SM-BIO-POWER · Empowering Biomedical and Bioengineering SMEs to promote participation in FP7 projects

The SM-BIO-POWER project aims to stimulate, promote and support the participation of high-tech, research intensive SMEs operating in the medical technology and biomedical engineering sectors of the health field for long term research interest and increased participation in the context of FP7 European Research activities. The proposed project is largely based on the outcomes and the experience gained in a previous project (ETI-CT-2005-023401-SME-MPOWER) running since November 2005 and ending October 2007 (coordinated by Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Automation and Operation). The objective of the predecessor project (the predecessor" from here on) was to “demonstrate how high-tech SMEs can be empowered long-term for international R&D activities, and enhance the number of SME driven innovation projects in the context of European Research through the creation of a uniquely resourced pan-European Learning Community of Innovation Coaches and SME Intermediaries”. This was done with specific, while not exclusive focus is the Manufacturing Sector. Core members of the predecessor are also core members in this proposal. They will provide the infrastructure that has been developed and the accumulated experienced gained in the predecessor for the benefits of this project. As a result, this project will be mainly targeting deployment of the suggested processes, rather than developing them. The project is aiming at dealing with two painful problems that creates a substantial gap between the Framework Programme structure and rules on one hand, and the ability of the SMEs to respond/deal and comply with these regulations in a timely and efficient fashion, on the other hand."