small companies making a big impact
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GENERALINFORMATI
ON
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LEGAL NOTICE
Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information.
The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.
A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet.
It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://ec.europa.eu).
Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007
ISBN 978-92-79-05073-2
European Communities, 2007
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
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Foreword:
SMEs have a role to play in European aeronautics
In the European aeronautics
sector, big players dominate,
but alongside the well-known
names are thousands of smal-
ler companies, often at the
cutting edge of innovation but
facing serious problems ac-
cessing and benefiting from
pan-European research pro-
grammes.
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a central role in the
European economy. They are a major source of entrepreneurial skills, innovation and
employment. In the enlarged European Union of 27 countries, some 23 million SMEs
provide around 75 million jobs and represent 99% of all enterprises. However, SMEs
are often confronted with market imperfections. They frequently have difficulties
in obtaining capital or credit, particularly in the start-up phase. Their restricted
resources may also reduce access to new technologies. For all of these reasons,
targeted support for SMEs has become a major EU priority.
Carrying out aerospace research is widely recognised as a difficult and high-risk
endeavour, even for the sectors biggest players. The task is even greater for small
companies with only a fraction of the financial resources of the big spenders. The payoff
for such research often comes only after many years of effort and expenditure. Long
lead times, high costs and the preference of big companies to deal with tried and tested
suppliers, all tend to work against small companies and newcomers. The marked
consolidation within the sector is another factor that can squeeze out small firms.
Yet, in spite of all this, aeronautics SMEs are getting on with their work. This brochure
presents just a few of Europes shining examples SMEs providing real contributions
in the field of aeronautics. Make no mistake as key partners in major research
initiatives or as project leaders in their own rights, SMEs are helping Europe to define
its priorities and tackle its most pressing issues, leading the way to a new and better
air transport future.
Janez Potonik
EU Research Commissioner
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SMEs on the rise
According to European Commission Vice-President Gnter Verheugen, SMEs are, ...the
engine of the European economy, an essential source of jobs, create entrepreneurial spirit and
innovation in the EU and thus are crucial for fostering competitiveness and employment.
In the European aeronautics sector, where innovative technologies are especially
important, SMEs can indeed play a central role. However, such firms have limited
financial resources, and therefore their investment choices must be carefully
scrutinised and made in accordance with strict business plans.
Thanks to Commission support, there has been strong increase in SME participation in
industrial research and development over successive EU Research Framework Programmes.
Under the current Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), SMEs are contributing to European
aeronautics R&D initiatives both as partners and as full-fledged project leaders.
Keys to success
According to Kevin Corti of the European Federation of High-Tech SMEs, access to
larger firms is crucial to European SME success. Its about doing business, he says,
and doing business, for SMEs, means linking up and partnering with big companies.
The big companies, for their part, have to resist the temptation to keep going back to
the same SME partners over and over. It is certainly necessary but not necessarily
easy for big European firms to find and work with smaller partners. Doing so, he
says, is the only way to ensure that our European industries remain dynamic and at
the forefront of technological innovation.
What is an SME?
The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) includes
companies that employ fewer than 250 persons and that have an annual turnover
not exceeding 50 million euro, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding
43 million euro.
(http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/sme_definition/
sme_user_guide.pdf)
SMEs have helped develop fixed trailing edge secondary structures for Airbus.
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European Commission-
funded initiatives such
as AeroSME, ECARE and
SCRATCH have already pro-
vided a major positive impe-
tus, creating opportunities
for SMEs and larger firms
to link up and move forward
with important research
actions (see page 7).
Enlargement a positive step
Identification of high-potential SMEs in the New European Member States is now a
major priority and a major opportunity for European research. Franois Quentin of
Thales has said, We are constantly looking for new ways of including more players
who can contribute to increasing efficiency and innovation. The SMEs just as New
European Member States are very relevant in this sense, with a lot to offer and still
many unidentified potential partners out there. Quentin is currently serving as
Co-Chairman of ACARE, the highly influential European Technology Platform for
aeronautics research.
Meanwhile, Axel Krein, Airbus Senior Vice-President for Strategic Developments has
commented on his companys ongoing collaboration with Eastern European players,
including Russia and the New Member States, saying, We now have considerable
experience in partnerships with their excellent research institutes, but we can do a lot
more in terms of identifying and working with their SMEs.
Technician riveting part of the pressure bulkhead of an Airbus aircraft. Photographed at Deutsche Aerospace(DASA), Bavaria, Germany.
Kevin Corti (left) stresses business sense for high-tech SMEs.
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SMEs in FP7
Some 400 SMEs are already participating in FP6 aeronautics research projects.
Under the final FP6 call for proposals, SME garnered almost 12% of EC funding.
In a December 2006 decision(1), the EU Competitiveness Council urged the European
Commission and Member States to ensure that small companies can benefit from the
Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)
and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP).
The European Parliament
and the Council reaffirmed
the importance of SMEs
for Europes economy and
stressed that particular
attention should be paid to
the adequate participation
of SMEs, in particular
knowledg e- intens ive
SMEs in transnational
co-operation.
The decision also called for the reintroduction of the 15% threshold for SME
participation in co-operative research programmes, sending what many believe to be
the right message to small firms.
To stimulate SME participation, the Commission has now raised the funding rate for
SMEs from 50% under FP6 to 75% under FP7.
For an overview of funding opportunities available to European SMEs, consult the
following internet page:
europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/sme_envoy/index.htm
FP7 responds in the affi rmative
Liam Breslin, the European Commissions Head of Aeronautics Research, has
remarked that, under the Framework Programmes, the Union has already committed
itself to increase SME participation in aeronautics.
The effect of this commitment, he says, is demonstrated by the steady increase in
participation of SMEs since the Fifth Framework Programme; while the number of
participating SMEs was 40 for the first call of FP5, it reached 150 for the last call of
FP6. Over the same period, the budget share for SMEs increased from 4.8% to 9.8%.
SME participation in EU-funded research takes two forms:
As key partners in major industrial research initiatives;
As project leaders in their own rights.
1 Decision n 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006
SME participation in aeronautics(Retained proposals before negotiation)
The SMEs participation has doubled in FP6 compared to FP5
This doubling results from:
the actions undertaken by the Commission to promote SMEs participation
and the increasing support from the big industry players (IMG4)
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Under FP7 (2007-2013), says Liam
Breslin, EU commitment to SMEs
will only increase. The Union
will continue to work towards
more SME involvement in critical
research initiatives, FP7 will
seek to stimulate the ongoing
restructuring of the aeronautics
industry, including the integration
of the supply chain and, in
particular, SMEs.
Call for proposals
The total EC grant available for collaborative research in aeronautics over FP7 (2007-
2013) is on the order of1 billion. This opens a vast number of opportunities for SMEs.
The first FP7 call for proposals was issued on 22 December 2006. Research in the
field of aeronautics is addressing greening, time efficiency, customer satisfaction
and safety, cost efficiency, protection of aircraft and passengers, and pioneering airtransport systems of the future.
Topics for Level 1 projects, i.e. projects oriented towards upstream research with an EC grant
typically below8 million, include production, maintenance and repair, design systems and
tools, systems and equipments, flight physics, aero structures, propulsion and avionics.
Level 2 projects, also open to SME participation, involve development to a higher
technological readiness and with a high level of integration. Here, EC grants typically
range between 8 million and60 million. Topics will vary from one call to another.
Additional opportunities should be available under the Clean Sky Joint Technology
Initiative (JTI), which has set aside 12% of the EC contribution for SMEs.
How to Participate
For up-to-date information on calls, participation rules, guidelines for proposals, etc.
see the Cordis website:
http://cordis.europa.eu
How to get involved in Aeronautics research
Stay informed about running projects that are of interest to you:http://ec.europa.eu/research/transport/transport_modes/aeronautics_en.html
Find out if a continuation of a project is planned
Explain to coordinators what you can bring to their project
Be ready to act
Critical opportunities: how FP7 can help
SMEs deliver state-of-the-art CFD methods.
E
UROLIFT
II
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SMEs Getting in the game
AROSATEC improving turbine engine maintenance
The EU-funded AROSATEC project (Automated Repair and OverhaulSystem for Aero Turbine Engine Components), composed largely ofSMEs, has developed new processes for the automated repair andoverhaul of aeroengine blades, discs and blisks (bladed discs).
Today, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of aero engine components involves
a chain of processes, including inspection, de-coating/coating, welding, milling and
polishing. Most of these processes are still carried out manually, and while the supply
industry is developing improved and automated machining equipment, the individual
steps remain separate and unconnected.
Improving and integrating
Our first objective was to improve existing repair methods for aero-engine
components, explains Thomas Kosche of BCT GmbH. This was to be achieved through
adaptive machining technologies to compensate for part-to-part variation in complex
turbine components.
The second goal, he says, was to develop a new data management system which
would constitute the core of a fully automated overhaul process, integrating individual
steps into a comprehensive automated repair chain.
To achieve its objectives, AROSATEC coordinator BCT GmbH enlisted several
international SME partners, including BCT GmbH itself.
Targeting key technologies
Research on scanning technologies was one of the main focuses of the project.
Reliable scanning results for engine components serve as the basis for inspection
and for subsequent adaptive laser welding and milling processes. Kosche says the
AROSATEC project improved optical scanning methods so that even shiny materials
can now be assessed easily and automatically.
The integration of systems was another important issue addressed by the project.
All of the new processes are equipped with interfaces for communicating with a
database, explains Kosche.
Demonstrated success
The final AROSATEC meeting took place in Leuven in 2006. BCT GmbH PresidentClaus Bremer says, Our company has generated two business collaborations with
two AROSATEC partners, we are now planning a new proposal for FP7 and we may
join a larger project. In summary, AROSATEC is a big success for our company.
AROSATEC
Seven partners Coordinator: BCT GmbH
(www.bct-online.de)
Duration: 33 months
Total Cost:
2.3 million EU funding: 1.1 million
www.arosatec.com
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Participating in EU Collaborative Research Project is a challenge, says Rmy Dnos,
Project Officer in charge of SMEs at DG RTDs Aeronautics unit. If we want to promote the
participation of SMEs, we need to provide them with specific support. With this in mind,
we are funding several complementary support actions to tackle different issues.
Specific information for SMEs, including latest information events and workshops can
be found at the AEROSME Helpdesk ( http://www.aerosme.com).
ECARE can help SMEs to establish contacts at regional level, including liaison with
nearest regional associations.
Coordinators looking for qualified SMEs to participate in collaborative projects can
contact AEROSME for Level 1 projects or ECARE for Level 2 projects.
The SCRATCH consortium is providing free support to potential participants looking to
set up projects with an SME dimension under future calls for proposals. This includes
developing a partnership, calculating costs and durations that an SME or SMEs can
reasonably handle. Note that the AROSATEC and LIGHTNING projects described in
this booklet were incubated by SCRATCH.
Finally, the Don Q Air project is now providing specific support to a small group of
countries where R&D investment in aeronautics is particularly low Poland, Romania
and Turkey.
AeroSME
Informing SMEs about Possibilities
Coordinators of small Collaborative Projects can find SMEs here
http://www.aerosme.com
ECAREClustering Aeronautics Regions
Coordinators of large collaborative projects can find SMEs here
http://www.ecare-sme.org/plus
SCRATCH
Setting-up collaborative research projects led by SMEs
http://www.aero-scratch.net
Don Q Air
Promoting SMEs from Poland, Romania and Turkey
contact: Zbigniew.Turek@kpk.gov.pl
Helping SMEs participate in EU research
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More project success
Tenacious SME forges ahead
Our major difficulty has been getting people to invest in our business, says Angus
Flemming of the UKs Aviation Enterprises Ltd. Todays investors want a quick return,
to double or triple their money in a year. Basically, theyre out of touch with reality.
Aviation Enterprises is a specialist design, development and manufacturing
organisation specialising in the light aviation industry and the application of lightweight
and high performance composite materials. The company is now playing a critical
role as coordinator of the EU-funded LIGHTNING project (Lightning protection for
structures and systems on aircraft utilising lightweight composites).
The European Aviation Industry has been quick to use lightweight composite materials,
especially carbon fibre, for primary structures and flight control surfaces, explains
Flemming. Composites are lightweight, stiff, and provide smooth, aerodynamically
efficient surfaces. Carbon fibre is particularly attractive because it has good corrosion
and fatigue properties. This results in enhanced efficiency and performance and a
significant weight reduction.
Developing lightning protection for small aircraft
However, lightning protection is difficult to incorporate into a composite aircraftcompared to conventional aluminium ones. Composite airframes also provide less
electromagnetic shielding compared to aluminium, making it more difficult to protect
avionic systems. Both of these problems are exacerbated in light aircraft by their
small size and low weight.
The LIGHTNING project is addressing the need to optimise lightning protection systems
for aircraft with lightweight composite structures. It will allow manufacturers to make
safe use of the performance advantage provided by such materials, says Flemming.
This kind of work requires time, foresight, and a huge amount of effort and, of course, long-
term funding. Although we came up with the idea for the LIGHTNING project, as a small
company we could not have carried out the work on our own. We identified potential partners
like Airbus Spain and Diamond Aircraft Industries in Austria and were able to convince them
to help us, but it wasnt easy. As an SME, you need to be bold, you need to have a clearmessage, and, in some cases, you need luck on your side. But you can succeed.
Flemming says the LIGHTNING project aims to reduce by 50% the current 1.5% to
2.5% weight penalty for adding lightning protection to an empty aircraft.
For more information:
LIGHTNING project:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/transport/projects/article_3703_en.html
Aviation Enterprises: www.aviationenterprises.co.uk/avent/
Unconventional composite aircraft need special lightening protection systems.
St
ock.Xchng
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Large Collaborative Projects are
among the main EU instruments for
co-operative industrial R&D. They are
aimed at addressing major societal
needs by mobilising a critical mass of
research and technological develop-
ment resources and competences. With
clearly defined strategic research ob-
jectives they focus on obtaining specific
applicable results.
SMEs can play an important role in large
Collaborative research Projects bringing
specialised skills and knowledge, new
blood and new ideas. What it really
comes down to is individuals, says
Martin Worsfold of Smiths Aerospace.
Whether youre big or small, if your
people have something to contribute,
then youre worth bringing on board.
Smiths Aerospace is a leading global provider of technologies and systems to builders
and operators of military and civil aircraft and engines and is coordinator of the EU
funded TATEM project.
New vision
TATEM (Technologies and techniques for new maintenance concepts) is developing
and validating philosophies, technologies and techniques that can turn unscheduled
aircraft maintenance into scheduled maintenance, aiming to deliver a 20% reduction
in airline operating costs within ten years and a 50% reduction over 20 years.
The TATEM project includes quite a number of SMEs, all contributing to the project
and some of which are really quite outstanding, says Worsfold. I would cite Oration
S.A. as just one example.
Oration is an Athens-based SME providing speech-enabled interactive voice response
(IVR) applications that allow the automation of contact centre functions. The company
offers solutions to a wide range of vertical markets, from voice banking to retail and
healthcare speech applications.
Although they dont have a lot of experience in the aeronautics sector per se, Oration
and other small groups like it have been a valuable asset to our project, says
Worsfold. In a way, our project is quite basic in nature; we are looking for new ideas
and solutions and SMEs such as Oration can sometimes find new and fresh ways to
look at things.
Another important aspect of this this kind of large project is the way it brings together
partners from all corners of Europe. It forces us to learn and expand, both in technical
terms but also in cultural terms.
For more information:
Smiths Aerospace: www.smiths-aerospace.com/
TATEM project: www.tatemproject.com/
Oration S.A.: www.oration.gr/
SMEs broadening horizons
SMEs bring specialised people with specialised skills.
J
amesKing-Holmes/Sciencephotolibrary
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How to Participate
Calls for proposals in aeronautics are published on
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7
under Find a call, FP7-AAT (AAT: Aeronautics and Air Transport)
Contact:
L. Breslin
R. Dnos
Directorate-General for Research
Directorate H: Transport
Unit H3: Aeronautics
1049 BrusselsTel: +32 2 298 64 81
KI-77-07-147-EN-C
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