EU Funding for highly innovative Small Businesses

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1 European Transport Network Alliance The National Contact Point network for the Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 4 Smart, green and integrated transport Presents: EU Funding for highly innovative Small Businesses

2 Agenda Introduction to Horizon 2020 and ETNA2020 Luís Maia, Portugal National Contact Point for Transport Description of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument and how to apply Louise Mothersole, UK National Contact Point for Transport What constitutes a good proposal Peter Burgess, SME Instrument Evaluator Questions and discussion

3 Introduction to Horizon 2020 and ETNA 2020 Luís Maia, Portugal National Contact Point for Transport

4 What is Horizon 2020 The biggest EU Research and Innovation framework programme ever with over 80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) The emphasis is on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges The goal is to ensure that Europe: produces world-class science; removes barriers to innovation; makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.

5 The Three Pillars of Horizon 2020 Excellent Science European Research Council ERC) Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Marie-Skłodowska- Curie Actions Research Infrastructures Industrial Leadership Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies (LEIT) o Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) o Nanotechnologies o Advanced Materials o Biotechnology o Advanced Manufacturing and Processing o Space Access to risk finance Innovation in SMEs Societal Challenges Health, demographic change and wellbeing Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy Secure, clean and efficient energy Smart, green and integrated transport Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies Secure societies - protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens

6 What is the European Transport Network Alliance (ETNA 2020)? ETNA 2020 is the network of the Horizon 2020 National Contact Points for Smart, Green and Integrated Transport The overall objective of ETNA 2020 (European Transport Network Alliance 2020) is to foster innovation in trans-national cooperation in Transport with a focus on promoting the active participation of new actors and regions in EU research calls and projects Transport NCPs are key players in this mechanism, but their role is complemented and enhanced by the contribution of other relevant stakeholders, giving real added value both in terms of knowledge and expertise

7 What is the European Transport Network Alliance (ETNA 2020)? ETNA 2020 targets transnational cooperation by organising specific initiatives to raise awareness on the EU transport R&I landscape and by improving the level of expertise on EU funding tools at NCP and researcher level ETNA s specific objectives: Raise awareness and give support to national/regional research stakeholders to identify funding sources and suitable partners in H2020 and complementary funds; Facilitate the operational coherence of research activities and help overcome barriers to further integration of Transport R&I; Introduce tools to promote partnering, transfer of good practices, brokerage events, training and coaching.

8 ETNA 2020 Timeline ETNA 2020 builds upon the activities of its precursors ETNA and ETNA Plus

9 ETNA 2020 Website

10 ETNA 2020 Website

11 ETNA 2020 Website

12 ETNA 2020 Website

13 ETNA 2020 Website

14 ETNA 2020 Website

15 ETNA 2020 Website

16 ETNA 2020 Website

17 Description of the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument and how to apply Louise Mothersole, UK National Contact Point for Transport

18 What is the SME Instrument? Targeted at all types of highly innovative Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) showing a strong ambition to grow Only for profit SMEs allowed to apply for funding Very competitive - only the best ideas pass Must have a clear European dimension Close-to-market activities (Technology Readiness Level 6 or above) Embedded in societal challenges (e.g. Transport) and key enabling technologies Evaluators take a business and market perspective

19 What is an SME? To count as an SME, your organisation must be engaged in an economic activity and must have: fewer than 250 employees; and an annual turnover of no more than 50 million and/or an annual balance sheet of no more than 43 million. Whether you count as an SME may depend on how you count your workforce, turnover or balance sheet. A full 60 page guide can be found here

20 SME Instrument is a Phased initiative Phase 1 - Feasibility Study Phase 2 - Innovation Project Phase 3 - Commercialisation

21 Phase 1 Lump sum of 50k (at 70% intervention) Total project size is 71,429 Up to 6 month duration Proposal (10 pages) is draft business plan and feasibility study Project is for exploring and assessing the technical feasibility and commercial potential of a breakthrough innovation that a company wants to exploit and commercialize Outcome: a feasibility study (technical and commercial), including a business plan.

22 Phase 1 activities Could be risk assessment design or market studies user involvement intellectual property exploration innovation strategy development partner search feasibility of concept Should the conclusion of the study be that the innovative concept has the potential to be developed to the level of investment readiness/market maturity, but requires additional funding in view of commercialisation, the SME can apply for Phase 2 support

23 Phase 2 Up to 2.5m (at 70% intervention) Total project size is 3.57m Around 1 to 2 years in duration Proposals should demonstrate high potential in terms of applicant's competitiveness and growth underpinned by a strategic business plan. Outcome a new product, process or service that is ready to face market competition; a business innovation plan incorporating a detailed commercialisation strategy and a financing plan

24 Phase 2 activities Should focus on innovation activities such as: prototyping miniaturisation scaling-up performance verification testing demonstration development of pilot lines validation for market replication including other activities aimed at bringing innovation to investment readiness and maturity for market take-up.

25 Phase 3 Support which can include support for further developing investment readiness linking with private investors and customers through brokerage activities assistance in applying for further EU risk finance Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) support Indirectly funded

26 Proposal preparation and submission Step 1 Register your organisation on the Horizon 2020 Participant Portal There is a Wizard to help SMEs with this process Step 2 Identify the appropriate call for proposals Transport may not be the best fit for your business, look at e.g. Advanced Manufacturing or Bio-Based sectors Step 3 Click on the Start Submission button Nothing too drastic will happen but you will get the ability to download the templates Step 4 Populate the templates and submit your proposal Remember to answer the questions given in the templates and you should create a good proposal

27 Rolling submission deadlines Phase 1 6 Sep Nov 2017 Phase 2 1 June Oct , 2019 and 2020 not yet announced Likely to be four per year

28 Practical sources of help Your National Contact Point look them up here Official Horizon 2020 SME Instrument website scroll down the web page for more useful links Tips for success from the European Commission Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME) Frequently Asked Questions are updated regularly Score your own proposal (or better still, have a colleague do this) Self evaluation form Precious tips from 4 SME Instrument evaluators

29 What constitutes a good proposal Peter Burgess, SME Instrument Evaluator

30 Evaluator s viewpoint Phase 1 cut-off: target: evaluate 5 (10 page) proposals per day (21 scores on each) 1.5 hours per proposal Phase 2 cut-off: target 3 (30 page) proposals per day (23 scores on each) 2.5 hours per proposal

31 Evaluator s viewpoint Range of subjects is very wide: May cut-off (evaluated 9 Phase 1 proposals) covering: Railway signalling, car ignition system, bicycle parking (security and e- charging), stairlift, small aircraft navigation system, people recognition system (for cruise liner application), solar powered park bench, 100% re-cyclable small boat, road maintenance databank Implies: CLARITY of presentation scores well!!

32 Evaluation Criteria: Phase 1 Some criteria appear more than once within the 21 scores (Phase 1): Analysis of competition/best value for money: 5 times Assessment of market/willingness-to-pay: 4 times Impact on EU/Global challenges, environmental impact, awareness of key stakeholders, information collection plan, regulatory requirements, SWOT in relation to market launch, suitably resourced workplan: twice each (=14 entries) 15 other criteria appear once (total 38 criteria entries within the 21 questions)

33 Evaluation Criteria: Phase 2 Many of the questions In Phase 2 are identical or very similar to those on the Phase 1 questionnaire so that the 38 criteria entries still apply. There is more emphasis on implementation plan and more detail is required on all questions. Additional criteria include: Feasibility study (phase 1 or similar) demonstrates viability? Sub-contractors: basis of their selection? IPR Strategy more detail Work package descriptions/milestones: realistic/relevant? Task allocations appropriate?

34 May Cut-Off : remarks Selected remarks: (Aide memoire to scores: range ) Exact concept and added value not clear Is there willingness-to-pay for products with environmental externality benefit? Payback period estimate missing from commercialisation plan % increase in Jobs (= IMPACT) not shown No evidence on estimated market share (or worse still, on the total market) Addressing an EU/ global challenge?? Claimed benefits do not relate to the specific value added by the innovation

35 Any Questions?

36 FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT ETNA

From FP7 to Horizon 2020

From FP7 to Horizon 2020 Jane Watkins UK FP7 NCP Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Biotechnology Steve Bradley UK FP7 NCP for SMEs Innovation Union A strategic and integrated approach to research & innovation