Annex 4
SMEs WITHIN ESA PROGRAMMES
ESA STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
ESA intends to derive maximum benefit of the
innovative, dynamic and entrepreneurial SMEs, through the use
of their skills, expertise and cost effectiveness to the benefit
of its Programmes; to this end, ESA intends:
— to promote spin-in of SMEs' technologies/products
when cost effective and useful for its programmes;
— to help SMFs boosting their Skills
and their Expertise and ease their participation to ESA Programmes
and activities;
— to support the sustainability of
their business through for example the transfer of their space
technologies to other applications and markets, incubation, etc;
and
— to provide transparency and improved
information on its programmes and procurement procedures.
ESA has support actions in all these fields,
and continuous improvement of its tools and approaches is one
of the Agency policy.
WAY FORWARD
A number of actions are planned to be taken
by ESA to optimise its action:
Communication and discussion with the SMEs community
To reflect on their needs and find the best
way that will increase their participation in our programmes.
Increased Support to SMEs by technology action
ESA will continue taping the SMEs' innovation
potential, and will seek through communication and consultancy
of the representative associations, the best ways to ascertain
the participation of this category of firms to its programmes.
Coordination and streamlining of our actions targeting
SMEs for a better out-reach
ESA has presently different initiatives targeting
SMEs, in different directorates.
ESA overall action will undergo a coordination
exercise to help SMEs finding their ways through ESA and its programmes,
and simplifying their access.
Fostering exploitation and dissemination of space
technologies through SMEs
SMEs are the best vector for Technology transfer,
and ESA will continue helping them to disseminate these technologies,
to create a synergy between the developers and the users and to
generate a dynamic of growth and employment in Europe.
Institutionalisation, promotion and synergy
— Actions that proved to be useful
will be continued and strengthened.
— Synergy of action with other actors
(eg with the EC, the national Agencies and Primes will be sought).
Provision to SMEs of coherent information on ESA
programmes
— Different sources of information
exist on ESa programmes and on business opportunities. A streamlining
of the communication tools will be conducted.
— Progressive improvements to streamline
ESA's procurement process for small contracts, have been taken
since the second quarter of 2006, and will be pursued with view
to simplify SMEs bidding process.
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