Financial support for SMEs
The new dedicated instrument under Horizon 2020 is of interest for AAL business models
SMEs will be supported across Horizon 2020 pillars or priorities through a new dedicated SME instrument.
Aims of the measure:
The SME instrument has been designed specifically for single or groups of highly innovative SMEs with international ambitions, determined to turn strong, innovative business ideas into winners on the market. The instrument provides full-cycle business innovation support from the stage of business idea conception and planning (phase I) over business plan execution and demonstration (phase II) to commercialization (phase III). Participants will be able to call on business innovation coaching for the duration of their project.
How will it work?
The SME instrument will provide easy access with simple rules and procedures, as well as a staged support in 3 phases which will cover the whole innovation cycle.
Phase I (proof-of-concept): Explore the scientific or technical feasibility and commercial potential of your new idea in order to develop an innovation project, with the help of a € 50,000 grant, and receive more support in case of a positive outcome!
•Phase II (development & demonstration): Develop your sound, ground-breaking business idea further with the help of a grant in the order of € 500,000 to 2,5 million into a market-ready product, service or process!
•Phase III (go-to-market): Take advantage of additional EU support to enter the market successfully (no grants).
Successful completion of one stage will allow an SME to move on to the next, each stage will be open to all SMEs.
Read as well the SME instrument brochure:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/sme-techweb/pdf/sme_brochure.pdf
Further details maybe found on the SME instrument website:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal4/desktop/en/funding/sme_participation.html