As keynote speaker at the Industry Space Days 2006 Françoise Le Bail, EC Deputy Director General for Enterprise and Industry, made particular reference to SMEs and the Commission’s efforts to stimulate their role. “This is particularly important in the space sector; a large number of key contributors to the European space industry fall within the definition of an SME.”
She also described the 7th Framework Programme for research and development, expected to come into operation at the beginning of 2007. This will allocate funding to support small innovative groups to solve common and complementary technological problems and research.