Sollerta has won a contract to be the UK representative in a consortium of 6 participants from 4 European countries, to deliver an EU Security project known as SecureSME, funded by the European Commission.

This is a project, that aims to increase the participation of small to medium enterprises (SME) in the security activities of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7). Its aim is to support SMEs in preparing and submitting proposals in accordance with the needs of future FP7 activities in the field of Security.

The primary areas of interest of the Secure SME project are:

• searching for innovative products and processes
• investigating the feasibility of joint use of research by 2 or more SMEs,
• testing and evaluation of infrastructures in the security field
• SME integration systems

180 companies were invited to 3 awareness events where they were presented the planned activities for the security sector within the forthcoming FP7 (Theme “Space and Security”) with indication of possible areas of application of their key competences.

In parallel a minimum of 5 success stories of SME participation in FP6 security projects will be developed by the project partners and disseminated at the events, as an encouragement to become involved.

Workshops will be organised at each of the awareness events. Each one will have duration of 1 day, in average, and will each take place in: Poland (Warsaw), Czech Republic (Prague) and Portugal (Lisbon). The workshops will be delivered by a high calibre team of experts gathered by Project consortium and the main objectives are:

• To develop proposal ideas and construct consortia where Security related SMEs play a key research role;
• To receive training in:
     “How to perform an internal Technology Audit?”
     “How to write a competitive proposal?”
     “FP7 and EU funding for innovation and competitiveness”.
  

Technology audits will be performed by the project partners towards candidate SMEs to provide Research and Technology Development (RTD) information and capabilities in line with key activities defined on the Programme of Work

At least 100 audits will be performed using the Innov’Check audit tool. As a result of the audits a short list of 40 SMEs to be further supported, for the creation of R&D network and structures will be selected.

Shortlisted companies will be assisted to develop in-house research using a model like the NITEC (Technologic Development and Research Groups)

The companies will be guided in the development of ideas for proposals and encouraged to construct consortia where Security SMEs play a key research role for submission under the FP7. A minimum of 10 proposals will be promoted by the project involving the 40 organizations will be prepared to bid into the forthcoming FP7 and CIP frameworks, using a simplified methodology.

The project will ensure that these proposals meet the priorities and guidelines for the forthcoming FP7 and CIP programmes in order to be ready to submit applications when the first calls for both programmes are open.

For the purposes of this objective, the partners will make extensive use of the Get-In tool that will be made available to the consortia.

The audit reports will be analyzed to give the economic and technology challenges which drive innovation in the security related SMEs. Research roadmaps to solve bottlenecks both in the security and non security activities will be submitted to a web-based panel of experts prior to the editing of the final report. This report could be used for future actions under the FP7.

Programme  As described on the Annex of the “COMMISSION DECISION of 9 February 2006 Concerning the adoption of the Programme of Work 2006 for the Preparatory Action in the field of Security Research” Back...

Innov'Check  A web-based audit tool that has been developed on the basis of former work and that speeds up and simplifies the audit process within SMEs, allowing for quick feedback to the audited companies.Back...

NITEC  The NITEC program is a Portuguese program that acts as a strategic solution that allows the stimulation of the enterprises growth and development. Through the internal competencies reinforcement it allows to formalize the research activity and the development of products, processes and services. The creation of R&D departments inside companies (especially SMEs), is expected to increase their competitiveness and growth.Back...

CIP  CIP competitiveness and innovation framework programme.Back...

Get-In  The Get-In tool, developed within the scope of the IST project FP6-511281, aims to address the problem of the low participation rate of the NMS+AC in FP6 activities. To achieve this objective an online software tool has been developed that supports the proposal writing process. This tool was tested with 300 organisations on the NMS with great success and on the project review the EC suggests the use of the tool by all type of organisations in Europe.Back...