eurelations AG is a partner in the project KAPPA-Health to assess and valorise the success of biomedical small and medium sized companies (SME) receiving funds from the European Union’s Framework Programmes 6 and 7 for research and technological development (FP6/7). The project is a specific support action with the aim is to catch up with successful biomedical SME, gain knowledge about the most relevant factors for a successful participation in EU FP6 and 7 to provide information on how additional innovation capital can be acquired.

SMEs in the biomedical (Pharma, Biotechnology and Medtech) are important key to economic competitiveness and growth. Despite biomedical SME’s incredible potential to cure debilitating diseases and improve the quality of life for people, public and private funding for biomedical research and design is declining - a trend that could jeopardize efforts to find improved treatments for people with life-threatening illnesses.

Although public funding by the European Unions FP accounts only for 4-5% of the total investment in R&D the projects bring together a critical mass of stakeholders with the aim to improve citizen’s health and to boost European economy. In almost all cases additional capital from the other public sources, private investors or through public-private partnership is needed to bring biomedical discoveries towards the market. The KAPPA-Health survey will enable to select successful SMEs active in FP6/7. The success factors may be used as criteria to impose future successful FP collaborations. KAPPA-Health will contribute to exploit biomedical innovations from FP cooperation by providing knowledge about the additional range of funds to the decision makers of SMEs and by the valorisation of the companies. Biomedical SMEs by this empowering support shall become more attractive for potential investors. The generated new knowledge will increase the flow of capital to biomedical research and help improve citizen’s health.