EUREKA's Eurostars Programme

This is the first European funding and support programme to be specifically dedicated to SMEs. Eurostars will stimulate them to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects by easing access to support and funding.

A Eurostars project should be market-driven: it must have a maximum duration of three years, and within two years of project completion, the product of the research should be ready for launch onto the market.

The 4th Eurostars Cut-Off. Registrations and project application submissions will be accepted until the cut-off deadline on the 25th February 2010 at 20h00 CET.

For more information [Click here]

Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP)

With small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as its main target, the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) supports innovation activities (including eco-innovation), provides better access to finance and delivers business support services in the regions.

It also promotes the increased use of renewable energies and energy efficiency.

The CIP runs from 2007 to 2013 with an overall budget of € 3621 million.

The CIP is divided into three operational programmes. Each programme has its specific objectives, aimed at contributing to the competitiveness of enterprises and their innovative capacity in their own areas, such as ICT or sustainable energy:

• The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP)
• The Information Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme (ICT-PSP)
• The Intelligent Energy Europe Programme (IEE)

For more information [Cick here]

Framework 7 Program

The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development are the European Union's main instruments for supporting collaborative research, development and innovations in science, engineering and technology.

The Framework Programmes are open to EU public and private entities of all sizes and incorporate provision for the participation of non-EU countries. Participation is on an internationally collaborative basis and must involve European partners.

The Framework Programmes offer valuable opportunities for Ireland's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), multinational corporations (MNCs) and academic researchers to participate in high-quality research collaborations with their European counterparts, with the support of EU funding.

For more information [Click here]

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

It is a new European exchange programme aimed at helping new entrepreneurs to acquire relevant skills for managing an SME by spending time working in another EU country with an experienced entrepreneur.

• Offers new entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from an experienced entrepreneur who is running a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in another EU country;
• Enables the exchange of experience between new and experienced entrepreneurs;
• Facilitates access to new markets and the search for potential business partners;
• Enhances networking between business people and SMEs;
• Allows experienced entrepreneurs to develop new commercial relations and find out more about opportunities in another EU country.

For further details: Erasmus