The SME Instrument Dr Maria Makridaki 14 April 2016

What is the SME Instrument A new Horizon 2020 funding tool for high-quality, high- prospect innovation in all forms (product, services, processes) Designed for SMEs with activities in the area of Societal Challenges and Industrial Leadership Budget approximately € for the duration of H2020 ( ) 2 The SME Instrument

3 What is the SME Instrument

Goal: Fill the Funding Gap 4 The SME Instrument

Goal: Fill the Funding Gap 5 The SME Instrument SME Instrument

The 3 phases of the SME Instrument 1. Feasibility Study 2. Demonstration activities 3. Commercialisation 6 6 Τhe SME Instrument

Phase Ι: Feasibility Study Development of a Business Plan Funded Activities: Feasibility of concept, Risk assessment, IP regime, Partner search, Design study, Pilot application, etc. Funding scheme: € Lump-sum (per project, not per SME) Duration: Usually 6 months Outcome: Technical and market assessment, and elaborate business plan If the outcome of the assessment is positive then SMEs are strongly encouraged to submit a proposal for Phase 2. 7 The SME Instrument

Phase ΙΙ: Innovation Actions Innovation projects supported by a strong business plan Funded Activities: Development, prototyping, testing, piloting, miniaturisation, scaling-up, market replication, research, etc Funding scheme : € € depending on the project (70% funding rate, or up to a 100% in special cases). Duration: usually 1 to 2 years Outcome : A new product, service or process ready to compete on the market. A business plan with a clear and detailed commercialisation and investments strategy 8 The SME Instrument

Phase ΙΙΙ: Commercialisation Phase III does not include any direct funding, only support through various mechanisms. Support Actions: Further development of investment readiness Connection with investors and customers through focused Networking activities Support in proposal submission for further funding by the EC Coaching Support Actions and Services through the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) 9 The SME Instrument

10 ResearchDevelopmentCommercialisation Public funds Private funds Angel Investors Venture Capital Industry TRL1TRL2TRL3TRL4TRL5TRL6TRL7TRL8TRL9 Funding Gap SME Instrument Phases IIIIII EEN Support for SME Instrument Concept Business Plan Elaborate Business Plan Investor-ready Business Plan The SME Instrument

Technology Readiness Level 11 TRL 1 – basic principles observed TRL 2 – technology concept formulated TRL 3 – experimental proof of concept TRL 4 – technology validated in lab TRL 5 – technology validated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies) TRL 6 – technology demonstrated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies) TRL 7 – system prototype demonstration in operational environment TRL 8 – system complete and qualified TRL 9 – actual system proven in operational environment (competitive manufacturing in the case of key enabling technologies; or in space) The SME Instrument

Thematic Areas 12 High risk ICT innovation Nanotech, or other advanced tech for manufacturing and materials Space research and development Clinical research for the validation of diagnostics devices and biomarkers Sustainable food production and processing Blue growth Low carbon energy systems Greener and more integrated transport Eco-innovation and sustainable raw material supply Urban critical infrastructure Biotechnology-based industrial processes Mobile e-government applications SME business model innovation The SME Instrument

Supporting innovative SMEs in the healthcare biotechnology sector: SMEInst April 23rd 2015 Presentation Title 13 Cell technologies in medical applications The medical applications of cell technologies include diagnostics and biosensors; cell and gene therapy, tissue engineering, bio-artificial organs, haematology, immunotherapy, and vaccine and antibody production; predictive toxicology, synthetic biology, and modelling development and disease processes. The challenge addresses cells from any eukaryotic source though their eventual application must be to human medicine. Clinical research for the validation of biomarkers and/or diagnostic medical devices Biomarkers are used in clinical practice to indicate both normal and pathological conditions. A robust analytical method is required to achieve validation of the biomarkers and a link to a pertinent clinical process or endpoint needs to be demonstrated. This validation process should provide evidence for high analytical value, appropriate sensitivity and specificity, and clinical validity. Both in vivo and in vitro potential biomarkers are eligible. Priority is given to the validation of disease-related biomarkers (i.e. diagnostic, susceptibility/risk, monitoring and prognostic biomarkers). Validation of the clinical performance of new diagnostic devices can also be supported, either in combination with the biomarker validation or against existing standards.

Proposal Evaluation Proposals are evaluated based on 3 Criteria: Excellence Marking 0-5 Impact Marking 0-5 Implementation Marking 0-5 Proposals under the thresholds (13 for Phase I and 12 for Phase II) are not ranked and thus not funded Proposals above the thresholds are re-ranked using a weight of 1.5 for Impact 14 The SME Instrument

Impact April 23rd 2015 Presentation Title 15 You need to demonstrate that your project will generate revenues and create jobs. Explain the market conditions and the evolution of the competition. Provide concrete and realistic figures on the market size, the market share, the sales price. Show at least 3 years of projection of sales volume, turnover and number of jobs created. Do not forget to describe your commercialisation plan. A key aspect to remember is that you have to demonstrate that your project has a European or international dimension. If it’s targeted only at a national market, it won’t be supported by the SME Instrument. The protection of intellectual property is also very important and must be explained.

Excellence April 23rd 2015 Presentation Title 16 You need to convince the evaluators that your innovation is excellent, that your product, process or service is disruptive, that it has the potential to change the dynamic of the market and possibly to address a societal challenge. Show the added value of your idea and explain why it is viable and better than existing solutions. While it's important to describe the opportunities, you must also demonstrate that you understand the risks.

Implementation April 23rd 2015 Presentation Title 17 You need to convince the evaluators that you can make it! Don't forget that, as well as describing technical competence, you'll also need to provide information on commercial competence. Evaluators will assess the credibility of your team and of your work plan. Make sure you clearly describe how you will organise your team and, if you intend to use external partners to bring competences that you don't have in your company, explain what they will do and what they will bring. Planning is important as well: your project should fit into a realistic time frame.

Essential tips for your application 18 Is the SME Instrument really for you? Look carefully at the objectives of the work programme and assess if your project is in line with them. You need a disruptive innovation, a clear ambition to grow at EU level, a demonstrated knowledge of your target market and a convincing commercialisation plan. Seek advice from National Contact Points, your local branch of the Enterprise Europe Network. Write to convince evaluators to invest in your business 4 evaluators will look at different aspects of your proposal: the technology, market knowledge, commercialisation plan, and the financial angle. Each of the evaluators will look at 3 criteria: impact, excellence, and implementation. Make sure your proposal is well balanced and covers all the aspects for each evaluation criteria: Form also matters Take time to think about a catchy title and to craft an attractive abstract. These two elements are very important as they will be the first impression the evaluators will get from your project.

Submission Dates Constant submission for Funding for Phase I and II Cut-off dates for the examination of submitted proposals 19 The SME Instrument Phase Ι: Technological and Market Assessment Phase ΙΙ: Innovation Actions 03 May September November February May September November April June October 18 January April June October 2017

SME Instrument: Results Overview 20

General Statistics  9 cut-off dates  13,353 applications received. 14,134 SME applied, individually or as part of a consortium (20% of the whole H2020);  1,147 participants in 1,084 funded projects (18% of the whole H2020).  355 already finalized projects  Single companies rate per funded proposals:  Phase 1: 92%, Phase 2: 79%  Re-submission:  3,478 (25%) unique applicants resubmitted at least once,  584 got funded after resubmission (16%). 21 Results Overview

General Statistics 22 Results Overview Phase 1 Total Submitted Above Threshold % of submittedFunded Funded as % of above threshold Success rate 18/06/ %15549%6% 24/09/ %17875%9% 17/12/ %25981%11% 18/03/ %14959%9% 17/06/ %12837%6% Overall Phase %86960%8%

General Statistics 23 Results Overview Total Submitted Above Threshold % of submitte d Funded Funded as % of above threshold Success rate 09/10/ %6045%10% 17/12/ %7441%12% 18/03/ %3716%6% 17/06/ %4412%5% Overall Phase %21529%8%

General Statistics 24 Results Overview

General Statistics 25 Results Overview

Phase 1 funded projects by topic 26 Results Overview

Phase 2 funded projects by topic 27 Results Overview

Profile of Successful SMEs 28 Results Overview

Common Mistakes and Failures Too much project focused, not enough business opportunity oriented Description of company not convincing (why would this company succeed and not the competitor) No information on competing solutions Innovation content too low; product exists already on the market (just incremental improvement) Just ideas, no proof of existing commercialisation concept (TRL far too low) Just trying ones luck 29 Results Overview

Where to seek help National Contact Points (NCP for SMEs & NCPs in the thematic area) Enterprise Europe Network (ΕΕΝ) IT Helpdesk European IPR Helpdesk Partner Search Services H2020 On line Manual 30 Information and Support

National Contact points for SMEs “HORIZON 2020” in Greece 1.Giorgos Tzamtzis FORTH/PRAXI Network, Tel , 2.Eleni Spiropoulou 31 Information and support

Website: praxinetwork Thank you for your attention Maria Makridaki Technology Transfer Consultant Healthcare & Biotechnology 32