What’s going on in Europe: 19 July to 1 August

This week: data support for science, South Korean microchip alliance, health data protection and more

EIC backs small firms

The European Innovation Council has achieved its goal of providing 70 per cent of its funding to support small and medium-sized enterprises. The EU’s flagship funder of R&D aimed at developing breakthrough technologies has been trying to focus on helping smaller businesses, and a European Commission report published in July found that 74 per cent of its resources have been allocated to SMEs since 2021. About 20 per cent of all funding awarded so far in the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme has gone to smaller businesses, amounting to €6.6 billion shared among 7,474 businesses. The report notes that “SMEs bring to projects at least 38 cents for every euro they receive”.