[ Collective Research Networking (CORNET) | International pre-competitive research funding on energy ]

CORNET was initiated as an ERA-NET in 2005 and was 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, 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. However, 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: funding for applicants based in CH comes from SFOE.
 
The main types of targeted activities are:

• industrial research and development
• applied research and development.

• At least 2 different countries or regions.
• At least an SME organisation, association or cluster, a researcher and an SME user committee with min. 5 SMEs in each country or region.

• Maximum funding for Swiss-based applicants: no limit.
• Eligible costs: personnel, overhead, travel & subsistence, equipment, material, consumables, equipment depreciation, subcontracting costs / expenditures that are not part of R&D.