Evaluation of the effectiveness of the New Instruments of ... - CORDIS

9. The position and participation of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the New
Instruments has not been satisfactory. SMEs have found it almost impossible to become
involved in NoEs and SMEs have tended to be dominated by larger organisations and
disadvantaged in IPs. The emergence of more research-intensive SMEs as participants
in the New Instruments is to be welcomed but, in general, SMEs prefer the Traditional
Instruments of STREPS, Cooperative (CRAFT) and Collective Research.
10. The portfolio of Instruments for collaborative research should be designed and developed
to enhance co-ordination and collaboration with other forms of public and private funding
across the European Union.
11. To improve the efficiency and reduce the costs for participants, a well conceived two-step
evaluation procedure should be introduced.
12. Administrative procedures and financial rules should be significantly simplified and further
improved to allow more efficiency and flexibility in implementing participation instruments.
The Panel hopes that its considerations and recommendations will be of use to the European
Commission and, in general, will help to improve the effectiveness of EU funding in FP 6 and
future Framework Programmes.
Barcelona, 21 June 2004.
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