What

Ira-SME projects aim at strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs by promoting cooperation between SMEs from different regions and countries, and with different knowledge institutions.

Composition of the consortium

The consortium that can submit a project includes partners from at least two countries with at least one SME per country involved. Note that for projects with only Walloon and Flemish partners, an additional partner from another country is required. Collaboration with knowledge institutions is possible, but not compulsory.

Partners from the following countries/regions can participate: Germany, Flanders, Wallonia, Russia, Alberta (Canada), the Czech Republic, Brazil, Turkey and Luxembourg. The respective subsidizing agencies, ministries or programs are: Zentrales Innovationprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM), Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO), Service Public de Wallonie (SPW), Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), German-Canadian Centre for Innovations and Research (GCCIR, Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO), Luxinnovation,  EMBRAPII and  The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tübitak).

Committed programmes

Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship participates with development projects.

Target audience

The target group are non-R&D intensive SMEs.

More information

You can find more information on the website.

A specific question about Ira-SME? Contact ria.bruynseels@vlaio.be, T +32 2 432 42 76