Once more, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will get a chance to strengthen their competitiveness in cooperation with higher education institutions and research institutes, when ProEnviro calls for funding applications relating to ecofriendly product development.
SMEs seldom have the resources that are at the disposal of large companies and would enable them to invest in innovative research and development. The ProEnviro research programme therefore addresses SMEs that venture to invest in innovative ideas characterized by high risk, considerable potential and a major environmental content.
The programme, which is a joint venture involving the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and Mistra, comprises a total of SEK 60 million and will continue up to and including 2010.
‘SMEs often have tremendous potential that we´d very much like to awaken. This group of companies is very important to Sweden´s economic growth,´ says Lars Frenning, the ProEnviro programme director.
The programme seeks to have a distinct effect on both the environment and competitiveness. It therefore also requires collaboration among industry and higher education or research institutes in the projects.
The application process starts on 28 April and the closing date for applications is 10 September 2008.
