Benefits and Barriers of an Enterprise's Participation in Publicly Funded R&D Projects. The Example of Swiss Enterprises in the Field of Renewable EnergyMaster's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Energy Sciences, grade: 5.5 (Schweizer Notensystem), Anglia Ruskin University (FHNW University of Applied Sciences Basel (School of Business) & Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge (Ashcroft International Business School)), course: Focus: Renewable energy, public R&D funding, firm competitiveness, language: English, abstract: This thesis studies the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in publicly funded research and development (R&D) projects. SMEs represent 99% of all companies in Europe and are important drivers of innovation, yet many lack the necessary resources to engage in formal research activities. Providing these firms with the possibility to make use of public funding programmes for R&D projects therefore constitutes a way of stimulating them to innovate. Reviews of such programmes, however, show that SME participation is frequently lower than desired by policy makers. This raises the question of the benefits SMEs can gain from such projects and the barriers that negatively influence their ability to participate. The author hypothesises that taking part in publicly funded R&D projects can positively influence an SME's competitiveness through a specific set of advantages gained from participation. The second hypothesis is that companies with previous experience in such projects evaluate their participation positively. Finally, the author puts forward that a number of specific barriers limit SMEs' ability to participate. The hypotheses were tested by means of an online survey among Swiss SMEs in the field of renewable energy, as well as interviews with representatives of national and EU funding bodies. The results support all three hypotheses and confirm the importance of the public measures. Participation in publicly funded R&D projects can indeed have positive impacts on an SME's competitiveness. Also, companies tend to evaluate their participation positively. SMEs |
Contents
| 10 | |
RD funding at the European level | 24 |
Potential benefits of and barriers to participation for SMEs | 36 |
Research methodology | 42 |
Research findings | 52 |
Discussion of research findings | 67 |
Conclusion and recommendations | 77 |
Glossary of terms | 91 |
Common terms and phrases
Accessed October 2010 activities addition Agency answers Applied approach areas aspects associations Available online benefits bodies chapter clear collaboration companies competitiveness costs demonstration direct EC DG Research EUREKA Secretariat Eurostars expected field of renewable Figure findings firm funded R&D projects funding options funding programmes für gain goal heat impact implementation important improved increase indicated industry innovation interviewed involved knowledge major Management mean measures offers Office of Energy OPET organisations participation in publicly positive possible potential previous experience prior promoting publicly funded R&D reasons renewable energy representative research programme research project respondents results for question Schweiz selected SFOE SFOE Swiss Federal specific statement Statistics Strategic survey Swiss Federal Office Switzerland Table technologies thesis University University of Applied