[ COllective Research NETworking (CORNET) | International pre-competitive collective research funding on energy ]

CORNET was initiated as an ERA-NET in 2005 and supported by the European Commission’s 6^th and 7^th Framework Programme for Research and Development until 2011, when it became a self-sustained network. CORNET’s aim is to increase competitiveness of SMEs by funding international pre-competitive, collective, market-oriented research projects via biannual calls for proposals.

The calls follow a bottom-up approach: every topic that supports SMEs in their innovation efforts is welcome. Every project participant will be funded by the funding organisation of their own country or region according to their specific rules. Funding for Swiss-based applicants comes from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE. Swiss-based applicants can only participate in consortia focusing on energy research in various fields of energy efficiency, renewable energies and sustainable energy use and supply.

The main types of targeted activities are:

• industrial research and development
• applied research and development

• At least 2 different countries.
• At least an SME association, organization or group, a Research Organisation and an SME User Committee consisting of min. 5 SMEs in each country or region.

• Maximum funding for Swiss-based applicants: not specified.
• Eligible costs: personnel, travel & subsistence, equipment, material, consumables, equipment depreciation, subcontracting costs / expenditures that are not part of R&D.