Potential paths of collaboration between SMEs and Research Infrastructures: insights from Euro-BioImaging

At a time when sustaining competitiveness and innovation is becoming a major strategic issue for the European Union, two well-developed ecosystems could, almost organically, enable each other. European Research Infrastructures (RIs) excel at offering access to cutting-edge technology, services, and expertise in the most advanced scientific domains. Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are critical drivers of European innovation, developing technological solutions to society’s most pressing problems and providing ca. 50% of value added to the European economy ⁽¹⁾. However, despite considerable overlap in R&D activities, particularly in high-tech services and industry, there is a lot of untapped potential for collaboration.

The recent "Enhancing SME Access to European Research and Technology Infrastructures: A Pathway to Innovation & Growth" workshop, held in Brussels on 7 June, was a significant step in bringing these two ecosystems together. Focusing on Biotechnologies and Advanced Materials, the workshop was co-organised by Euro-Bioimaging, Alba Synchroton, Elixir, ESRF, and INESC Brussels. Participants worked together to develop collaboration tracks for SMEs and RTIs to explore.

In theory, making RTIs and SMEs collaborate should be simple. Research and Technology Infrastructures possess publicly funded, cutting-edge technology, data, and services from which Small and Medium Enterprises could benefit to foster innovation and growth. Accessing technology and highly trained experts can help them de-risk early R&D activities and even be integrated into routine workflows. In return, RTIs can hone their services and skills by working with real-life applications and collaborating with companies to valorise their own R&D. 

Better offer expression and designated relays

"One of the main obstacles to collaboration between RTIs and SMEs is identifying and matching the research service needs of SMEs with the offer of the RTIs", explains Claudia Pfander, Euro-BioImaging External Relations Manager for the Industry and one of the co-organisers of the workshop. RTIs are highly specialised organisations, often comprising multiple facilities and offering a large portfolio of services. However, deciphering how this offer in technology and data can be adapted to fit the real-life R&D at SMEs can be challenging. "At Euro-Bioimaging, we have experience collaborating with industry representatives. But collaboration requires a constant dialogue between our infrastructure and the industry", continues Claudia Pfander. "It's often difficult for companies to find what they need in the wealth of information presented. Each R&D project is unique, and a service catalogue at first glance often does not match a given problem. In addition, administrative processes and timelines can be unadapted to the processes and resources at an SME. We need to alleviate that complexity for the SMEs". The workshop participants recommend two actions to address that issue. Infrastructures should provide commercial users with a streamlined access process, a single entry point, and clear communication and support during matchmaking with service providers. RTIs also need to engage more strongly with the surrounding ecosystem of research institutions, Life Science Clusters or research initiatives to identify potential SME users. Well-established, visible local and regional networks like Chambers of Commerce or Research and Technology Organisations with strong technical expertise and knowledge of the industry sector can act as "orchestrators" to provide a first, low-threshold step to accessing the RTI ecosystem. These intermediaries can demonstrate the value of research infrastructures to SMEs and match, at a granular level, an enterprise's needs with the relevant service offered by an infrastructure. 

Encouraging dialogue and mutual understanding

Another essential action point raised by the workshop participants is creating opportunities for direct meetings and dialogue between infrastructures, their nodes and companies. "Facilitating excellent science is the core mission of Euro-BioImaging, and our aim is to make sure all scientists from academia and industry are aware and make use of the cutting-edge imaging solutions and services that our Nodes are offering," says Ilari Pulli, Euro-BioImaging's Head of Operations and one of the co-organisers of the event. "At the workshop, we could connect with policymakers, industry representatives, and business organisations to better understand how to support them and what co-benefits we would generate. For example, we have a dedicated SME Pilot in EVOLVE, one of our infrastructure's most important EU-funded projects, enabling proof-of-concept projects between SMEs and our facilities that provide imaging services". These types of industry use cases are crucial for companies to explore the RTI service offer and signal to others in the same sector that RTIs can deliver. Eventually, dedicated contact points at the infrastructure level, with a good knowledge of the SME landscape and their needs, would help to further build trust between infrastructures and enterprises. These contact points would support SMEs and RTIs representatives to better understand their mutual needs, increase meeting opportunities, and contribute to aligning needs and offers. These contact points must be accessible and visible at local, national and European levels to achieve maximum efficiency. This efficiency is essential to boost the interaction between SMEs and RTIs. “In our experience, there is enormous potential for biomedical imaging to add value to SMEs active in the field of drug development, as translatable biomarkers are a key component of precision medicine,” reminds Christopher Cawthorne, co-ordinator of Flanders BioImaging, Euro-BioImaging’s Belgian Node. “We have the structure to make this interaction possible and the scientific and clinical staff to advise on this process for a range of drug targets.” 

The crucial role of the European Commission
At a policy level, the participants noted the critical role of the European Commission (EC) as one of the main enablers of the RTI-SME collaboration through various instruments, such as funding framework programs. Through initiatives like the European Innovation Council (EIC), and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the EC can facilitate SMEs and RTIs collaboration. "We were delighted to see that representatives of the European Commission attended the workshop and engaged in the discussions," says Anne-Charlotte Joubert, Euro-BioImaging senior officer for EU Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement and one of the event's co-organisers. "Ensuring the European Commission's cooperation is critical to successfully foster RTI-SME engagement. To achieve the EU's ambitious goals and tackle our pressing societal challenges, all stakeholders must work together to drive European innovation". Funding instruments, particularly access funding, are some of the most crucial points at which the European Commission can accelerate the SME-RTI collaboration. By investing in facilitating active cooperation between enterprises and research infrastructures, the EC renews its commitment to building a strong research and innovation ecosystem where RTIs and SMEs play a key role.

(1) Annual Report on European SMEs 2022/2023; doi:10.2760/028705