9 March 2021

Important input from SMEs on how to grow Big Science business

In the pan-European project ENRIITC, Big Science Sweden recently hosted a successful discussion group on topics relevant for suppliers to Big Science facilities. The discussion also included how the ILOs can work optimally as a bridging point between research facilities and companies.

Two interesting topics concerned how to bring down entry barriers for SMEs, and how to stimulate pan-European partnerships between companies on the Big Science market.

Suggestions that came up included exploring SME tools to find collaboration partners and how to use EU funds for partnering. Another interesting suggestion was to learn from a case study in the nuclear industry in the UK.

Around twenty ILOs and representatives from the research facilities and SMEs contributed to a fruitful workshop. The next step is to compile the results and prioritise which actions to move forward with.