The MAPEER SME project is supporting activities to create the background conditions in which Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) is welcomed, supported and nourished in European SMEs. 

The ultimate goal is to increase the participation of SMEs in the EU research programmes, by improving the conditions for participation and overcoming the barriers for innovation activities. Accordingly MAPEER SME has defi ned some crucial objectives: 

• Boost SME’s research and innovation activities and performance by bringing down barriers for SMEs across the EU to get them into the “research and innovation loop”. 
• Provide R&D&I funding plan of Europe by establishing a database of regional, national and EU level R&D&I programmes 
• Assess the needs and expectations of SMEs and transform their views into recommendations for policy makers and programme managers 
• Utilise and benefit from synergies of EU initiatives in the R&D&I field and initiate structured policy dialogue between the various players at EU and national, regional levels (DG RTD, REGIO, EAC and ENTR, along with national and regional level) through the European Experts’ Panel on SMEs. 
• Set-up and establish sustainable mechanisms to provide advice to the EU, the national and regional policy makers and programme managers (from R&D&I related Ministries, research agencies and intermediaries) as well as SME Stakeholders.