Jan 22

Europe: Horizon 2020 Calls for SMEs’ Innovation

Boosting the Investment-Readiness of SMEs and Small Midcaps

The aim of the call is to facilitate the interaction of potential investors with innovative SMEs and small midcaps participating in FP7 or Horizon 2020, together with preparing firms and entrepreneurs to negotiate more effectively with such investors. In a complementary manner, investors will be trained to better understand the technologies and applications developed through FP7 and Horizon 2020 projects and thus make sounder decisions about their commercialisation potential.

Deadline: 15/04/2014.

Web Entrepreneurs Challenge

The objective of this call is to create an environment in Europe that encourages more web entrepreneurs to start a business in Europe and scale it up. The focus of this topic is on entrepreneurs who use web and mobile technologies as main components in their innovation with a positive impact across the continuum of actors for entrepreneurship.

Deadline: 23/04/2014.

Networking of SMEs in the nano-biomedical sector

The concept of a ‘Translation Hub’ expressed by this call shall provide advice and follow-up at all stages of the research and development and provide examples of best practice to European R&D teams in nano-bio-medicine.

Deadline: 06/05/2014.

ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs

Emerging innovative ICT technologies and processes need to be customised, integrated, tested and validated in order to strengthen European SMEs. This call addresses the adoption of the next generation of ICT advances in the manufacturing domain. Focus is on emerging innovative technologies and processes, which need to be customised, integrated, tested and validated before being released on the market. Special emphasis is on strengthening European SMEs along the value chain by adopting new concepts and business models based on servitisation, for product operation, or for end-of-life use.

Deadline: 09/12/2014.

Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon energy system

SMEs are expected to strongly contribute to all challenges outlined in the legal base of the Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge ‘Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy’, in particular with regard to

  • Reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint by smart and sustainable use (including energy-efficient products and services as well as ‘Smart Cities and Communities’),
  • Low-cost, low-carbon electricity supply (including renewable energy as well as CCS and re-use),
  • Alternative fuels and mobile energy sources,
  • A single, smart European electricity grid,
  • New knowledge and technologies, and
  • Robust decision making and public engagement.

The SME instrument consists of three separate phases and a coaching and mentoring service for beneficiaries. Participants can apply to phase 1 with a view to applying to phase 2 at a later date, or directly to phase 2.

Deadline date: 17/12/2014.

Intermediate dates: 18/06/2014; 24/09/2014.

Supporting SMEs efforts for the development – deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth

SMEs contribution to the development of the ‘Blue Growth Strategy’ (COM (2012) 494) can be significant in particular in the fields of marine biotechnology (related applications, key tools and technologies) as well as aquaculture related marine technologies and services. The results of this call will enhance access to finance for SMEs for the development of innovative maritime economic activities. The SME instrument consists of three separate phases and a coaching and mentoring service for beneficiaries. Participants can apply to phase 1 with a view to applying to phase 2 at a later date, or directly to phase 2.

Deadline date: 17/12/2014.

Intermediate date: 09/10/2014.

Innovative mobile e-government applications by SMEs

Due to the increased use of mobile technology as well as the increasing availability of public information, data and online services, public services can be transformed. Coupling open public data and services with information and services offered by the private sector can lead to innovative, user-friendly and personalised services that can be accessed easily.

Because of their size, knowledge and agility, SMEs are key actors for the provision of those innovative services. The “apps” market for mobile devices is a very dynamic market, which mostly lacks application specifically for the public sector. Engaging SMEs into the potentially huge public sector innovation market is a challenge for local and regional public authorities.

The scope of this action is to provide support to innovative SMEs, including start-ups, for the design and creation of innovative applications, in order to foster the delivery of mobile public services.

Deadline: 16/12/2015.

OPUSNET Team