CORNET is a network of ministries and funding agencies that combine their funding systems, aiming to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The network helps finance joint research projects by pooling funding opportunities from around the world, connecting the funding organizations to the collective projects and supporting the introduction of pilot programs.

Since its creation in 2005, CORNET has helped fund more than 200 projects from 3,200 companies with a total investment of € 130 million.

How can Brazilian SME benefit?

In Brazil, the network was recently introduced via support from EMBRAPII (Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation) and FAPESP (São Paulo State Research Support Foundation). This support has facilitated collaboration of small and medium-sized Brazilian companies with industry and research partners in the twelve member countries and regions of the network: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Flanders, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Quebec, Switzerland, and Taiwan.  

The institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are open to joint CORNET research projects with SMEs in countries such as Brazil. The local partners will profit from this collaboration by being empowered to implement research projects with the world renowned Fraunhofer organization, all while being funded by international financiers.  

By funding one project, at least 10 SME (5+5 per participating country/region) benefit from the results, plus many more SME potentially reached in the sector. Collaborative CORNET projects generate a several times higher impact on economies compared to projects where only single companies are supported.