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1. Introduction

• PLATON supports the participation of SMEs / SME groupings in Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities research and promotes the importance that SSH research can have for the long-term competitiveness of SMEs.

  1st Calls under FP7 Now Out!

  1st deadline for submission: 10 May 2007
  2nd deadline for submission: 29 November 2007

  For more information on current opportunities read on.

2.Getting Started

• Good Practice
  A few hundred enterprises and other organizations have participated in the info-days organized to date by the PLATON consortium. Some SMEs even had a clear vision of their needs and knew what exactly they wanted from FP7-SSH. One of SMEs participating in the Polish info-day in January 2007 is a good example of such an enterprise. Read the full story.

• Analysis of the Bologna (IT) PLATON event
  The National launch of the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in Italy took place on the 19th January in Bologna. An officer of the European Commission - DG Research presented the topics of the work programme for the year 2007. During the event a pre-screening session was organised: proposers discussed with the EU officer their proposal ideas, seeking to gain "non official European" advice about them Read the full story.

3.Funding opportunities for SMEs

• What's new in FP7?

• Conditions for Participation

• Financial Contribution

• Implementation and Grant Agreements

• Payment and Costs

4. How PLATON can Help?

• Wish to participate in FP7? Join the Network.
  PLATON is the only project that supports the participation of European Small and Medium Size companies and the respective sectoral and/or geographical SME groupings (i.e. chambers, associations, clusters, networks, etc) in research projects under the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities thematic area. The project partners will assist you. Read the full story...

• Don't have experience in FP7-SSH? We offer you customized assistance
  The PLATON partners support the in-experienced in European research so that they set a clear strategy towards FP7-SSH. We elaborate custom made reports aimed at identifying your research objectives and targeting and planning specific actions towards your involvement in future FP7-SSH research projects.  Read the full story...

• PLATON events
  PLATON partners have organised a number of events in their countries to stimulate and inform both scientific and business worlds for the funding opportunities under FP7-SSH thematic area. Visit the projects web site (PLATON events) to get more information and download all presentations.

5. Information exchange

• ESRC Festival of Social Science 9 - 18 March 2007

• European Conference on Security Research, March 26-27, 2007, Berlin, Germany

• German Council Presidency presents its priorities on Research and Development for the first half of 2007

• Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) announces year of the Humanities
  The science year 2007 will be the year of the Humanities. Since the beginning of the legislative period, the BMBF made clear that the strengthening of the humanities and cultural sciences have a high significance in its task. The BMBF wants to take concrete measures in strengthening the Humanities; therefore 2007 starts the conception "Freedom for research of the humanities". At an international level it includes the participation of the Humanities in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

• Report by European Research Advisory Board proposes open access to the results of FP7 research activities

• Politicians 'ignore scientific results'
  According to a study conducted by the Swedish association Vetenskap & Allmanheit politicians believe in research and trust researchers but they are not using important scientific findings in the field of medical research, technology or natural science. For more information, please visit: http://www.euractiv.com/en/science/politicians-ignore-scientific-results/article-160988

• FP7 made simpler for SMEs
  FP7 has been made simpler by a number of industry and research organisations who have drafted a simplified template agreement between project partners that could make SME participation easier in EU-funded research projects. Read more: http://www.euractiv.com/en/science/fp7-simpler-smes/article-161006

• DIHK: Service provider should use opportunity abroad- Analysis of the study "Going International"
  The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) detected in its analysis of the study "Going International" that international successful German companies create new jobs at home as well. Read more: http://www.internationale-kooperation.de/index.php?fm=7193

• Release of the LIVING REVIEWS IN EUROPEAN GOVERNANCE (LREG)
  Living Reviews in European Governance is an entirely web-based, peer-reviewed journal, publishing reviews of research on core themes relating to European Governance. It is offered as a free service to the scientific community. Read more: http://europeangovernance.livingreviews.org/

• The Knowledge Economy in Europe
  The Work Foundation has prepared a report for the 2007 EU Spring Council intended to contribute to the public debate surrounding the knowledge economy in Europe. The report details the current state of Europe's knowledge economy.

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