The two EU–based projects, EURRECA and EUREKA are in the early phase of discussing a partnership which will potentially be of great benefit to SME’s right across the EU. Whilst EURRECA is focused on the emerging science around micronutrients and how this can be applied in recommendation settings, EUREKA is focused on helping European industry to engage in international R&D projects in order to improve their competitiveness.  More than 50 % of the EUREKA participants are SMEs. Following a meeting at ESOF in Barcelona, EURRECA IA2 leader, Luca Bucchini of Hylobates, Italy has been introduced to Euroagri+, the Eureka umbrella for food, feed and agriculture, to explore potential areas of collaboration.  The possibility to work directly with national focal points is also being explored.

Commenting on the development, Luca indicates, “One option under exploration is the potential to refer SMEs between the two projects for help in preparing projects and possibly identify funding.  The scientific ideas for SMEs that derive from Eurreca, and the support of our technical-scientific-regulatory framework, may support the generation of projects under Eureka.”

Luca concludes ‘it is still very early days, but I think collaboration between these two EC project could offer Europe’s SME some exciting possibilities’

Visit the SME Forum for more details & watch this space for further information on this collaboration.

For more information about EUREKA, visit their website at www.eureka.be