Topic: BG-12-2015- Supporting SMEs efforts for the development - deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth
Specific challenge: The potential of Europe’s Oceans, seas and coasts is significant for job and growth creation if the appropriate investments in research and innovation are made. 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. (link)
Topic: BIOTEC-5b-2015- SME boosting biotechnology-based industrial processes driving competitiveness and sustainability
Specific challenge: The large number of SMEs which characterise the EU biotechnology sector are playing a crucial role in the move to competitive and sustainable biotechnology-based processes. These SMEs are characterised by their research intensity and long lead times between early technological development and market introduction. They therefore need to be supported to overcome the so-called “valley of death”. (link)
Topic: DRS-17-2015- Critical infrastructure protection topic 7: SME instrument topic: Protection of Urban soft targets and critical infrastructures
Specific challenge: The aim is to engage small and medium enterprises in security research and development and in particular to facilitate and accelerate the transition of their developed products/services to the market place. (link)
Topic: ICT-37-2015- Open Disruptive Innovation Scheme (implemented through the SME instrument)
Specific Challenge: The challenge is to provide support to a large set of early stage high risk innovative SMEs in the ICT sector. Focus will be on SME proposing innovative ICT concept, product and service applying new sets of rules, values and models which ultimately disrupt existing markets. (link)
Topic: INSO-10-2015- SME business model innovation
Specific Challenge: Technologies and services as such do not have a specific value. Their value is determined by the business models used to bring them to a market.
Many current, widely applied business models, have developed for big companies and may be not-fitting or not-serving well the needs of SMEs nor be inspired by new knowledge on innovation in business models. In addition to this, small community-oriented companies, using their profits primarily for social objectives,[1] can build their growth on business model innovation. (link)
Topic: INSO-9-2015- Innovative mobile e-government applications by SMEs
Specific Challenge: Current societal and economic challenges as well as rising expectations to reduce the burden on users, put pressure on all public administrations to provide efficient, open and citizen-centric public services. (link)
Topic: IT-1-2015- Small business innovation research for Transport
Specific challenge: The European transport sector must have the capacity to deliver the best products and services, in a time and cost efficient manner, in order to preserve its leadership and create new jobs, as well as to tackle the environmental and mobility defies. The role of SMEs to meet these challenges is critical as they are key players in the supply chains. Enhancing the involvement of weaker players in innovation activities as well as facilitating the start-up and emergence of new high-tech SMEs is of paramount importance. (link)
Topic: NMP-25-2015- Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies, advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs
Specific challenge: Research results should be taken up by industry, harvesting the hitherto untapped potential of nanotechnologies, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing and processing technologies. The goal is to create added value by creatively combining existing research results with other necessary elements,[1] to transfer results across sectors where applicable, to accelerate innovation and eventually create profit or other benefits. The research should bring the technology and production to industrial readiness and maturity for commercialisation after the project. (link)
Topic: PHC-12-2015- Clinical research for the validation of biomarkers and/or diagnostic medical devices
Specific challenge: Biomarkers are used in clinical practice to describe both normal and pathological conditions. They can also have a prognostic or a predictive power. They are therefore increasingly used in medicine and many potential biomarkers are proposed every year. (link)
Topic: SC5-20-2015- Boosting the potential of small businesses for eco-innovation and a sustainable supply of raw materials
Specific challenge: Innovative SMEs have been recognised as being able to become the engine of the green economy and to facilitate the transition to a resource efficient, circular economy. They can play an important role in helping the EU to exit from the economic crises and in job creation. The potential of commercialising innovative solutions from SMEs is however hindered by several barriers including the absence of the proof of concept, the difficulty to access risk finance, the lack of prototyping, insufficient scale-up studies, etc. Growth therefore needs to be stimulated by increasing the levels of innovation in SMEs, covering their different innovation needs over the whole innovation cycle. (link)
Topic: SFS-08-2015- Resource-efficient eco-innovative food production and processing
Specific Challenge: To remain competitive, limit environmental degradation and optimise the efficient use of resources, the development of more resource-efficient and sustainable food production and processing, throughout the food system, at all scales of business, in a competitive and innovative way is required. Current food production and processing systems, especially in the SME sector, need to be revised and optimised with the aim of achieving a significant reduction in water and energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation, while at the same time improving the efficiency in the use of raw materials, increasing climate resilience and ensuring or improving shelf life, food safety and quality. New competitive eco-innovative processes should be developed, within the framework of a transition towards a more resource-efficient, sustainable circular economy. (link)
Topic: SIE-01-2015- Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon energy system
Specific Challenge: SMEs play a crucial role in developing resource-efficient, cost-effective and affordable technology solutions to decarbonise and make more efficient the energy system in a sustainable way. They are expected to strongly contribute to all challenges outlined in the legal base of the Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge ‘Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy’. (link)
Topic: Space-SME-2015-2-SME Instrument
Specific challenge: To engage small and medium enterprises in space research and development, especially those not traditionally involved in it and reduce as much as possible the entry barriers to SMEs for Horizon 2020 funding. (link)
Budget
Total budget of the call: EUR 233.701.600.
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 0.5 and 2.5 million would allow phase 2 to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts. Projects should last between 12 and 24 months.
Eligibility
Specific eligibility conditions of SME Instrument:
- At least one SME. For-profit SMEs’ means micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, as defined in Commission Recommendation
2003/361/EC, that are not 'non-profit legal entities' as defined in the Rules for Participation and Dissemination (‘legal entity which by its
legal form is non-profit-making or which has a legal or statutory obligation not to distribute profits to its shareholders or individual
members’)
- Only applications from for-profit SMEs established in EU Member States or countries associated to Horizon 2020.
Deadlines: 17 September 2015
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