New European funding instrument for SME | SME Innovation Associate
It is commonly accepted that one of the companies’ biggest assets are their human resources and that innovation is key to its distinctive response on the market. However, the academic knowledge has not been properly harnessed and incorporated into the modus operandi and companies’ boards.
Aware of this problem and of the positive impact that academic research involvement have in business success – particularly in technological areas or with a strong technical incorporation – the European Commission launched the SME Innovation Associate, a pilot financing instrument for hiring PhDs for SMEs.
Thus, the European Commission intends to fully fund over a year, the salary of a PhD worker with relevant competences for the implementation of innovative projects in 90 companies, as well as their relocation costs, travel and specific training courses for those recruited and their supervisors in companies.
Companies and people with a PhD interested in the SME Innovation Associate should send their profiles, so that the most innovative designs and suitable candidates to business needs are properly identified. In this sense, the applications for this instrument will take place until June 30, in order to the effective recruitment of 90 PhDs to take place in September 2017.
Published on: 21/07/2016
