H2020 possibilities for SMEs Dr. Laura Kauhanen Green Growth Programme coordination team 28.05.2014
Executive Summary 1. Normal H2020 calls Mininum three partners, Money from Brussels, Funding percent 70 or 100% + 25% overhead. Possibility to build Deadline is specified. Next in a half a years time. Specified topics: One interesting call see next slides 2. New SME instrument 1. One partner. Money from Brussels. Three stages. 2. First call deadline in June. Next in three months. 3. A bit specified topic which are broad. 3. Eurostars Dedicated to SMEs, Money from Tekes, Minimum 2 partners. No specified topics. Tekes funding rules
Why Open innovation R&D projects? Why EU funding? Opportunity to try radical and disruptive innovations What is your next big invention? Can you afford not to innovate? Possibility to work with the best partners EU-project is a way to true partnerships. It is a way to give funding to your partners. 3
Why EU funding? The funding is significant The funding rates are 70% or 100% + 25% overhead. Typical projects have 3-10 partners, 3-15 M budget, 2-3 years in duration Statistics show that only 10 % of the project budget is used for management and reporting including time used for writing the application Times are hard will your long term projects survive without external funding? 4
H2020 in a nutshell
Timeline of H2020 calls Finding the right call Preparing a project proposal E.g. biotech calls will close in February From the submission to the signing of the grant agreement max. 8 months Projects can start at the earliest in November Projects last 2-3 years Jun 2014 Jul 2014 Aug 2014 Sep 2014 Oct 2014 Nov 2014 Dec 2014 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 6
How to build an EU project? Call text Your goals and ideas Partners and their ideas Project proposal 7
Deadlines for a number of 2014- calls Date Call Stage 25.11.2014 ICT Single stage 9.12.2014 SPIRE (Sustainable process industries) EeB (Energy-efficient buildings) FoF (Factories of the Future) 24.2. BG (Blue Growth: Oceans) SFS (Sustainable food security) ISIB (Bioeconomy) LEIT-BIO (Biotechnology) 3.3. SCC (Smart cities and communities) LCE (Low-carbon energy) 10.3. WATER WASTE INNOSUP 2 Single stage 1st stage Single stage Single stage + 1 st stage 26.3. NMP (nanotechnologies, advanced materials, production) 1st stage + Single stage 31.3. INSO (New forms of innovation) Single stage 30.4. INNOSUP 1 1st stage 11.6. BG (Blue Growth: Oceans) SFS (Sustainable food security) ISIB (Bioeconomy) Single stage + 2st stage 27.8. Green vehicles Single stage Until 29.9. FET Open (cut-off dates) Single stage From 24.9.2014 to 17.9. SME instrument Phase 1 and Phase 2 (cut-off dates) Single stage
How to know if your idea is eligible? Or give me a call
Success criteria for Horizon2020 Best ideas Excellence How to sell your proposal to the evaluators? Best partners How to build the consortium, find an able coordinator and arrange professional project management? Impact What is the project s impact on European level and sustainability after the project ends?
Key questions you need to keep in mind when planning for a EU project proposal Why bother? Why is this call topic interesting for you? What knowledge gap are you trying to fill? How would a project based on this call help your customers / your business? Is it a European priority? What is the impact for European society and economy? Why are Europe-wide capabilities needed? Could it be funded at national level? Is the knowledge already available? What is the state-of-the art? Why now? Why was this not done before now? Why you? Are you the best people to do this work? What competences do you have for this call? Which call is the most relevant? Have you gone through all the possible calls and found the best match? Have you read and understood the text well? Does the description really match your idea? 11
The key steps to make a good EU proposal 12 1. Think about what you do and what you want to achieve 2. Select a project idea and call 3. Write a one-pager Do an internal peer-review on it 4. Contact potential partners as early as possible Have joint discussion & update the project idea 5. Make sure you understand IPR-issues 6. Design project structure Work packages, responsibilities, person month allocations, management structures 7. Prepare budget Check the rules of the call! 8. Allocate proposal preparation work between partners 9. Write the three sections, keeping in mind the evaluation criteria Scientific and Technological Excellence; Implementation; Impact 10. Review for content, eligibility rules, formats and known good practises Consider yourself being the evaluator: Is the text understandable and easy to read? 11. Submit proposal At least one week before deadline
Evaluation criteria Proposals are expected to address at the same time 1. The general objectives of the programme For example general ICT programme goals and 1. The specific objective of the Call topic As defined in the call text so read it carefully! Evaluation Content Format Impact Scored using three criteria, each (in most calls) with equal weight but impact is most important 1. Scientific & Technological excellence Soundness of the concept & quality of the objectives (including relevance to the call topic) including the progress beyond the current state-of-the-art 2. Implementation Quality and efficiency of the implementation and the management with specific emphasis on the quality of the individual participants and the Consortium as a whole. Budget figures shall be assessment aiming at identification of unjustified or excessive costs. 3. Impact Contribution to the expected impacts mentioned in the Work Programme for this topic at European and international level (including relevance to objective of the call) 13 Exception: SME instrument
Some tips to proposal writing Start the consortium building early! Create a balanced consortium and identify the participants by name Identify work package leaders early Ask input from each member of the consortium to the proposal creation to make a credible proposal Make a project plan based on the project goals and capabilities of the consortium Pay attention to impact it is the most important evaluation criteria Mind the length and the format of the proposal too long proposals are rejected without reading
IPR in H2020 projects Access* rights for Implementation & Exploitation: If Needed** for Background*** Foreground**** Implementation (for the duration of the project) Exploitation (after the project) Royalty-free (unless otherwise agreed) FRAND***** conditions Royalty-free FRAND conditions * Access right does not include right to sublicense (unless otherwise agreed) ** Access Rights are Needed if 1. Without the them it would be impossible or too difficult to carry out the project tasks 2. Without them the use of own Foreground would be impossible *** Any identified data, know-how or information, held by a participant prior to the project. **** Results; any data, know-how or information generated during the action (protectable or not) ***** Fair and reasonable conditions 15
The new SME instrument
SME instrument: Champions League Pre-commercial procurement Phase 1 Concept & Feasibility Assessment Idea to concept, risk assessment, technological & commercial feasibility Phase 2 Demonstration Market replication R&D Demonstration, prototyping, testing, market replication, scaling up, minituarisation, research Phase 3 Commercialisation SME window EU financial services Quality label for successful projects, access to risk finance, indirect support IDEA continued support through the project MARKET
SME instrument Phase 1: Concept and feasibility assessment Input: Idea/Concept: "Business Plan 1" (~ 10 pages) Activities: Feasibility of concept Risk assessment IP regime Partner search Design study Pilot application etc. 10-15% success 40-50% success Output: elaborated "Business plan 2" Phase 2: R&D, demonstration, market replication Input: "Business plan 2" plus description of activities under Phase 2 (~ 30 pages) Activities: Development, prototyping, testing, piloting, miniaturisation, scaling-up, market replication, research Output: "investor-ready Business plan 3" Phase 3: Commercialisation Promote instrument as quality label for successful projects Facilitate access to private finance Support via networking, training, information, addressing i.a. IP management, knowledge sharing, dissemination SME window in the EU financial facilities (debt facility and equity facility) Possible connection to PPC (and PPI?) Lump sum: 50.000 ~ 6 months 1-3 (5) M EC funding ~ 12 to 24 months No direct funding
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