Collaborative Growth Programme Call Phase One Application: Scoping Study
The Collaborative Growth Programme provides support for networks of SMEs who want to work together to scope and exploit opportunities that could enhance their competitive edge. In order to be eligible for funding each group must consist of a minimum of four Northern Ireland companies, one of which must be an Invest Northern Ireland customer, and be willing to make this application on behalf of the other companies in the network. All sections of this application form should be completed as indicated. You should note that failure to provide adequate information will result in your initial project application being rejected. Before making your application please read the Guidance Notes available at www.investni.com/ collaborative-growth-programme.html. If you require any further clarification before submitting your application please contact a member of the Collaborative Growth Programme team on 02890 698342. All boxes in this application will automatically expand to accommodate additional information. For details on how we use your personal data, including your rights, please visit: www investni.com/about-us/privacy-notice.html. Please note that in order to enable delivery of the Collaborative Growth Programme we may share your contact information with other businesses, public sector organisations and academic institutions as appropriate, within the context of encouraging networking, access to new economic opportunities and/or knowledge transfer. 1.1 Applicant Details Name of Company making the application on behalf of the network Must be an Invest NI Client company, with a named Client Executive Name of Applicant Company s Invest NI Client Executive You must make your Client Executive aware of this application Is Applicant Company an SME? Please refer to the definition in Note 1; If no, the amount of support will be limited under EU State Aid rules Yes/No Who should we contact to discuss this application? Name: Mobile: Email: Landline: 1 An SME is defined as An autonomous enterprise which has less than 250 employees, either turnover under 50 million per annum or an annual balance sheet total under 43 million and holds less than 25% of the capital or voting rights (whichever is the higher) in one or more other enterprises and/or in which outsiders do not hold a stake of 25% or more of the capital or voting rights (whichever is the higher).
1.2 Network SME Members All networks must consist of at least 4 NI based SMEs to be considered for support under this programme; applications not meeting this minimum requirement will be excluded from the shortlisting process Business Name Contact Person Nature of Business Email Telephone Number Invest NI Customer; Yes/No 1.3 Network Stakeholder Members These may include, but are not limited to, large companies, other government departments; local councils; regulatory groups; potential customers; voluntary organisations; other funding bodies and/or academic institutions. Stakeholder Organisation Contact Person Area of Expertise Email Telephone Number Please ensure that the contact information you have supplied, particularly as it relates to third party organisations, is accurate.
2 Project Details 2.1 Future Focused Innovation Themes We are interested in supporting collaborative projects with an emphasis on commercial opportunities associated with future focused innovation. The following areas have been identified as being key to the growth of our economy and therefore we would particularly welcome applications aligned to these themes. Please indicate which one, or more, of the categories below your project intends to focus on. Further details on these themes are available at www.investni.com/collaborative-growth-programme.html. If your project does not fall into one of these categories you can still apply using the other category. Transforming Construction Briefly outline in what way you believe your collaborative project aligns with your selected theme: Energy Revolution Data to Early Diagnosis and Precision Medicine Healthy Ageing Transforming Food Production Audiences of the Future Next Generation Services Other
2.2 Collaborative Project Overview In 750 words or less please tell us about the collaborative opportunity you and your partners want to investigate via this Scoping Study project; please include (as a minimum) a project title; your overall objectives; details of any existing research or evidence you have already collected; an outline of how the group has come together; an overview of what value/expertise the stakeholders indicated at 1.3 will bring to the project. 2.3 Project Benefits In a minimum of 500 words please detail how you anticipate this opportunity will be of value to a) the SMEs participating in the project b) the wider Northern Ireland economy and society; think in terms of innovative products, services and ways of working which can, ultimately, lead to enhanced skills, new export opportunities; knowledge transfer; and/or increased sales.
2.4 Project Tasks/Activities Collaborative Growth Programme funding will enable you to appoint an independent Facilitator to undertake the Scoping Study project on behalf of the group; in line with best practice Invest NI will expect you to investigate the following as standard: Terms of Reference/Project Governance; Skills Gap Analysis; Competitor and Market Analysis; Risk Register; in addition, in a minimum of 500 words please detail below what specific tasks/activities you anticipate the Facilitator carrying out over the duration of the project. 3 Support 3.1 Costs Please outline in a minimum of 50 words the proposed project costs and provide a brief description of your rationale in arriving at these. A maximum of 25,000 grant support may be awarded per project. Cost Category Amount Rationale Facilitation (please provide overall cost and proposed daily rate, up to a maximum of 400.00 per day) Study visits: Specify nature, purpose and relevance to the scoping study (only facilitator costs are eligible, no other network member travel costs are allowable) Total amount sought Approximate number of hours members anticipate contributing over duration of the scoping study project
3.2 Additionality Why is Invest NI support required for this project? ie. lack of time/relevant skills/funds; what would happen without Invest NI financial support? 4.0 Declaration This section is to be completed by the Applicant Company, on behalf of the group. The details of this application are correct and accurate to the best of my/our knowledge. Please tick if you are in agreement with the following statements The Applicant Company agrees to process and pay any project costs relating to the project, as agreed by the collaborative group. The project described in this application is not already in receipt of, or is likely to be in receipt of, any public funding, nor does it form part of another project that Invest NI is currently supporting By signing or typing the name of the Applicant Company contact and submitting this form either electronically, or by post, the applicant acknowledges that they are making a declaration to Invest NI on behalf of all the collaborative group indicated in Section 1 of this application. In doing so, please ensure that all parties to the application have read and are in agreement with the details of the proposed project, including the specific obligations associated with any offer of funding from the Collaborative Growth Programme. Yes Yes Yes Name: Position in Company: Date: