Here are the key sections typically included in a Horizon Europe proposal and what they entail: - Excellence: Why is the proposed work innovative? What are the ambition, objectives and relevance to the call? How will it push technological or societal boundaries? - Impact: How will the expected outcomes and results contribute to the impacts defined in the work programme, such as on the European Green Deal? What is the exploitation and dissemination plan to maximize the project results? - Quality and efficiency of the implementation: How coherent and effective are the work plan, management structures and resource allocation? Are the proposed resources appropriate to achieve the objectives? - Members of the consortium and their roles: Details of the participants, their relevant

1. Anssi Komulainen, Maria Papina, Janne Kaukojärvi & Leena Vedenpää -
10.3.2022
Gaia-X and how to
accelerate growth:
pathway to EU
funding

2. Agenda
Opening words by Sitra
Horizon Europe & funding opportunities
Principles for fundable projects
How to prepare a winning application?
Q&A session
1
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3
4
5

3. Gaia-X - an open and transparent digital ecosystem
More than 324 companies and
organisations
3 out of 4 organisations are private
companies, about half of which are SMEs
AISBL Association and 22 National Hubs

4. Gaia-X Finland Working Groups
Agriculture Marko Turpeinen, CEO, 1001 Lakes / Adj Professor, Aalto University
Circular Economy Päivi Kivikytö-Reponen, Research Team Leader, VTT
Geoinformation Juha Saarentaus, Managing Director, GeoForum Finland
Health Tbc
Industry Data Kari Muranen, Senior Ecosystem Lead, DIMECC
Ilkka Lakaniemi, Director, CKIR, Aalto University School of Business
Mobility Janne Lautanala, Chief Ecosystem and Technology Officer, Fintraffic
Smart Cities Ilkka Lakaniemi, Director, CKIR, Aalto University School of Business

5. Ensuring its member participation and competitiveness in
European data space development is a key task for the Hub
European Data Strategy 2020 introduced the vision for creating a European single
market for data, based on data spaces.
Data Act 2022 further strengthens the requirement for interoperability and data
portability in services.
Upon request by a user, the data holder shall make available to the user the data generated by the use of a
product or related service or by a virtual assistant without undue delay, free of charge and, where applicable,
continuously and in real-time. (Article 4)
Providers of a data processing service shall… ensure that customers of the service can switch to a data
processing service, covering the same service type, which is provided by another service provider. (Article 23)
The Commission Staff working document 2022 on Common European Data Spaces
outlines a roadmap for related calls and actions.

6. • National coordination of EU funding services in Finland with a team of
specialised EU Advisors:
• We organise info events, trainings and seminars
• provide advice to applicants from finding the relevant programme
/call to carrying out the project
• influence future programs and funding rounds
• EU funding services are part of our service offering to companies and
ecosystems; the EU networks are an integral part of our programs
• www.eurahoitusneuvonta.fi; www.horisonttieurooppa.fi
Business Finland’s EU Funding services

7. Experts presenting today
7
Janne Kaukojärvi
Consultant,
M.Sc. Eng.
Leena Vedenpää
Senior Project Manager,
M.Sc. Econ.; Eng.
Maria Papina
Director,
M.Sc. Econ.; Eng.

8. Horizon Europe & funding
opportunities
Maria Papina
8

9. 100 B€+ of funding relevant to you in 2021-2027
9
1
EU Multiannual Financial
Framework
Single Market,
innovation and digital
Cohesion and
Values
Natural resources
and environment
Security and
defence
Other
750 B€
2
Next
Generation EU
3 Innovation
Fund
10 B€
80 B€
10+ B€
10+ B€
7+ B€
Figure 1: Overview on how EU funding is distributed

10. Horizon Europe objectives and scope
10
Focus on supporting companies, pilot lines & manufacturing facilities
Horizon Europe – less administration
• Bureaucracy has become more lean
• Typical project cost level ~10 % of the grant value
• Best results achieved with active coordination partners
More industry-oriented support in
Horizon Europe
• Access to new markets
• Access to high-quality capabilities and knowledge in Europe
• Shared (investment) risks for game-changing innovations
• Possibility to get high visibility and brand credibility
The EU funding
scheme has changed
addressing your
innovation needs

11. Overall Structure of the Horizon Europe:
11
Pillar 1
European Research Council
Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Actions
Research Infrastructures
23.4 B€
Pillar 2
E.g. Civil Security for
Society, and Digital,
Industry and Space
Joint Research Centre
47.4 B€
Pillar 3
European Innovation
Council
European Innovation
Ecosystems
European Institute of
Innovation
and Technology
11.9 B€
Figure 2: Horizon Europe pillars

12. Part 2: Most relevant for Industry is Pillar 2
clusters and its related partnerships
12
…or the partnerships related to the cluster
Pillar 2 (budget 47.4 B€)
• Health
• Culture, Creativity and Inclusive
society
• Civil Security for Society
• Digital, Industry and Space
• Climate, Energy and Mobility
• Food, Bioeconomy, Natural
Resources, Agriculture and
Environment
Figure 3: Horizon
Europe Pillar 2 topics
Funding is given either through its clusters…
Figure 4: Public- Private
Partnership topics
Health
Digital, Industry, and
Space
Climate, Energy, and
Mobility
Food, Bioeconomy,
Natural Resources,
Agriculture and
Environment

13. Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space
13
Budget 15.4 B€
2021 – 2027
Advanced computing
and Big Data
Space including earth
observation
Next generation
internet
Artificial intelligence and
robotics
Key digital technologies
including quantum
technologies
Circular, low carbon
and clean industries
Figure 5: Horizon Europe Cluster 4 topics

14. Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking
Public Private Partnerships
14
Focus
Requirements
How to apply?
• Estimated 1B€ for 2021-2028
• Funding is a combination of EU
and national grants
• Funding rates; typically 40-70%
• High hit rates; even 20-60%
• Electronics and ICT
• Bottom-up approach
• Industrial projects
• The consortium needs to include
a full value chain
• Typical projects realise a number
of demonstrators tailored to
industrial needs.
• Very large consortiums; typically
30-40 (even 100+) partners
• Call opened, deadline at the end of April 2022
• Eligibility: legal entity from Member State or associated country, EU may limit the
eligibility of third country participation in some actions under security topics.
• Further requirements defined in Work Programme.
Opportunity Support
€

15. Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)
15
Focus
Requirements
How to apply?
• Budget 7.6 B€ for 2021-2027
• Grants, “cascade funding”,
procurements
• Funding rates; typically 50-75%
European capacity building in:
• High Performance Computing
• Cloud, Data, and AI
• Cybersecurity
• Advanced Digital Skills
• Deployment of products
developed under other
programmes (Horizon Europe)
• Digital Innovation Hubs
• Widening the use of digital tech
• First calls opened in November 2021 and deadlines in January-March 2022,
consecutive openings in Q1 and Q3 of 2022
• Eligibility: legal entity from Member State or associated country, EU may limit the
eligibility of third country participation in some actions under security topics.
• Further requirements defined in Work Programme.
Opportunity Support
€
More information can be found at the official Digital Europe Programme webpage.

16. Digital Europe open calls (examples)
- Data space for security and law enforcement
- Testing and Experimentation Facility for Agri-Food
- Support to cybersecurity in the health sector
- Public Sector Open Data for AI and Open Data Platform
- Testing and Experimentation Facility for Manufacturing
- Testing and experimentation Facility for smart cities and communities
- Data space for cultural heritage (deployment)
16

17. Types of funding available
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Focus: Work with
Universities and RTOs
Instrument: Horizon
Europe
Number of partners: 5-10
Project size: 3-10 M€
Funding rate: 70-100%
Project duration: 3-5 years
R&D Collaboration
Focus: Co-creation with
customers and subcontractors
Instrument: Horizon, CEF,
Life
Number of partners: 5-10
Project size: 5-15 M€
Funding rate: 50-70%
Project duration: 3-5 years
Product Development
Focus: Commercial
product/industrial investment
Instrument: Innovation Fund,
Horizon Partnerships, Digital
Europe
Number of partners: 1-10
Project size: 7.5-100 M€
Funding rate: 20-50%
Project duration: 3-5 years
Industrial Scale-up

18. If you are an SME – there are even more
opportunities
18
Focus: R&D, Demonstration
Instrument: Eurostars
Number of partners: 2-4
Project size: 0.5-6 M€
Funding rate: 50-100%
Project duration: 1-3 years
Innovation to Market
Focus: Demonstration &
scaling-up
Instrument: EIC Accelerator
Number of partners: 1
Project size: 2.5 M€ +
optional equity up to 15 M€
Funding rate: 70% (on grant)
Project duration: 1-2 years
Scale-up
Focus: Non-dilutive funding
Instrument: EIB Venture Debt
Number of partners: 1
Ticket size: 7.5-50 M€
Funding rate: 50% total
investment costs
Project duration: 4-6 years
Growth Acceleration

19. Case example 1
19
2015 2017 2019 2020
Picture 1: Electronics companies building their R&D portfolio from
one project to the next

20. Case example 2
20
2014
1.5 M€
2015
3 M€
2016
21 M€ 6 M€
2018
5 M€
25 M€ 2.5 M€
2019
13.3 M€
2016 2017 2018
Picture 2: Two SMEs building a large portfolio of EU-projects to
generate new business

21. Principles of fundable projects
Janne Kaukojärvi

22. What kind of funding is available?
22
Everything from ‘Basic principle observed’ “ to “actual system demonstrated in
operational environment”.
What kind of activities are funded?
How big is the funding?
Typical projects receive 2-8 M€ of funding.
Only open innovation or also closed?
Mostly the funding is for collaborative projects. However, a few instruments are for one
partner only. The partner can be e.g. a city, a demonstration site, SME, university, big
corporation. It can be your client.
Funding is not only for R&D but also available for e.g. processes,
business development, manufacturing innovations

23. How do we know if we are eligible to apply?
23
Do we need European partners to
take my project to the next level?
Is our technology at the
TRL level required?
Is the project of
strategic interest for us?
Are we among the best in
Europe to solve this problem?
Where is the innovation,
compared to existing solutions?
Can we truly go beyond the
state of the art?
Technology Readiness Level
1
Basic
research
2
Technology
formulation
3
Applied
research
4
Small scale
prototype
5
Large scale
prototype
6
System
prototype
7
Demonstra-
tion
8
First
commercial
prototype
9
Full
commercial
product

24. EU funding is for
long-term innovative projects.
Do not apply if…
You are not ready for
international
collaboration
Your project idea is not
new or unique
Your investment project is
not innovative: get a loan
instead
You or your partners do
not own the innovation
and its IPR
Your project is only
of national interest
Your idea or
project is too
small or
immature
There are also reasons why not to apply…
24

25. How do I find funding?
- You need to find what call best suits for
your company. The Horizon Europe and
Innovation Fund calls are presented
in Funding and Tenders portal where
you can also start the application process.
- Spinbase, an AI-based search tool can
help you to search through and identify the
right opportunities for your company.
- Most of the calls have a pre-set scope that
you have to meet in order to apply, but
there are also open calls where you can
more freely design your project.
25
EC policy priorities
Funding programme
Strategic Plan 2021-2024
Work Programme 2021-
2024
Funding Calls
Your
project

26. The project scope and objectives
26
Call text –
Expected
outcomes
Objective 1
Objective 2
Objective 3
Results
Technologies / Models / Concepts
Technologies / Models / Concepts
Technologies / Models / Concepts
Wider
Impacts
Figure 6: Thematic illustration of how awarded EU projects
should link to expected outcomes and wider impacts

27. How to find EU funding?
27
Picture 3:
eufundingplaybook.fi gives
simplified information about
funding calls and application
process

28. Maximum funding rates
• Click to edit Master text styles
• Second level
• Third level
• Fourth level
• Fifth level
28
Type of Action Funding rate
Research and innovation action 100%
Innovation action 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of
up to 100% applies)
Coordination and support action 100%
Programme co-fund action Between 30% and 70%
Innovation and market deployment 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of
up to 100% applies)
Training and mobility action 100%
Pre-commercial procurement action 100%
Public procurement of innovative solutions action 50%
Table 1: Overview of different types of funding calls and funding rates

29. You get paid based on the costs that occur
29
Figure 7: The main financial
principles
Picture 4: The payments of EU grants,
simplified
Time
Funding
Alt-text:
• Pre-payment is up to 100% of the average budget for the first
reporting period. EC decides the number of reporting
periods.
• 5% of total budget into a caution fund and paid with the final
payment. The rest of the funding is paid based on costs per
reporting period.
• Plan regular deliverables, not just one in the end of the
project
No profit
allowed
No
commercial
activities
Normal
company
practices
Track of
work and
costs in
detail
Grant is
paid
against
actual
costs

30. What can the funding be used for?
30
COMPANY
COMPANY STRATEGY
PRIVATE
INVESTORS
EU FUNDING
Alt-text:
EU funding is primarily meant
for activities which are within
the company strategy, but
which are too risky for the
private investors to fund.
Figure 8: Thematic illustration of the idea of EU funding

31. EU projects should not be day-to-day
business
31
Day-to-day business
RISKINESS
MARKET
OPPORTUNITY
Bad business
EU FUNDING
Alt-text:
EU funding is primarily
meant for activities which
are within the company
strategy, but which are
too risky for the private
investors to fund.
Figure 9: Thematic illustration of the idea of EU funding

32. How to prepare a winning
application?
Leena Vedenpää

33. Process from R&D to product utilising EU
funding – example timeline
33
Growth and new
product related
strategies, R&D for
future products
Identifying fitting
EU funding
opportunities
Initial project idea
development – kick-
off 5 months before
DL
Proposal building
decision – 4 months
before the DL
Proposal building process before the deadline
Evaluation of
the results by
EC 4-5 months
Grant
negotiations 1-
2months
Project kick-
off: 5-7
months after
DL,
Executing the
project 2-4
years
Go to market
activities
Figure 10: EU funding proposal building process

34. Proposal preparation process
34
• One-pager to present the idea
• Contact and engage the partners
• Finalise project concept, distribute the work with partners
• Consortium meeting
• First draft & Budget proposal
• Partners inputs to the draft & budget
• Full draft prepared
• Comments on draft
• Consortium meeting on final division of budget and work
• Polish, Refine, Review, Proof read and edit full proposal
• Submit the proposal

35. How to build a consortium?
35
Read the call text and identify the contributions and partner types needed
List the things you and your core partners could/want to do
Check the max grant and consider how many partners does it allow.
Consider the number of countries - similar budget shares for each!
Estimate max grant shares per country/partner and communicate it
Consider a value chain: Invite current and potential clients and suppliers!
Check your networks and your partner’s networks

36. What is in the application? (Example HEU)
36
Excellence: Why am I the best in Europe to do
this
Impact: If I get funding for part of the work, what
is the ROI for the owners of the company and the
EU (business, stronger Europe, grand challenges)
Implementation: How am I going to do this
The application is a detailed plan of a
multi-annual large-scale, usually
collaborative innovation project
You need to take your time to plan it
Your application will be evaluated by ~3-
5 independent evaluators
Application includes

37. Quantify, quantify, and quantify
Define a clear, focused concept
Make a good first impression
How to make a winning application?
37
Devil is in the details
Prove innovativeness
Iterate

38. Define a clear, focused concept
38
Align with your
company strategy and
(business) case
Compliance to all the
demands / requirements
of the call
Enough focus, not
“doing everything for
everyone”

39. Quantify, quantify, quantify
39
Show where the
money is in your
innovation
Align your financial
needs
Quantify the
problem, your project
impacts, benefits,
market etc.

40. Make a good first impression
40
Why you need
taxpayers’ money
Clear, logical, easy to
read, credible, not dull
Impress the evaluator
on the first 5 pages!

41. Devil is in the details
41
Clarify your impact –
economic, societal,
environmental
Be clear in your
statements
Cross-check your
facts and figures

42. Prove innovativeness
42
Show your IPR and
Freedom to Operate
Be explicit on your
innovativeness – don’t
expect the evaluator to
see what you see
Explain how your
solution goes beyond
the state of the art

43. Iterate
43
Reserve time for quality
checks with persons that
have not been part of the
proposal preparation
Plan at least 2-3 months
to prepare the application

44. How to sell your idea to the evaluators?
- Evaluators work under pressure – don’t make their job more difficult!
44
Make it easy to find answers
to evaluator’s questions
Write good text (but not too
good)
Don’t be boring!
Not a scientific article, but
a sales brochure

45. Horizon Europe: Now is the time to act –
beat your competitors
45
More time to
discuss and
engage with
partners
More time to
prepare and
scope the
projects
Funding calls are
typically
published for the
next 2 years
Prepare more
interesting
projects and
improve your
success rates

46. Questions?
46

47. Thank you!
47