Finance Minister highlights importance of EU funding programmes to drive economic growth
27 Jun 2014 03:55 PM
Over £40,000 has
been invested in 18 organisations across Wales to help them forge
collaborations with European partners to access the EU’s research and
innovation funding programme – Horizon 2020, Finance Minister Jane Hutt
said .
The Finance Minister addressed
the UK and Ireland Annual Conference of the Enterprise Europe Network which
brings together all UK and Irish partners to discuss how best to maximise
participation in international trade, technology development and a range of EU
managed funding programmes, including Horizon 2020 which is worth €79bn
across EU regions.
Last year, the Welsh Government
set up a fund called SCoRE Cymru (Supporting Collaborative Research and
innovation in Europe), to help Welsh organisations involved in cutting-edge
research and innovation to develop competitive, collaborative bids so they can
benefit from the multi-billion Horizon 2020 funding programme.
One year on, organisations such
as Mackworth Healthcare based in Bridgend and Phytovation in Caernarfon have
received support through SCoRE Cymru. The funding is helping them prepare
competitive Horizon 2020 bids for collaborative projects which, if successful,
will develop a novel system for the early detection of cancer and research into
plant growth to help farmers increase yield production.
Finance Minister Jane Hutt
said:
"Research and innovation is
vital to the global competitiveness of the Welsh economy and so it is very
important that we provide the support needed to help organisations maximise the
opportunities for collaborative research and technological development through
EU funding programmes, such as the European Structural Funds and Horizon 2020.
These schemes can help build strong foundations upon which Wales can drive
forward its Knowledge Economy and help secure growth and
jobs."
The Minister also announced the
publication of CM International’s Scoping Study report, commissioned by
the Welsh Government, to determine how best to help Welsh organisations access
Horizon 2020. She said:
"The report endorses the
approach we have taken in working alongside key stakeholders, such as EEN,
across Wales, the UK and Europe to identify and maximise the opportunities
available to Welsh organisations in Horizon 2020. It also recognises the value
and supports the continuation of SCoRE Cymru.
"We are considering a
number of actions in response to the recommendations in the report, including
the role that the EU Structural Funds can play so we can help more
organisations across Wales drive forward their innovative ideas, access Horizon
2020 funds, and achieve commercial success."
Amongst the speakers at the
conference will be Steve Dalton OBE, Managing Director, Sony UK Technology
Centre, Bridgend; Rosa Wilkinson, Innovation Director, Intellectual Property
Office and Lesley Batchelor, Director General of Institute of Export and senior
members of the European Commission.
The conference has been
organised by Swansea University and BIC Innovation who are responsible for the
delivery of Enterprise Europe Network in Wales, which is the largest business
network in the world assisting SMEs to identify suitable transnational partners
to transfer technology, open up new markets and compete for collaborative
research funding under Horizon 2020.
Dafydd Davies, Chief Executive
of BIC Innovation said:
"We are delighted that
Finance Minister Jane Hutt is opening our conference today when we welcome
colleagues from across UK, Ireland, and Brussels to discuss how we work
together to help SMEs become more innovative and internationally
focused."
Ceri Jones, Director of Research
and Innovation at Swansea University commented:
“Swansea University is
working with a number of SMEs helping them to collaborate with other partners
to access European funds. We will also be helping innovative SMEs apply
for funding under the EU’s new dedicated SME Instrument which will help
fill the gap in funding for early stage and high risk
research."
SCoRE Cymru can provide
organisations with up to £1,000 for the travel costs incurred in building
partnerships for the EU’s Horizon 2020 funding programme and up to
£10,000 for Horizon 2020 bid writing costs.