SECURE-FORCE will address this problem through:

• higher levels of research funding offered by EU funded projects;
• higher degree of pluralism in funding sources, pushing SMEs to address national and regional funds;
• lower dependence on closed national systems through a stronger interaction with IPs NoEs.

In the scope of the project, three categories of SMEs which are actively involved in research areas are identified and will be targeted:

• SMEs grouping having specific needs, in term of integration, legislation, particularly in the scope of their relationship with large companies.
• High and Medium Technologies SMEs (HMT) as well as start-ups directly involved in innovation activities in the targeted security areas
• SMEs (mainly involved in software development) which could directly integrate the innovative solutions in their commercial offer.

Additional categories could be identified during the progress of the project. A full set of SMEs classification will be performed during the project.

During the full duration of the project, a FP7 monitoring will be carry out in order to be in line with the new FP7 strategic objectives. The goal is to orient the SECURE-FORCE strategy as close as possible towards the FP7 opportunities and philosophy. Depending on the FP7 opportunities, the consortium may update some objectives of the project. In parallel, the consortium will find common methodology in order to strengthen the synergy between them. The goal is to avoid lonely and fragmented actions.

Within the SECURE-FORCE project, the objectives of the consortium are :

• To develop trans-national, trans-sectoral and trans-thematic integrated network in order to integrate currently disparate networks into a single coordinated team will include SMENCPs, IRCs, BICs, professional associations, trade associations and consultants.
• To implement a structured network enabling an optimal communication and knowledge sharing between the consortium and the targeted areas (SMES/SMEs grouping and potential projects proposers in security domains).
• To provide a cohesive and fully functional set of support measures and actors to enable SMEs/SMEs groupings in the Security sectors, to optimally and effectively participate in European Projects.
• To establish respectively a mapping of SMEs roles and expectations and a mapping of proposers/coordinators expectations.

The SECURE-FORCE project will create new opportunities for SMEs to increase their competitiveness faced with the increasingly global markets. It will promote a knowledge and best practice sharing process across Europe, stimulating the full use of the dynamic and potential of European SMEs. SECURE-FORCE will give visibility and access to their know how and expertise, networking their capacities and activities with regard to research, innovation and technology transfer. It will enhance the relationships between SMEs and large Security players and disseminating outstanding practices on SMEs trans-national collaborations and technology exploitation.

SECURE-FORCE will improve Europe's innovation performance by stimulating a better integration between research and innovation, specifically targeting SMEs/SMEs groupings which are the most capable intermediaries between research and innovation since they perform the crucial function of transforming scientific knowledge into technological and commercial applications.