nowEurope

Research policy of the EU, to the large extent performed through 6th Framework Programme (6FP), has its disadvantages. It is not completely in line with the Lisbon Strategy due to the frequent exclusion of SMEs from the FP6 funded projects. However, the SMEs are the most numerous performers of the innovative activities in the economy, they are its most dynamic part and they open the highest number of new jobs. Having in mind all this, it is necessary to include SMEs in the research and in this way increase added value of their products and services. Traditional industries are no exception, even agriculture or wine-making.

The analysis of the development funds of the EU shows already one and a half year after the introduction of the 6FP that SMEs have got only 12 per cent of the distributed funds - too little and also well below the target, 15 per cent respectively, set by the European Commission before the start of the programme.

The situation is nevertheless not as pessimistic as it looks at the first sight. There is an increase in the money oriented in R&D in the EU and the number of the participating small and medium sized companies has increased. More and more organisations have the experience with the international research projects, including those from the New Member States. Although those are still not as successful as EU-15, they have greatly improved their performance lately.

Optimism is valid also for the inclusion of very small companies, those with less than 50 employees. They gained almost half of the funds for the SMEs.

Tilia

The story of the inclusion of Slovene wine producer Matja? Lemut, who sells his excellent products under the brand Tilia, in the CRAFT project shows that funds can be gained also by micro companies. Of course, they have to fulfill certain conditions.

Farm Tilia has just three employees and two possess university degree. In everyday work Matja? and his wife Melita have recognized that the introduction of research is necessary to break through Slovenian border with their products. This brought them new partners and now they annually devote around 5 per cent of their income to research.

They met their partner for the FP6 research project named PARADOX through cooperation with regional development agency Vipava-Rod. Already having international experience, they knew how to react when they received an invitation. Few administrative complications followed in the preparation of the application together with the Austrian partner. ?There was no problem with scientific work,? proudly comments Matja? Lemut.

In the framework of PARADOX, they research how the extracts of red wine which help to cure cardio vernacular diseases. Tilia was invited to the consortium because of the location of the Vipava valley. Partners wanted to have the extract from the largest possible number of European wine regions. At the same time their ability for international collaboration developed through years of experiences was also decisive.

This experience is very educational for all other Slovene companies, big and small. It is important to invest at least part of the income in R&D and be informed what is happening internationally in the specific scientific field. Therefore, the researchers need to have enough time for the administrative and scientific training. The benefits are not visible in short-term; however in the medium-term the investment certainly pays-off.

Matja Lemut adds: “Other wineries are often asking us how can we conquer foreign markets? Through research projects you meet a lot of people, exchange a lot of e-mails, spend a lot of time sitting in the meetings and at the end at least some of these efforts could be spilt over to market success.”