Brussels, 03/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - With the official launch of the Eurostars programme (EUROPE 9501), which is designed to fund companies engaged in research and development (R&D) activities, by Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik on Tuesday 2 October, the main representative of European SMEs spoke out against the fact that the funds earmarked go to only a few companies. Initial financial aid granted under the programme will be available to SMEs investing 10% or more of their annual turnover in research activities. “Only a small number of SMEs potentially concerned will fulfil the Eurostars eligibility criterion”, lamented Ullrich Schröder, the R&D adviser of the European employers' Association representing the interests of craft and SMEs (UEAPME). He believes that this criterion is well above that retained by the OECD, which refers to companies as “high-tech” if they spend more than 5% of their budget on R&D. (bc)