SPACE4SME PROJECT PECS Questionnaire results

Transcription

1 OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PECS INDUSTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN ESA PROGRAMMES SPACE4SME PROJECT PECS Questionnaire results Prague April 25, 2008 Petr Bares, Czech Space Alliance

2 QUESTIONNAIRE FEEDBACK - The questionnaire has been sent in the middle of January 2008 to 80 SMEs - 25 answers (31 % of the total) Rate of return Distribution in countries % 47% SENT 20% Czech Republic Hungary Poland Romania Czech Republic Hungary Poland Romania 69% RECEIVED NO ANSWER 24% 19% 14% RECEIVED 40% Czech Republic Hungary Poland Romania SENT RECEIVED 24% 12%

3 Majority Small and Micro-SME 50% < 1MEuro 79% < 10MEuro SUMMARY OF RESPONDENTS - more than 80% of the companies have considered to bid to ESA - 7 companies, (i. e. 28 % from 25 answers) have actually submitted a bid for a project TURNOVER COMING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM ESA ACTIVITIES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS: - 50% no turnover - 42% less than 20% of the turnover coming from ESA activities - 8% more than 40% of the turnover coming from ESA activities THE ROLE OF SMES IN ESA PROGRAMMES: - on average the companies of the sample operate as subcontractors in 52% of cases; - 48% were leading their own project

4 SUMMARY OF RESPONDENTS The sector with the highest concentration of PECS SMEs activities is software (20 %) and services (16 %). Main competences of SME's System production 7% System design 10% Other (specify) 2% Software 20% Consultancy 14% Mechanical production 7% Mechanical design 10% Services 16% Electronics design 9% Electronic production 5%

5 THE POSITIONING OF SMES IN THE ESA PROGRAMMES The main SME s activity is now in the Downstream services and applications, but they would be able to increase their activites in all phases, especially in Mission developement % 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 25.93% 18.75% 22.22% 34.38% 37.04% 34.38% 14.81% 12.50% 0.00% Early mission studies/ Technology development projects Mission development present positioning Downstream services and applications increase ability Other

6 SPACE4SME - PROVISIONAL RESULTS THE BENEFITS FOR SMEs COMING FROM THE PARTICIPATION IN ESA PROGRAMMES: -further participation in ESA programmes (50%) -new space markets (17%) -non-space markets (33%) -no gain at all (0%) (6 responses)

7 100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 0.00% AWARENESS OF ESA INITIATIVES 60.00% From 5 responses one knows the ESINET and one some other initiative than those listed. 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 20.00% 0.00% 20.00% From 5 ESA contractors 3 find it mostly easy to interact with the ESA contact points to ask information and/or receive assistance, one always and one never. LET-SME Innovation Triangle Initiative (ITI) Communication Innovative Project Programme Technology Transfer Programme ESINET/Space Incubator Commercial access policy to ISS None of the above Other

8 MAIN DIFFICULTIES AND BOTTLENECKS THAT SMEs ENCOUNTERED: - too much administration work with respect to the profitability (73% - very high or high difficulty) -competition with large industries even in small contracts (also 73%) - lack of information on rules and procedures to enter projects (58%) -

9 Support of National Agencies (relative questions) Has National assistance been helpful in improving your bid submission? (24 answers) Difficulties: you don t feel supported by your national space agency to represent your interests with ESA (26 answers) % % 80.00% 80.00% 60.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 12.50% 20.83% 25.00% 16.67% 25.00% 40.00% 20.00% 15.38% 34.62% 23.08% 26.92% 0.00% Significantly A little Not really Definitely not Never asked for assistance 0.00% Low difficulty Medium difficulty High difficulty Very high difficulty

10 Why are SME s not a member of any national or international space sector Trade Association? From 24 respondents 14 are members of a national or international space Trade Association. Those who are not, quote high costs and no benefit Most important reason Second most important reason Too high costs 37% No benefit 13% No benefit 46% Haven t found a relevant Association 8% Other 8% Other 33% Haven t found a relevant Association 17% Too high costs 38%

11 CONTRACTUAL AND PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES 50% of 28 companies are registered as EMITS users (have ESA bidder code) 30 % of EMITS users rate the usability of EMITS service as poor or unusable Funding Level 42 % sees as high difficulty, that the the introduction of SMEs innovative technologies is under funded 16% feels that the level of funds for ESA contracts is not often adequate

12 DIFFICULTIES IN CONTRACTUAL ISSUES Level of IT Technical Specification 31% feels it not detailed enough for 12 % is the ITT language and terminology is often not clear or understandable Financial Data nobody ever used ECOS Bid Evaluation 48% (from 25) don t Understand Evaluation 80% (from 5) think < 4 weeks reasonable evaluation time 80% (from 5) think <4 weeks reasonable award/contract time

13 OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH SMES BETTER DISCUSSION Your comments and views? Input from PB from Czech experience Concepts important to publicise - ESA not EU -Funding is 100% + -No need to be a (space) scientist Recommendations for newcomers -Look for partners in member states -Participate in ESA and EU space events - Do not start by trying to bid alone