Key facts
- The European Commission adopted a new voluntary charter to facilitate faster access to research and innovation facilities for companies.
- The charter aims to reduce the time it takes for startups and SMEs to develop and test products, bringing innovations to market more quickly.
- Key principles include increased visibility of services, transparency, simplified contracts, intellectual property management, and tailored support.
- The initiative is part of the EU's Startup and Scaleup Strategy to enhance the bloc's global competitiveness.
The European Commission has introduced a new voluntary charter designed to streamline and accelerate how companies, particularly startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), can access and utilize Europe's advanced research and innovation facilities. This initiative seeks to shorten the development cycle from idea to market-ready product, thereby bolstering the European Union's global competitiveness against major players like the US and China.
According to a statement from the Commission, the charter aims to make it "easier and faster" for businesses to engage with the bloc's "world-class research and innovation facilities." This is particularly crucial for smaller firms that often face challenges in navigating the complexities of accessing such resources, including understanding available services and associated costs, challenges that larger corporations are typically better equipped to handle.