Powering Innovation Through Subsidised Tailored SME Access to European Research Infrastructures
Admans, Gary (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Business Development Office)
Boix de la Cruz, Virginia (Laboratori de Llum del Sincrotró ALBA)
Mitchell, Edward (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Business Development Office)
Sanchez, Alejandro (Laboratori de Llum del Sincrotró ALBA)
Valls Vidal, Núria (Laboratori de Llum del Sincrotró ALBA)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are repeatedly identified in European research and innovation policy as key drivers of economic growth and technological uptake, yet they remain structurally under-represented amongst users of European research infrastructures (RIs). Over the past decade, several European Commission–funded projects have experimented with subsidised, SME-oriented access mechanisms intended to reduce financial, organisational, and cognitive barriers to RI use. Drawing on evidence from initiatives centred on X-ray light source and free electron laser and infrastructures LEAPS (1) notably the TamaTA (Tailor-made for SME Transnational Access) (2) schemes under CALIPSOplus (3) (4) and LEAPS-INNOV (5) (6) and from a broader analytical research infrastructure network ReMade-at-ARI (7) (8), this paper reflects on how these schemes were designed, what they delivered and the lessons they offer for future science and innovation policy. The evidence suggests that subsidised access can be an effective policy instrument, but only when combined with appropriate and pragmatic delivery mechanisms designed for industry. Single entry points, rapid and rolling evaluation procedures, confidentiality-ready access conditions and hands-on support emerge as critical success factors. Where these elements are present, SMEs complete access, report innovation-relevant outcomes and, in some cases, progress towards repeat use of RIs. The paper concludes with recommendations aimed at consolidating subsidised SME access as a durable European-level capability rather than a series of project-based pilots.
Grants:	European Commission 730872 European Commission 101004728 European Commission 101058414
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Industry ; SME ; Innovation ; Research infrastructures
Published in:	Synchrotron Radiation News, July 2026, ISSN 1931-7344

DOI: 10.1080/08940886.2026.2678786

Available from: 2027-07-31 Postprint 17 p, 580.4 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > The ALBA Synchrotron
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles