Helping smaller European businesses conduct research An EU project has set the base for linking research organisations with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to better facilitate their research needs. Digital Economy © Thinkstock ERASME was an EU-funded initiative that ran from 2005–2010 as a network of bodies funding research and development (R&D) projects for SMEs. ERASME2 is a similar project to ERASME, but renewed with further EU funding and new objectives. ERASME2 connected SMEs having a limited research capability of their own with dedicated research organisations that provide the research capacity. This targets research to the needs of SMEs. ERASME2's goals were to support transnational collaboration between research organisations and SMEs. Partners worked to support the research needs of SMEs, cooperate with other funding bodies and expand the number of participating countries. They also endeavoured to improve funding processes. The project's main goal was to establish itself as a permanent fixture in European funding. These sustainability issues were discussed during the 2011–2013 period. CORNET and CORNET II (COllective Research NETworking), also funded by the EU, are similar organisations to ERASME2 and with which it worked in close cooperation. The organisations extended their relationship with numerous joint presentations, meetings and other events. Options for a joint transition process were widely discussed with stakeholders, albeit with no outcome. Criteria for ERASME2's calls for proposals were tightened to improve scientific outcomes. These policies led to a greater number of successfully funded projects. The project also centralised its online application process, with an improvement in efficiency and reliability. The project has had a positive impact on the exploitation of knowledge via the projects funded.
