Application process
3. Funding process
- Projects will be evaluated by each funding partner, on the basis of common evaluation criteria defined by Innovation Express funding partners.
- Eligibility of applicant clusters and their SMEs will follow the rules of each funding partner.
- Expected budget is around 15 to 50 k€ for SMEs funding, depending of their activities; several SMEs per cluster (5 to 10) are expected
- Expected budget is around 20 to 100 k€ for cluster organisations, also depending of the level of intercluster RDI cooperations’ activities.
4. Funding partners for Innovation Express
Confirmed:
- Oseo (French National organisation supporting SMEs and midcaps for innovation, financing and guarantee activities)
- Upper Austrian Government (funding authority)/Clusterland Upper Austria Ltd. (executing authority)
- Dasti (DK) Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation
- IWT (BE) Flemish government agency for Innovation by Science and Technology
- SPW (BE) Public Service of Wallonia/Directorate General for Economy, Employment and Research
- PAED (PL) Polish Agency for Enterprise Development
- Ile de France Region (FR)
- Austria Wirtschaftsservice /National funding bank
.. Expected:
- Vinnova (SE) Swedish governmental Agency for Innovation Systems
- INNET funding partners, Tactics partners, ECA Members
- Secretary for Enterprise and Industry (SP), Catalonia
5. Eligibility and application process
5.1 Who can apply ?
- Applicants are technology cluster organisations (governances) submitting a proposal, located within a geographical area where an Innovation Express funding partner is present.
- Proposals must be submitted by the representative of the cluster for the benefit of its SME’s members, in accordance with them. Only cluster governances/organisations can apply to the call (i.e. no individual SMEs).
- Either cluster organisation and/or Smes may be funded, according to national/regional schemes and rules.
- Targeted clusters can be located in any European country different from the applicant’s country, or outside of Europe. At least one cluster should be targeted.
5.2 How to apply ?
- Proposals’ Submission Form have to be submitted on line by the cluster organisations’ representative through the website at http://www.proinno-europe.eu. Click on the left, logo InnoNet Innovation Express Call, then on "Submit a Proposal".
- Proposals must be completed following the information given by National/Regional Innovation Express partners.
- It is strongly recommended for the applicant cluster’s representative to contact its Innovation Express contact person (Contact Persons) in order to be informed about the submission of the proposal and the funding conditions.
6. Eligibility criteria
- The applicant is a cluster organisation (governance).
- At least one other technology cluster is identified in the proposal.
- The submission of an English Form (see template) through the PRO INNO Europe website is mandatory.
- Other eligible criteria may be defined directly by the funding organisations.
7. Evaluation procedure
7.1 At European level
In order to achieve a coherent approach at European level each regional/national agency/organisation involved in Innovation Express will carry out individual evaluations of the proposals submitted in its geographical area, on the basis of common agreed criteria.
The common criteria are:
- Consistency of the European / international strategy of the applicant cluster, complementarity with other National/Regional, European programmes targeting clusters/SMEs;
- Clarity and relevance of the content of the intercluster transnational cooperation activities (Action Plan);
- Added value and benefits for Clusters and SME members involved;
- Identification of clear outputs and deliverables;
7.2 At national/ regional level
On the basis of the approval of this European evaluation, each regional/national agency takes its funding decision to support cluster organisations or SME members, according to its own rules and funding mechanisms used for Innovation express.
8. Get support!
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To submit a proposals, please read the useful documents on the online submission tool (www.proinno-europe.eu). Click on the InnoNet Innovation Expression Call logo
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For Clusters: Looking for a partnership? You can seek for other cluster organisations in Europe on the European Cluster Collaboration Platform at http://www.clustercollaboration.eu/.
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For funding bodies: How to to join the Call and become an Innovation Express 'Associated partner'?
Please, click on "funding bodies Aplication"
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More infomration on Innovation Express call for proposals:
Michel Ganoote, Tactics coordinator: michel.ganoote@oseo.fr
Isabelle Lebo, European Project Manager: isabelle.lebo@oseo.fr
