A short introduction to the funding landscape Oct 2016
AGENDA Who am I Why target DK & EU grant opportunities? Funding Steps* When should you target soft funding opportunities? How to make your project attractive? Why should funding target you? Pre-funding opportunities H2020 (quick) and SME Instrument Eurostars Selected Cases Good advice for proposal writing Short intro - Nordic Innovators
Who am i then Working with business dev. and funding since 2003 Partner at NI Concept sparring (internal and external) Delivery / QA =
Why target national & EU grant opportunities? Top 5 reasons companies want to target soft funding opportunities 1. Generate/acquire new knowledge 2. Development of new products 3. Solving technological challenges; 4. Gearing R&D budgets and minimising financial risk; 5. Access to new collaborative R&D networks and markets
Funding Steps (TRL)
When should you target soft funding opportunities? Markedsmodningsfonden
How to make your project attractive?
Why should funding target you? Whats new? 1 min elevator pitch Clear business model Great team Prizes Support Value Chain Protect IP
PRE-FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES DENMARK
DANISH PRE-FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES EUopSTART opportunity: Programme Grant (DKK) Conditions SME Instrument 50.000 Only phase II Eurostars 50.000 H2020 RIA/IA 75.000/50.000 Depends on role Others 50.000 Similar programmes available in other EU countries for project partners
GOOD ADVICE FOR PROPOSAL WRITING
Remember your audience A proposal is not a diary, the primary aim of the text is to convince others to give you a lot of money Nothing is common knowledge (remember references) Imagine your recipient as a pair of grumpy old man, with too much work They know best, until proven wrong They do NOT want to look for argumentation Start high > end high > hidden in the text If you are a researcher, expect your evaluators to be from industry and vice versa
Kill the optimist Do not neglect questions that are hard to answer Look for weaknesses/soft spots in your idea and your project Remove all doubt, nothing is left to chance Get more eyes on your text (Mother in law?) Remember Someone is getting paid to kill your project idea, and they do it for fun!
Do it yourself! if your good at it and have the time and use all the help you can to for the remaining tasks Eurocenter, NCPs, partners, colleagues, consultants, etc. Spend your time where your efforts generate the most value! And don t forget! A proposal is not only writing also partners, administration, budgets, rules, online systems, tables and graphics design?
Nordic Innovators
NORDIC INNOVATORS Specialised in assisting industry and public sector clients in accessing funding for R&D projects 3 partners with more than 35 years of experience within EU proposal writing Supported by a strong team with diversified competences and skills: 10 Project Consultants with strong technical (ranging from Photonics to Genetics) and commercial backgrounds with excellent business and communication skills 3 Associated partners with long history of working with EU Framework Programmes Offices in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Malaga, and Lyon Associated partners in Norway, Finland and the UK. Large international network, for recruiting project partners within industry and academia
CONCULTANCY & GRANT SCAN APPLICATION PROSESS CONTRACT NEGOTIATION Get free consulting and Grant Scan report with a detailed overview of nation & European funding opportunities relevant for your project idea(s)! We are taking full responsibility in coordinating and developing your full proposal. Covering all aspects of a grant proposal resulting in a high quality proposal! We are coordinating and assisting you throughout the negotiation phase covering all aspects; Grant Agreement, GPF, DoW and Consortium Agreement! PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROJECT DELIVERY TRAINING & WORKSHOPS After successful negotiation we are able to free your resources by assisting you through the implementation of the project. We can take on project management and deliver all administrative reporting tasks! When implementing your project we are able to deliver specific deliverables such as Business Plan, Plan for Commercialisation and IPR management and Network Patent Analysis [NPA]! For both companies and research institutions we are delivering training activities on subjects as; Project Development, Proposal Writing and IPR management!
HOW CAN WE HELP? Pre-proposal Phase (free services): Professional sparring and Grant Scan covering your innovation(s); Grant Scan: a detailed analysis of suitable funding instruments for your project(s), including funding requirements, funding rates, success criteria's and next deadlines; External validation of your project(s), is it suitable for soft-funding?; Above leading to a strategic soft-funding strategy & management decision making tool. Grant Proposal Phase (financial risk limited by EUopSTART): Writing and securing EUopSTART support for EU proposal development; Writing and submission of a high-quality EU grant proposal; Ensuring your Grant Agreement process when receiving the EC funding invitation. A transparent business model a strategic collaboration where we assist our clients from ideation to commercialisation!
Any questions? Thank you for your attention Søren Haslund Email: sh@nordicinnovators.dk Mobile: +45 2274 5970 www: www.nordicinnovators.dk
Quick H2020 OVERVIEW
WHAT IS HORIZON 2020? 70 billion research and innovation funding programme (2014-2020) A core part of Europe 2020, Innovation Union & European Research Area: Responding to the economic crisis to invest in future jobs and growth Addressing people s concerns about their livelihoods, safety and environment Strengthening the EU s global position in research, innovation and technology What is new? Coupling research to innovation Focus on societal challenges facing EU society Simplified access
H2020 STRUCTURE & PRIORITIES EXCELLENT SCIENCE 33% European Research Council Future and Emerging Technologies Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions Research Infrastructures INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP 24% Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Techs (KETs) Access to Risk Finance Innovation in SMEs SOCIETAL CHALLENGES 43% Health, demographic change and well-being Food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research, and the bioeconomy Secure, clean and efficient energy Smart, green and integrated transport Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials Inclusive, innovative societies / Secure societies
THE (NEW) SME INSTRUMENT
THE (NEW) SME INSTRUMENT Phase 1: Concept & Feasibility Assessment Phase 2: Demonstration / Market Maturation / R&D Phase 3: Commercialisation Feasibility of concept Risk assessment IP regime Partner search Design study Pilot application intention Business plan II Lump sum: 50.000 6 months Development, prototyping, testing Piloting innovative processes, products & services Miniaturisation/design of products Planning & developing scaling-up (market segments, process etc.) Market replication Business plan III Cost reimbursement 1-2.5M 12-24 months Quality label for successful projects Facilitate access to private finance Support via networking, training, coaching, information, addressing e.g. IP mgt., knowledge sharing, dissemination IDEA Continued support throughout the project Market
SME INSTRUMENT MAIN FEATURES Targeted at all types of innovative SMEs showing a strong ambition to grow (and to develop and internationalise); Only SMEs allowed to apply for funding (single company support, but collaboration is certainly advisable); Competitive, EU dimension only the best ideas pass phase I; Market-oriented, close-to-market activities: 70% funding + 25% OH; 2-phases Entrance in both Phase I and II; Embedded in societal challenges and key enabling technologies.
SME Calls TOPICS CALL ID Open Disruptive Innovation Scheme Accelerating the uptake of nanotech, advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs SMEInst-01 SMEInst-02 Dedicated support to biotechnology SMEs closing the gap from lab to market Engaging SMEs in space research and development Supporting innovative SMEs in the healthcare biotechnology sector Accelerating market introduction of ICT solutions for Health, Well-Being and Ageing Well SMEInst-03 SMEInst-04 SMEInst-05 SMEInst-06 Stimulating the innovation of SMEs for sustainable and competitive agriculture, forestry, agri-food and bio-based sectors SMEInst-07 Supporting SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth SMEInst-08 Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon and efficient energy system SMEInst-09 Small business innovation research for Transport and Smart Cities Mobility Boosting the potential of small businesses in the areas of climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials SMEInst-10 SMEInst-11 New business models for inclusive, innovative and reflective societies Engaging SMEs in security research and development SMEInst-12 SMEInst-13
RULES FOR PARTICIPATION
SUMMARY 1. A single set of rules: Adapted for the whole research and innovation cycle Covering all research programmes and funding bodies Aligned to the Financial Regulation, coherent with other new EU Programmes 2. One project one funding rate: Maximum of 100% of the total eligible costs (except for innovation actions, where a 70% maximum will apply for profit making entities) Indirect eligible costs: a flat rate of 25% of direct eligible costs 3. Simple evaluation criteria: Excellence Impact Implementation (Excellence only, for the ERC) 4. New forms of funding aimed at innovation: pre-commercial procurement, inducement prizes, dedicated loan and equity instruments 5. International participation: facilitated but better protecting EU interests 6. Simpler rules for grants: broader acceptance of participants accounting practices for direct costs, flat rate for indirect costs, no time-sheets for personnel working full time on a project, possibility of output-based grants 7. Fewer, better targeted controls and audits: Lowest possible level of requirements for submission of audit certificates without undermining sound financial management Audit strategy focused on risk and fraud prevention 8. Improved rules on intellectual property: Balance between legal security and flexibility Tailor-made IPR provisions for new forms of funding A new emphasis on open access to research publications
EUROSTARS
Eurostars Targeting SMEs with own Research and Development capacity Bottom-up programme, no thematic restrictions Targeted at innovative projects with obvious technical barriers and projects with a large potential market Project duration 1½ - 3 years, with max 2 years until planned market introduction post-project Minimum 2 partners from 2 different EUREKA countries Large companies and research institutions can participate The coordinating Research Intensive SME, i.e. at least 10% of the SME s employees or the budget is dedicated to R&D IPR to own research, different IPR regime can be agreed freely between the partners
Eurostars Project budgets (normally 1.5-2M) Maximum direct support to Danish participants per project, DKK3.75M SMEs 60% reimbursement of eligible costs (450,- per hour) 2 yearly deadlines next deadline March 2017 Good average succesrate!
SELECTED CASES
CASE - NxPAS Programme: EUROSTARS Project idea: To develop and test an innovative non-invasive trace gas analysesplatform targeting cancer diagnostics. Our role: Nordic Innovators completed a detailed Grant Scan for the client and Eurostars was selected as the most suited programme. We developed a DK pre-proposal, recruited project partners and wrote a successful EU proposal. Project budget: 772.000 Project duration: 24 months
CASE 1 - FishDirector Programme: SME Instrument ICT Phase I Project idea: To commercialise and bring to market a high innovative software solution for real-time optimisation of Cloud Data Centres. Our role: Initially we did a Grant Scan for the client where the SME Instrument was identified as the best funding vehicle. We developed a successful Phase 1 and are currently developing the Phase II proposal and assisting in the feasibility project (Phase I implementation). Project budget: 71,000m Project funding: 50,000 Project duration: 6 months
CASE 2 - StreetHopper Programme: SME Instrument ICT Phase II Project idea: To commercialise and bring to market a disruptive compact low-cost Free Space Optics [FSO] data link. Our role: Initially we did a Grant Scan for the client where the programmes Phase II and Eurostars were identified as the best funding vehicles. We secured PES2020 funding for both EU proposals and developed the EU proposals both have been funded by the EC. Project budget: 2.3m Project funding: 1.6m Project duration: 18 months
CASE - DirectShopping Programme: The Danish Market Maturation Fund Project idea: To test and adapt a new solution for better and more integrated e-commerce. Our role: Nordic Innovators completed a detailed Grant Scan for the client and The Danish Market Maturation Fund was selected as the most suited programme. We developed a successful innovation proposal. Currently we are working on two additional EU proposals for the client. Project budget: 1.510.000 Project duration: 18 months