The pillar consists of three specific objectives:

“Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies” provides dedicated support for research, development and demonstration and, where appropriate, for standardisation and certification on

• information and communications technologies (ICT);
  
• nanotechnology, advanced materials, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and processing and
  
• space.
  

Emphasis is placed on interactions and convergence across and between the different technologies and their relations to societal challenges. User needs will be taken into account in all these fields.

“Access to risk finance” aims to overcome deficits in the availability of debt and equity finance for R&D and innovation-driven companies and projects at all stages of development.

 Together with the equity instrument of the COSME Programme it will support the development of Union-level venture capital.

The “Innovation in SMEs” action provides SME-tailored support to stimulate all forms of innovation in SMEs, targeting those with the potential to grow and internationalise across the single market and beyond.