Invest Northern Ireland

Collaborative R&D Support Service

November 2016

Claire Griffin

Collaborative R&D Support Service

As a collaborative partner / co-ordinator or alone

(SMEs only)

Main Horizon 2020 programmes (all)

SME Instrument (SMEs only/ others as

subcontractors)

Eurostars (Innovation intensive SMEs)

MSCA (all those with researchers)

All calls to participate are competitions

Horizon 2020- How to Participate

SME applicants only - specific topics

4 cut off dates annually (15/02/2017 &

18/01/2017)

Collaborations not required but permissible

Stage 1: €50k + EEN mentoring

Stage 2: grant rate 70% (25% overhead) + EEN

mentoring (Invest NI). €0.5m - €2.5m

Stage 3: guidance and support to access further

funding e.g. Loans/ investors

Horizon 2020 - The SME Instrument

Lump sum: €50k~ 6 months

Input: "Business Plan 1“(~ 10 pages)

Activities:Feasibility of concept;

Risk assessment;IP regime;

Partner search;Design study;

Pilot application, etc.

Output: Elaborated "Business plan 2"

Phase 1: Concept and

feasibility assessment

Phase 2:R&D, demonstration,

market replication

Input: "Business plan 2“

(~ 30 pages)

Activities:Development, prototyping,

testing, piloting, miniaturisation, scaling-up,

market replication, research

Output: "investor-ready Business plan 3"

€0.5-2.5M EU funding ~ 12 to 24 months

•Facilitate access to private finance

• Support via networking , training, information,

addressing i.e. IP management, knowledge

sharing, dissemination

Phase 3: Commercialisation

NO DIRECT FUNDING

10-15% success

The SME Instrument – 3 Phases

SME Instrument Technology Level

Technology readiness level 6 or above

Target Group

Innovative for-profit SMEs showing a strong ambition to develop, grow and internationalise

Single company support is possible or consortium of for-profit SMEs

Highly competitive, market-oriented, EU dimension

Other partners (research providers like universities and research institutes, large companies etc.) can be involved as third parties (subcontractors)

SMEs need to be established in the EU-member states or associated countries

It's not about writing a good proposal…

It's about defining a good project…

…convincing the evaluators

…good fit with the topic

SME Instrument - A recipe for success

Register at EC Authentication Service and then get H2020

Participant Identification Code (PIC)

For SME Instrument complete SME questionnaire

Complete application form online.

Results: 2 months (Phase I) , 4 months (Phase II)

Scored on Impact/ Excellence /Implementation

Phase I (13 out of 15), Phase II (12 out of 15)

Grant / Consortium agreement signed

The Application Process / Scoring

High risk ICT innovation

Nanotech, or other advanced tech for manufacturing and materials

Space research and development

Cell technologies/ Diagnostics devices and biomarkers

Innovation in sustainable and competitive agriculture, forestry, agri-food and bio-based sectors

Security research and development

Low carbon and efficient energy systems

Innovation for Transport and Smart Cities Mobility

Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials

New business models for inclusive, innovative and reflective societies

Biotechnology-lab to market

ICT solutions for health, wellbeing and Ageing well

Development, deployment and market replication of innovative solutions for blue growth

SME Topics for 2016 & 2017

Too project focussed, not enough on business opportunity.

Description of company not convincing (why would company succeed

and not competitor?)

No information on competing solutions.

Innovation content too low; product exists already on the market (just

incremental improvement).

Initial ideas, no proof of existing commercialisation concept (“TRL” far

too low).

Just try and see!

SME Instrument - Feedback

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

– it’s all about the researchers

“Innovative Training

Networks” - ITN

Research networks supporting

training of Masters’ and PhD

students

“Individual

Fellowships”

Support for experienced

researchers undertaking mobility

“R&I Staff

Exchange” – RISE

"link"

International and inter-sector

cooperation through the

exchange of research and

innovation staff

Eurostars 2

Bottom up” approach to calls

Minimum of 2 partners across Europe

International collaborative R&D project lead by

a research performing SME

Development of an innovative new product,

process or service

Next deadline 2 March 2017 and 14 Sept 2017

(min 2 calls annually)

Maximum Grant €360,000 at 60% of eligible

project costs. (23% success rate)

https://www.eurostars-eureka.eu

Eurostars SME Instrument

Purpose Support development of new products, processes and servicesInnovative technological solutions

Ensuring best innovative ideas reach the market. Primarily business development

Thematic Connection Bottom up Mix – top down (SC & LEIT) and bottom up

Target Group R&D performing SMEsMust do >50% of R&D project

SMEs planning to commercialise very innovative products or services

Development Stage Until prototype development TRL 6 – demonstrator level

Consortium ≥2 participants from ≥2 Eurostars countriesR&D performing SME in leadOther participants welcome

Single SME / consortium + SME

Time to contract 7 months Phase 1- 3 monthsPhase 2- 6 months

Duration Up to 36 months Phase 1- 6 monthsPhase 2- 12-24 months

Funding rate 60%National rules (Innovate UK)

70%

Funding amount On average €360k Phase 1- €50k lump sumPhase 2- €0. 5- €2.5m

Funded by National budgets plus EU EU

Time to market 2 years after project completion Phase 2 – immediately after completion

Highly Competitive

20K applications in 2 years

1400 projects supported - €500 million – in last two years

88% of companies are new to EU funding

Almost ½ SMEs are micro-sized and 1/3 are <3years old

Phase I - 8% Phase 2 – 6% UK has 14% success rate

Seek advice from NICPs or NCPs

Success rates

€40 million awarded since 2014

CDE Global Ltd, Creagh Concrete Products Ltd,

QUB (13 partners) - Reuse and recycling of

Construction Materials & Structures

JK Fabrications – Low-temperature anaerobic

digestion

University of Ulster, Analytics Engines (15

partners) – Integration of Data, Analytics and

Services

Liopa – a new lip-reading user authentication

service

Horizon 2020- NI successes

COST http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/fa/Actions

Researcher mobility/ networking - NOT R&D

Innovate UK https://interact.innovateuk.org/#

UK based collaborative competitions.

.

Other Areas of Support

Invest NI H2020 Innovation Voucher

Helping SMEs to work with a knowledge provider in their field

to engage in Horizon 2020

SME applies directly to Invest NI

£4000 (€5000) voucher to support SMEs to, e.g.,

Understand structures

Build consortia

Prepare their contribution to proposals

Voucher link

Invest NI Project Definition

Eligible Costs (circa 50% grant)

Labour

Consultancy Fees

Legal Advice

Travel

Invest NI Support for H2020 R&D Applications

(Client Companies and Universities)

Help to identify most appropriate funding scheme

(e.g. H2020/ Innovate UK/ Invest NI)

Advice on UK / EU funding rules/eligibility

Find partners/support through:

Enterprise Europe Network

Brussels office

(NICP) network for Horizon 2020

http://www.detini.gov.uk/nicp_guide.pdf

Non-Financial support

EU Funding and Policy Information services

Early Intelligence on EU calls (EU Funding Briefs)

EU R&D and Innovation Policy Monitoring (Brussels Bulletin)

Project Development Support

Partner searches

Organisation of meetings with the EC, potential partners

EU Networking activities & profiling the Region

Relations with EC officials

Build strategic links with other regions, networks

Organise Events to showcase Northern Ireland expertise

Invest NI EU R&D Liaison Service in Brussels

Farha Brahmi

H2020 travel scheme

• North /South collaborators

•£350 for travel/ accommodation when attending

relevant Horizon 2020 related events in Europe

http://www.intertradeireland.com/horizon2020/

Contact: Carrie Small - carrie.small@intertradeireland.com

InterTradeIreland support

Talk to us about your research needs

Think strategically, look medium to long term

Successful participation is often a process so be prepared -

join networks, be open to collaboration, come to

information sessions

Start early – read the calls here: H2020 calls

Register as an evaluator Evaluator link

What next?

The NICP network

Ciaran Prunty - Engineering - c.prunty@qub.ac.uk

Dominic McLarnon - Energy - D.Mclarnon@ulster.ac.uk

Dr Shirley Davey - Connected Health - s.davey@ulster.ac.uk

Patricia McCrory - Health - p.mccrory@qub.ac.uk

Dr Inmaculada Higueras - Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences-i.higueras@qub.ac.uk

Dr Elaine Groom - Agri-Food - Elaine.Groom@afbini.gov.uk

Dr Joanne Coyle – UK (NCP) for SMEs - joanne.coyle@investni.com

Paul Matthews – SMEs/ FTI - paul.matthews@investni.com

Claire Griffin – SMEs/FTI – claire.griffin@investni.com

Caroline Barry - Environment - caroline.barry@daera-ni.gov.uk

Farha Brahmi – Brussels R&D Exec – tpfarha.brahmi@investni.com

Team Contact Details – NICP’s for SMEs

Manager – Horizon 2020 UK NCP SMEs

Joanne Coyle : joanne.coyle@investni.com

Tel. 028 9069 8807

R&D Collaboration (SME)

Paul Matthews : paul.matthews@investni.com

Tel. 028 9069 8837

Claire Griffin: Claire.griffin@investni.com

Tel. 028 9069 8356

R&D Liaison Executive – Brussels

Farha Brahmi : farha.brahmi@investni.com

Tel. 00 32 2 290 1345