-European Transport Network CIP-Intelligent Energy Europe FP7 (Capacities) TEN-E: Trans-European Energy Network Tourism 16 June 2008 Transport 20 June 2008 Energy 26 June 2008 Research policy development 26 June 2008 Energy 30 June Youth in Action Youth 30 June 2008 FP7-SCIENCE-IN- SOCIETY FP7 (Capacities) Society 24 July 2008 FP7-ERANET-2008-RTD FP7 (Cooperation) All themtic area 12 August 2008 FP7-ENERGY TREN-1 FP7 (Cooperation) Energy 8 October 2008 Quiz Solution: GROWTH&JOBS 1. strategic 2. research knowledge 5. uptake 6. Work 7. double 8. Research If you would like to contribute to our next issue of the Europa Media newsletter, please send an to us at: magazine@europamedia.org! We always like to hear from our readership!