SME INSTRUMENT
€ 3 Billion
- Highly innovative SMEs, high-potential SMEs with global ambitions develop groundbreaking innovative ideas for products, services or projects that are ready to face global market competition
- Supports innovation projects that will help SMEs grow and expand their activities
3 phased support
- Proof of concept → Exploring and assessing technical and commercial potential of a breakthrough innovation
- Feasibility study, Risk Assessment, Intellectual Property Regime (IPR)
- Funding: lump sum → € 50.000
- Duration: 6 months
- Innovation projects underpinned by a sound and strategic business plan
- Demonstration, testing, prototyping, scaling-up, design, validation for market replication, miniaturisation
- Funding indicative range of 0.5 – 2.5 million euros
- EU funding covering 70% of eligible costs
- Duration 1-2 years
- Business innovation plan incorporating a detailed commercialisation strategy and a financing plan in view of market launch
- Not direct EU funding
- Indirect support through easier access to financial facilities → debt and equity financial instruments
Innovation and business development coaching, IPR, networking opportunities via the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)
2014-2015 call themes
- High risk ICT innovation
- Nanotech, or other advanced tech for manufacturing and materials
- Space research and development
- Ricerca nello spazio
- Diagnostics devices and biomarkers
- Sustainable food production and processing
- Seas and oceans (Blue growth)
- Low carbon energy systems
- Trasporti verdi e maggiormente integrati
- Greener and more integrated transport
- Eco-innovation and sustainable raw material supply
- Urban critical infrastructure
- Biotechnology-based industrial processes
- Mobile e-government applications (2015)
- SME business model innovation (2015)