SME Par(cipa(on in Horizon 2020 SME Instrument. Dr Jane Watkins

Transcription

1 SME Par(cipa(on in Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Dr Jane Watkins

2 Horizon summary 1. Innova:ve projects (more support for innova:on ac:vi:es) 2. Projects address priori:es iden:fied by the Commission s Work Programme 3. Projects must respond to a call for Proposals 4. Involving partners from mul:ple countries 5. Reimbursement up to 100 % of eligible costs 6. Co- financed through a Grant Agreement with the European Commission 7. Simplified access, for all companies, universi:es, etc Sounds simple!!

3 Horizon gewng involved Does H2020 meet your business needs? What are the :mescales? Is there a likely home for you project? - Societal Challenges, SME instrument, Eurostars, other EU programmes? Do I need partners if so how do you find partners? What are the par:cipa:on/funding rules? How do I write and submit a proposal? The par:cipant portal is collapsed, where can I get support? What happens if I m successful?

4 Targeted Approach We would like to apply for Europe Smart award. I note the deadline is only 20 working days away. Please can you send me full details of how to apply ASAP. I looked at Eurostars but we cannot apply for it as the company has less than 5 full :me researchers Just to double check, is there anything other than the following 3 calls we could apply for: H2020 ICT 37 H020 ICT16 UK SMART Programme I want to go for Phase 2 because I want 2M

5 Horizon 2020 is different A strong challenge- based approach, allowing applicants to have considerable freedom to come up with innova:ve solu:ons Emphasis on innova:on, with con:nuing support for R&D Less prescrip:ve topics, strong emphasis on expected impact A strategic approach, with two- year work programmes Focus areas bring together different technologies, along en:re innova:on chain

6 SME Funding Opportunities under Horizon 2020 (and associated programmes**) Societal Challenges & Industrial Leadership Eurostars ** SME Instrument Fast Track to Innova:on Research- Driven Projects Innova:on- Led Projects Near to market R&D Projects Demonstra:on market replica:on Demonstra:on market replica:on 100% Funding 70% Funding 60% Funding 70% Funding 70% Funding Consor:a min 3 partners, 3 countries Consor:a min 3 partners, 3 countries 1 addi:onal non- UK partner Single SME (also groups) 5 from 5 countries, Min. 3 from 3 Value Varies Value Varies Up to 360K Phase 1: 50k Phase 2: m Maximum 3m Prescrip:ve & Thema:c Calls Prescrip:ve & Thema:c Calls Bokom- Up Projects no thema:c focus Thema:c Calls, but flexible projects Bokom- Up Projects no thema:c focus

7 Horizon 2020 Priori:es Excellent Science European Research Council Future & Emerging Technologies Marie Curie Research Infrastructures Industrial Leadership Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies Access to risk finance Research and innova:on in SME's (SME Instrument) Societal Challenges Health, demographic change and wellbeing Food security, sustainable agriculture and the bio- economy Secure, clean and efficient energy Smart, green and integrated transport Climate ac:on, resource efficiency and raw materials Inclusive, innova:ve and secure socie:es

8 SME Instrument KEY FEATURES Targeted at all types of innova:ve SMEs showing a strong ambi:on to grow (and to develop and interna:onalize) Only for profit SMEs allowed to apply for funding (single company support, but collabora:on is certainly advisable) Compe::ve, EU dimension - only the best ideas pass Market- oriented, close- to- market ac:vi:es (TRL 6): 70% co- funding Entrance in both Phase 1 and 2 Embedded in societal challenges and key enabling technologies Evaluators: market perspec:ve Time to grant*: 400 days in > 150 days in For example those who submiked in June and were successful started their projects end of September early October.

9 Projects Types Under Horizon 2020 and Associated Programmes ** TRL 1 TRL 2 TRL 3 TRL 4 TRL 5 TRL 6 TRL 7 TRL 8 TRL 9 Research and Innova:on Ac:ons Innova:on Ac:ons Eurostars ** SME Instrument Fast Track to Innova:on

10 Phase 1 Grant support of 50,000 (lump sum) + coaching Phase 3 Risk Finance (Public/ Private) Phase 2 Grant of 0.5m 2.5m Demonstration 70% funding + coaching Market Replication R&D Project: 6 Months Project: Months Concept & Feasibility Assessment Commercialisation Ideas to Concept Concept to Market-Maturity Market-Maturity to Market Launch Proof of Concept Ø Prove technical & commercial viability Ø Explore IP regime Ø Design Study Ø Develop pilot application Ø Risk assessment Demonstrate Commercial Potential Ø Prototyping Ø Testing Ø Piloting Ø Miniaturisation Ø Scaling-Up Ø Application Development Outcome: Elaborated Business Plan Outcome: Commercialisable Output TRL 1 TRL 2 TRL 3 TRL 4 TRL 5 TRL 6 TRL 7 Go-To-Market Ø EU Quality Label Ø Investment Readiness Training Ø SME window in EU financial facilities (Debt & Equity) Ø Link to Public Procurement Networks Outcome: Market Success TRL 8 TRL 9

11 Target Group Innova:ve for- profit SMEs showing a strong ambi(on to develop, grow and interna(onalise Single company support is possible or consor(um of for- profit SMEs Highly compe::ve, market- oriented, EU dimension Other partners (research providers like universi(es and research ins(tutes, large companies etc.) can be involved as third par(es (subcontractors) SMEs need to be established in the EU- member states or associated countries

12 Specific Calls BG : Suppor:ng SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replica:on of innova:ve solu:ons for blue growth BIOTEC- 5b : SME boos:ng biotechnology- based industrial processes driving compe::veness and sustainability DRS : Cri:cal infrastructure protec:on topic 7: SME instrument topic: Protec:on of Urban sou targets and cri:cal infrastructures ICT : Open Disrup:ve Innova:on Scheme (implemented through the SME instrument) INSO : SME business model innova:on INSO : Innova:ve mobile e- government applica:ons by SMEs IT : Small business innova:on research for Transport NMP : Accelera:ng the uptake of nanotechnologies, advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs PHC : Clinical research for the valida:on of biomarkers and/or diagnos:c medical devices SC : Boos:ng the poten:al of small businesses for eco- innova:on and a sustainable supply of raw materials SFS : Resource- efficient eco- innova:ve food produc:on and processing SIE : S:mula:ng the innova:on poten:al of SMEs for a low carbon energy system Space- SME : SME Instrument

13 Space SME Instrument 2015 ( Phase 1 or Phase 2) Specific challenge: To engage small and medium enterprises in space research and development, especially those not tradi:onally involved in it and reduce as much as possible the entry barriers to SMEs for Horizon 2020 funding. The specific challenge of the ac:ons envisaged under this call could cover any aspect of the Specific Programme for Space (Horizon 2020 Framework programme and Specific programme). However, it is considered that ac:ons in the areas of applica:ons, especially in connec:on to the flagship programmes Galileo and Copernicus, spinning- in (i.e. applica:on of terrestrial solu:ons to challenges in space) and the development of certain cri:cal technologies could be adequately suited for this call.

14 Phase 1 Lump sum of 50k (at 70% interven:on) Total project size is 71,249 Up to 6 month dura:on Proposal (10 pages) is drau business plan and feasibility study Project is for exploring and assessing the technical feasibility and commercial poten:al of a breakthrough innova:on that a company wants to exploit and commercialise Outcome: a feasibility study (technical and commercial), including a business plan.

15 Phase 2 Up to 2.5m (at 70% interven:on) Total project size is 3.57m Around 1 to 2 years in dura:on Proposals should demonstrate high poten:al in terms of applicant's compe::veness and growth underpinned by a strategic business plan. Outcome a new product, process or service that is ready to face market compe::on; a business innova:on plan incorpora:ng a detailed commercialisa:on strategy and a financing plan

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

17 Submission Dates Rolling programme so no fixed deadline 17 th December th March th June th September th December 2015 Evalua:on begins at submission, not closing date, so submit early to get a less stressed evaluator 80% of submissions to first call were in last 48 hours

18 Results and Lesson Learned so far!

19 Evalua:on Three Criteria Excellence Impact (1.5. :mes weighted for SME Instrument) Quality and Efficiency of the Implementa:on Scores out of 5 Phase 1 At least 4 out of 5 for each criteria Threshold is at least a total of 13 points Phase 2 Impact must be at least 4 out of 5 (and is assessed first) Threshold is at least a total of 12 points

20 Evalua:ng SME instrument ac:vi:es Commercialisation potential and economic impact There has to be a market Excellence in innovation Company's potential to achieve the envisaged results Easy to use/produce for the customer and the firm Technical solu:on possible and beker than exis:ng ones Plus: EU added value

21 First Phase 1 Submission June 14 cut off 2602 eligible applica:ons received, 317 (12%) were evaluated above threshold. Based on the posi:vely evaluated applica:ons per topic 155 projects could be funded (6%) 49% of applica:ons above threshold were funded due to budget constraints 105 out of 155 (68%) of the SMEs reportedly are newcomers to Framework Programmes. Countries with highest success rate were: Ireland (20%), Austria (15%), UK (11%), Israel (10%) and Spain (9%)

22 SME Instrument Phase 1 September 24 th 2014 cut off The Commission received 1,944 proposals by the second cut- off date of Phase received an evalua:on score above the applica:on threshold and 75% have been selected for funding. Together with the first selec:on round earlier this year, Spanish SMEs have been par:cularly successful in Phase 1 with 71 beneficiaries in total accepted for funding, followed by firms from Italy (58) and the UK (46). The UK success rate increased from 11% to 16% for Phase 1

23 SME Instrument Phase 2 October 9 th 2014 cut off The Commission received 580 project proposals involving 785 SMEs by the first cut- off date of Horizon 2020 s SME Instrument programme Phase 2 (9 October 2014). Evalua:on by independent experts showed that 132 of the proposals met the evalua:on standard. 60 (45.45%) have been selected for funding. UK companies (10 par:cipants) on track to receive over 17 million. They are closely followed by France, the Netherlands and Spain, which actually has the biggest number of single beneficiaries (12). The biggest number of proposals came from Italy - 70, followed by Spain 69 and United Kingdom with 61 proposals. Of the applica:ons received, 78% were submiked by a single company. In total 785 SMEs are par:cipa:ng in this cut- off.

24 December 2014 cut off for Phase 1 and 2 2,992 new proposals from 35 countries: 2,363 for phase 1 and 629 for phase 2. Compared to the previous cut- off date the number of proposals received for phase 1 increased by 17,7% (1,944 in September) and for phase 2 by 8,4% (580 in October). The Commission received 629 project proposals by the second cut- off date of Horizon 2020 s SME Instrument programme Phase 2 (17 December 2014). Evalua:on by independent experts showed that 180 of the proposals met the evalua:on standard. 74 or 41% of them have been selected for funding. UK companies have been par:cularly successful in this call, with 15 par:cipants on track to receive over 14.5 million. They are closely followed by Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and France

25 Number of proposal received by Topic (December cut off) Topics Phase 1 Phase 2 Blue growth (BG ) Biotechnology (BIOTEC-5a ) (Urban critical infrastructures DRS ) ICT (ICT ) Green transport (IT ) Nanotechnology (NMP ) Diagnostics devices and biomarkers (PHC ) Eco-innovation and sustainable raw material supply (SC ) Sustainable food production and processing (SFS ) Low carbon energy systems (SIE ) Space (Space-SME ) TOTAL

26 When will I find out the results? June 14 cut off Phase 1 only The applicants were informed of the results of the Evalua:on in August Project started in October December 14 cut off The applicants were informed of the results of the evalua:on in February for phase 1 and April for phase 2.

27 H2020 SME Instrument Lesson Learned Most of the non- selected proposals were: 1. Too much focused on the project and not enough on the business opportunity; 2. Not convincing when describing the company (you have to explain why your company will succeed and not your compe:tor); 3. Not providing enough informa:on on compe:ng solu:ons; 4. Having a too low level of innova:on, planning to develop a product that already exists on the market; 5. Proposing just an idea without any concept for its commercialisa:on; 6. Just trying their luck (the SME Instrument is not a lokery!).

28 Learning from Experience Based on the previous proposals received, we have learned that the success rate in Phase 1 projects tends to be higher in those SMEs that have been established for 4 years or more - in fact, 70% of funded projects proposals came from companies that have been in the market for at least that amount of :me. We have found that companies that have a staff of 6 or more employees account to two thirds of all projects that were funded up to now. It is important for your success to know where you are going, to have a team that will help you get there, and know where you will fit in the market.

29 Next steps - SME instrument isn t for everyone SME Checklist: Do you meet the EC defini(on of an SME? Note: must be a for profit SME Has your company or management team previously successfully commercialised a product? Have you received grants (Na:onal or European) or venture capital funding Received innova:on- related tax benefits Won an innova:on prize

30 Is your project highly innova:ve/ beyond state of art and does it have the poten:al to disrupt exis:ng markets in your sector? Does H2020 fit in your business strategy? Does the project have demonstrable European / global impact? Is the project at Technology Readiness Level 6 (technology demonstrated in a relevant environment)? Do you have the necessary IP protec:on for the project, or a clear IP strategy in place? Are you looking to fund your project over the next 1-2 yrs? Are your es:mated project costs between 500k - 2.5m (for Phase 2)? Does the project fit under one of the current call topics If the answer is YES to the majority of the above then please contact the NCP NCP- SME@innovateuk.gov.uk

31 Na:onal Contact Point Support Na:onal Contact Points will give impar:al advice regarding European funding, tailored to each individual business and organisa:on. The services include: Guidance on choosing relevant H2020 topics and types of ac:on Advice on administra:ve procedures and contractual issues Assistance on proposal pre- screening Distribu:on of documenta:on (forms, guidelines, manuals etc.)

32 Contact details Dr Jane Watkins UK Horizon 2020 Na:onal Contact Point for SMEs NCP- Tel: +44(0) IF YOU WISH TO BE KEPT INFORMED ABOUT EUROPEAN HORIZON 2020 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES PLEASE REGISTER YOUR INTEREST ON