Call Top Sector HTSM: FOM promotes partnerships with SMEs
In its strategic plan, FOM has incorporated greater involvement of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in fundamental research. Within NWO there are KIEM tools for this, such as KIEM for the Top Sector Chemical Top Sector. FOM is now launching a tool that focuses on partnerships with SMEs in the Top Sector High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM): KIEM-HTSM. Innovative collaboration projects from businesses and research institutes, in which the business community wishes to invest, can submit project proposals to FOM.
Since 2004, it has been possible to apply to FOM for an Industrial Partnership Programme (IPP). FOM uses this tool in order to strengthen links with the industrial sector and thus ensure that FOM research contributes to the knowledge economy of the Netherlands, in addition to contributing to science. In the 2015-2019 Strategic Plan, FOM has also incorporated greater involvement of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in fundamental research. FOM is providing a framework for this ambition with the possibilities of KIEM-HTSM. KIEM-HTSM is about relatively small projects in which researchers and SMEs collaborate in order to address SME knowledge questions, and in order to strengthen the collaboration between SMEs and academia.
The pilot for the KIEM-HTSM tool has been launched immediately with a call for proposals. The deadline for applications is 27 September 2016.