Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Is it for you? Target, offer, results, hints & tips Marco RUBINATO Ted ERIKSSON Unit A.2 "Horizon 2020 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises" Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME)
Why this presentation? The SME instrument attracted many SMEs But 88% of proposals are below threshold We want to clarify the rules of the game
Menu for today Who shall apply? What does the programme offer? Why would you participate? How are proposals evaluated? What were the results so far? Lessons, hints and tips
SME instrument video
SME Instrument Target SMEs established in EU or associated countries Innovative idea disruptive - demonstration stage Clear ambition to grow at EU/global level Knowledge of the market and of competitors Convincing commercialization plan
SME Instrument target Technology readiness level 6 or above Prototype Demo System Complete
Work Programme 2016-2017
Comparative 2014-2015/2016-2017 Low Carbon and Efficient Energy System - SIE Year 2014 2015 2016 2017 % 14+15/16+17 Budgets (EUR million) 33.95 34.76 46 50 +39.7%
Energy storage 8 (4%) Mobile energy sources 2 (1%) H2020-SMEINST-Phase 1 194 Energy related projects Smart grid 9 (5%) Biofuel 14 (7%) Low-cost, low-carbon electricity supply 31 (16%) Reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint 130 (67%)
Biofuel 1 (2%) Mobile energy sources 1 (3%) H2020-SMEINST-Phase 2 39 Energy related projects Smart grid 2 (5%) Low-cost, low-carbon electricity supply 10 (26%) Reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint 25 (64%)
What do we offer?
Business innovation coaching A total of 12 days Empower SMEs in their efforts toward successful commercialisation of their innovation Help strengthening the company s capability to deal with the challenges of each stage of its life cycle Sensing and solving approach Cover areas such as strategy, organisation, management, financing and resource development Higher efficiency and effectiveness Quicker to the market
Why participate? Investment without equity Seal of excellence! Reduce risk and facilitate access to finance Visibility at EU and global level Broaden your network Benefit from business innovation coaching
Evaluation process Remote evaluation At least 4 evaluators per proposal Balancing knowledge of industry, technology, market, finance No more than one evaluator from the applicant's country No consensus meeting Short standardised feedback No negociation Final score is given by the average of the evaluations points
Evaluation criteria 3 criteria: o Possible economic impact o Excellence in innovation o Implementation
Evaluation: IMPACT Convince evaluators that your project will make money and create jobs Market (willingness to pay) - targeted users Market conditions competition Market share Commercialisation plan EU/global dimension Knowledge protection Jobs created in Europe
Evaluation: EXCELLENCE Convince evaluators that your innovation is excellent Innovative product/process/service Viable & Disruptive technology Added value Better than existing solutions Commercial potential Understanding of risks and opportunities
Evaluation: IMPLEMENTATION Convince evaluators that you will make it Credibility of the work plan Right Resources internally Right Partners and stakeholders Team organisation Realistic time frame
What we have achieved in 2014-2015 Phase 1 Phase 2 Proposals received 12441 3745 Proposals >threshold 1805 (15%) 1357 (36%) Proposals financed 991 (55% of above threshold, 8% overall) 248 (18% of above threshold, 7% overall) Budget 49.550.000 420.097.846 (1,7M * prog.) Mono beneficiaries 92% 80% (Updated at September 2015)
Phase 1 SMEs in terms of staff and years of trading
Who are the winning SMEs? An autonomous and mobile water treatment plant powered by solar energy Spain, Phase 2 1,4M
HybridBatteryPack Croatia, Phase 1 50,000 Hybrid battery pack have significant efficiency increase, reduction in energy consumption and prolonging the life cycle of the cells. A whole new disruptive technology that will change the direction of the electric power train development. http://www.rimac-automobili.com
AMPYXAP3 The Netherlands, Phase 2 2,5M Ampyx Power develops the PowerPlane, an Airborne Wind Energy System that use the stronger and more constant wind at altitudes between 100 and 600 meters. PowerPlane technology will have a disruptive effect on the electricity generation sector; due to the low levelised cost of energy that can be achieved with it and to its low capital costs. https://www.ampyxpower.com/
Part of the SME European Champions League http://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/sme-instrument-beneficiaries
Lessons learnt Unsuccessful proposals were: To strongly project-oriented, not enough information on market opportunities and commercialization strategy Company profile missing: has the company all the necessary skills to implement the market opportunity? Market situation: competitive solutions not mentioned Not really new to the market (no game changer") Commercialisation concept missing; TRL to low, no innovation
Hints and tips Before taking a strategic decision to apply Look carefully at the programme target Assess if your project is mature in all aspects of evaluation criteria Take advise on other funding programmes from NCP, EEN or others, notably incubators if you are a starter company Try a 3 minute pitch If you work with a consultant choose a success fee rather than a fixed price
Hints and tips When applying: Make sure your proposal is balanced and covers all aspects of each evaluation criteria Write to convince evaluators to invest Put concrete realistic figures Show market size, market share, sales price, Show 3 years projections of sales volumes, turnover, jobs created Invest in a catching title and a good abstract Use the full 10 pages (phase 1) and 30 pages (phase 2) delete the hints in the template Form matters, test your proposal, review the language Do not wait the cut-off date
Does a Phase 1 help for Phase 2? Analysis of June cut-off
And if you fail....apply again! Results show that resubmissions have double chances to succeed!
Resubmissions 3478 (25%) unique applicants resubmitted at least once 584 got funded after resubmission (16%) There is a clear learning factor and applicants resubmitting have double chances to get funding
Cut-offs 2016-2017 - Phase 1 & Phase 2 2016 2017 Phase 1 Phase 2 24 February 03 May 07 September 09 November 03 February 14 April 15 June 13 October 15 February 03 May 06 September 08 November 18 January 06 April 01 June 18 October
Efforts are always rewarded
Thank you very much for your attention @H2020SME http://ec.europa.eu/easme/sme/ Showcases of companies supported by the SME Instrument http://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/smeinstrument/showcase
What type of SME is targeted by the SME Instrument? The European Commission is looking for highly innovative firms based in the EU-28 or in countries associated to Horizon 2020 that are ambitious and have the potential to develop, grow and have a European or international impact.
Can I submit a pre-proposal for a check? No. Please contact a National Contact Point or an Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) partner in your region for some guidance prior to submitting a proposal.
How do I know the Technological Readiness Level of my innovation? Please see the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) definitions in the General Annex G of the Work Programme.
If there is more than one SME participating in my phase 1 project, will the lump sum (EUR 50 000) be multiplied by the number of participants? No. Only one grant in the form of a lump sum of EUR 50 000 will be awarded per selected proposal, which means that this lump sum needs to be shared amongst consortium partners.