Horizon 2020 - Collaborative R&D Support Service, Claire Griffin.

1. Invest Northern Ireland
Collaborative R&D Support Service
November 2016
Claire Griffin
Collaborative R&D Support Service

2. 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

3.  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

4. 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

5. SME Instrument Technology Level
Technology readiness level 6 or above

6. 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

7. 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

8.  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

9.  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

10.  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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Eurostars SME Instrument
Purpose Support development of new products,
processes and services
Innovative 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 SMEs
Must 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 countries
R&D performing SME in lead
Other participants welcome
Single SME / consortium + SME
Time to contract 7 months Phase 1- 3 months
Phase 2- 6 months
Duration Up to 36 months Phase 1- 6 months
Phase 2- 12-24 months
Funding rate 60%
National rules (Innovate UK)
70%
Funding amount On average €360k Phase 1- €50k lump sum
Phase 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

14. 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

15.  €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

16.  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

17. 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

18. 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)

19.  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

20.  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

21. 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

22.  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?

23. 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

24. 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