Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
This action focuses on deep-tech startups which 1) have high-impact innovation technology, product, service, or business model that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones, and 2) have the ambition and commitments to scale up.
The successful applicants are expected to work on the deep-tech innovation within the abovementioned priority areas. Such companies often struggle to attract financing because the technology and investment risks are too high.
This topic is designed to enable promising deep-tech startups to develop further their innovations from at least TRL 4 (technology fully validated in a lab) and attract the investment amounts needed for scale up in a shorter timeframe.
The applicants are expected to demonstrate in their application that they:
- have developed technology validated in the lab level (at least all aspects of TRL 4 completed)
- have the potential to reach application and market in period of 2-3 years;
- possess the necessary Intellectual Property Rights to ensure freedom to operate and adequate protection of the idea;
- have a clear vision on the intended pathway and route to market. This includes specific milestones together with concrete and verifiable KPIs to assess progress towards the market.
Applications from women-led companies are encouraged.
If relevant, for those applicant companies that are currently located in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, a clear intention to relocate back the company to Ukraine whenever feasible is expected.
Detailed Call Description
The proposed action is expected to support the Ukrainian tech SMEs and start-ups and SMEs to enable them to better attract private investments, deploy innovations on the market, and scale up. The activities funded should be for civilian applications only.
The requested grant is expected to be used for:
- addressing investors and test/validate the market readiness towards commercialisation and deployment (market research, value proposition, business case and business model, prospects for growth, intellectual property protection, competitor analysis etc.) and if relevant, aspects of regulation, certification and standardisation, aimed at getting both the technology and the business idea investment ready; and/or;
- the maturation and validation of novel technologies beyond proof of concept to viable demonstrators of the technology in the intended field of application (i.e. from minimum TRL 4 to at least TRL 6-7).
At the end of the project, beneficiaries should:
- demonstrate that the technology component of their innovation has been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment (at least all aspects of TRL 5 completed, preferably higher);
- be ready to apply for EIC Accelerator and/or to seek other investors or sources of funding to enter licensing or collaboration agreements with third parties, or other routes to market deployment;
- benefit from increased global visibility and access to funding and European and global markets.
Successful applicants will be granted free access to the EIC Business Acceleration Services, such as coaching and specific events tailored to their needs (e.g. for improving their attractiveness towards investor and market readiness).
Successful applicants will also be eligible for the Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator, which provides access to larger grants and EIC Fund investments.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
Considers proposals with an EU contribution of up to €4.000.000, as appropriate.
Thematic Categories
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Educational Institutions
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
The Work Programme defines the calls for applications targeting innovative researchers, startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), scale up companies, and founders and other organisations and individuals interested in innovation.
Participation in this call is limited to single companies classified as SMEs (including startups) that are:
- established in Ukraine; or
- previously established in Ukraine and relocated to an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, after 24 February 2022 (including Ukrainian startups that received a startup visa in Europe after this date). Such companies must have at least one founder or co-founder or top manager (Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)) holding Ukrainian citizenship.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
Address: 29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia, P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Contact Person:
Dr. Leda Skoufari – Themistou
Senior Scientific Officer
Email: leda@research.org.cy