This document summarizes the output of Business Roundtable 5 held in Cannes on March 27th at 12:00 in Hotel Majestic on the topic of “Leveraging New Technologies for Content Business Success. The audience heard two panel presentations followed by a discussion. Prof. Jacob Palme presented his research project KOM2002 – Groupware and stressed his experiences on EU projects over last 20 years. Mr Mauro Bianchi a long year reviewer of commission projects initialised a controversial and interesting discussion on the upcoming FP6 of the European Commission.

Best practise & success factors for EC funded research & development projects in FP5

Prof. Palme, who already participated in 8 projects and considers 7 of them as successful outlines his experience with European Commission funded projects and its success and critical factors as follows:

Essential for a successful application for a Commission project and success of the funded project is a careful selection of partners and a precise definition of the aim of the project as well the specific parts of partners within the consortium. If partners did not agree on the goal of the project it is dedicated to fail no matter how excellent the origin idea of the project was.

The other crucial factor for the project’s success is market relevance. To create a successful tool means to produce solutions with a clear USP respectively benefit, technically advanced but as well flexible for a broad implementation in various areas/sectors. Prof. Palme presented his current project KOM 2002 Groupware, which is a groupware for multi-language distributed content production as an example for such a successful and highly valuable development.

Specific problems often appear at software developments, he stated, since it is hard to succeed in when this task is split into too many parts within the consortium. According to Prof. Palme’s experience there shouldn't be too many partners be directly involved in software development.

Visions and adequacy of instruments to sustain SMEs in FP6

EU policy has changed in FP6, especially for SMEs. The so called "Integrated Projects" in FP6 are not designed for single players and could be too complex and inadequate for SMEs. SMEs have to coordinate with others sharing visions and goals. Only doing so, they could play a role in FP6 projects, unlike as it was in FP5 where an SME could have been a single partner. In FP6 is no room anymore for single players; there is a need for SMEs to be integrated in the package of big projects.

The challenge is to gain good project results and successfully implement them in the market. This is how public money could help SMEs to succeed in the market. And this is the challenge of Integrated Projects within FP6. The recommendation for SMEs is to act together, to integrate smaller parts in bigger projects.

Big IPs will use their own cooperation networks (consisting of SMEs) – therefore it will be difficult for new groups to come in.

Recommendations

The following recommendations can be made for research conducted under the EC on the basis of this ACTeN Business Roundtable:

FP6 is still in its starting phase. It is necessary to define and establish a common sense and comprehension of the criteria and aims of FP6 of all involved parties (EC executives, evaluators, applicants and participants). The initial phase of FP6 and its developments and impacts, specially regarding the role of SMEs within IPs should be followed carefully.

FP6 guidelines should allow to be handled with flexibility to find new and creative models to integrate SMEs regarding a continuous process of exchange of needs and visions of SMEs. Market relevance and business orientation of EC funded research & development projects should be seen as essential for the development and competitiveness of Europe’s industries and companies. In this sense it is a challenge to shorten time to market for successful developments and herewith to sustain SMEs.

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