Feroci emphasises importance of SMEs in defence

Ferdinando Nelli Feroci has emphasised the importance of SMEs in strengthening the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB).

Speaking at the SMEs and EDTIB seminar, the European commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship said that SMEs play a “central role” in the European economy, mentioning that they represent 99% of Europe’s businesses and create more than two thirds of jobs in the private sector.

He said that the European Council had set out a framework to “support the development of a robust, competitive and innovative” EDTIB.

Feroci added that the European Commission was committed to offering practical guidance to SMEs on how to access instruments that the EU has at its disposal, saying that he referred in particular to COSME, Horizon2020 and the European Structural and Investment Funds.

He said: “The biggest EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, with a budget of €80bn over seven years, provides, amongst others, funding for early stage, high risk research and innovation by SMEs. Whereas Horizon 2020 has an exclusive civilian focus, it covers many areas with high dual use potential such as security research and Key Enabling Technologies (KETs). Currently, a working group of the High Level Group on KETs is examining how the dual use potential of KETs could be further accelerated.”

The commissioner said that the Commission is also exploring the best way for establishing the preparatory action on CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) related research. This preparatory action would be outside of Horizon 2020, run for a maximum of three years and likely have a budget of €50m.