The Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry — Aerospace, GMES, Security and Defence has published the resolution of a tender to develop a study on the competitiveness of the European small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) in the defence sector with a budget of 170,590 euros.

The contract was initially published on the Official Journal on the S 105 de 31.05.2008 in order to develop a clear picture of the current situation of European SME's in the defence sector. He shall identify the challenges and gaps for European SME's in the defence sector. The contractor shall make some recommendations which measures should be undertaken on a national as well as on a European basis to improve the competitiveness of SME's and to have a better distribution of defence business in Europe. In addition, the contractor shall make some suggestions on how SME's can contribute in the European industrial landscape (niche capacities of SME's, highly innovative enterprises, Centres of Excellence). Study on the Competitiveness of the European Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME's) in the defence sector.

Europe Economics is the company that will develop this study for the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry according to the notice published on the Official Journal.