The SME instrument was launched under Horizon 2020, the EU's new €80 billion research funding programme, to help innovative small firms get innovative projects from the lab to the market.
VKEde rahastamise vahend võeti kasutusele ELi uue teadusuuringute rahastamise programmi „Horisont 2020” (mille eelarve on 80 miljardit eurot) raames.