The Eurostars Programme Answering the research ambitions of innovative small businesses Svatopluk Halada EUREKA Secretariat 1

The Eurostars Programme > Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support Programme to be specifically dedicated to R&D-performing SMEs It’s a multi-annual joint EUREKA-EU programme (2008-2013), which combines: National R&D programmes from 33 countries (300+ M€ committed) FP7 (up to 100 M€ committed) EUREKA Secretariat (20+ years of experiences of involving in the national R&D programmes) 2

Adoption by the European Union Eurostars exploits Article 185 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) [ex Article 169 of the Treaty establishing the European Community] requiring co-decision by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers Adoption by the European Parliament 10 April 2008 Adoption by the Council of Ministers 23 June 2008 3

The Eurostars Programme Eurostars in glance 4

Eurostars project criteria Consortium leader is an R&D-performing SME* At least 2 participants from Eurostars participating countries Project duration is less than 3 years Market introduction is foreseen within 2 years after project completion The R&D-performing SME(s) are undertaking at least 50% of total project costs Well balanced partnership (no country responsible for more than 75% of total project costs) No restriction on thematic area (bottom up) */At least 10% turnover or 10% full time equivalent (FTE) dedicated to R&D 5

Eurostars participating countries Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta The Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom status: 28 October 2010 6

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS & ASSISTANCE Eurostars process SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS & ASSISTANCE Cut-off date EVALUATION PHASE Communication of funding results FUNDING SYNCHRONISATION MONITORING PHASE Eligibility check / NPC Cover note Project initiation Registration Contact National Project Co-ordinator Check the Eurostars Guidelines for Applicants Final Consortium Agreement Contact National Project Co-ordinator Contact National Funding Body Technical assessment Market introduction IEP session Ranking list Project execution Market Impact Report Project Progress Report Final Report Approval of the Ranking list by HLG Check Guidelines for Participants 14 weeks 5 weeks Max. 3 years 2 years Time

The Eurostars Programme Management Structure

> Eurostars High Level Group > Eurostars Advisory Group Eurostars management > Eurostars High Level Group > Eurostars Advisory Group > Eurostars member countries network > EUREKA Secretariat in Brussels

Eurostars High Level Group Management structure Eurostars High Level Group to supervise the implementation of Programme to nominate the members of the Eurostars Advisory Group (EAG) to approve the operational procedures to run the Programme to approve the call planning and call budget to nominate Chairman and IEP members to approve the ranking list of Eurostars projects to be funded

Eurostars Advisory Group Management structure Eurostars Advisory Group Composed of EUREKA/Eurostars NPCs Chaired by the EUREKA Secretariat Recommendation on implementation of the Programme (e.g. funding procedures, evaluation and selection process, project monitoring)

Management structure EUREKA Secretariat Role and responsibilities Eurostars Team is an integral part and charge for the execution of the Programme Role and responsibilities Establishment of the yearly call budget, organisation of call for proposals and reception of the project proposals (single entry point) Organisation of the eligibility and evaluation project proposals Organisation of the selection project proposals for funding Project monitoring Decentralised management of the EC funding contribution Reporting to the Eurostars HLG, EUREKA HLG and the European Commission Promotion of the Eurostars Programme

Eurostars network The NPC network - role Support in setting up a project application Performing pre-screening Performing part of the eligibility check and writing the Cover note Involvement in the monitoring of ongoing Eurostars projects Information and promotion on the Programme

The Eurostars Programme Project Application Submission 14

Information website > www.eurostars-eureka.eu

Guidelines for applicants > Download PDF at www.eurostars-eureka.eu/forms/guidelinesforapplicants.pdf

Support and assistance from EUREKA Discuss your application with your local NPC Ensure that all of your partners discuss the application with their local NPCs

Signing up as a Eurostars applicant Submit an application Download an empty Project application form Download the Eurostars ‘Guidelines for applicants’ Download the skeleton for the Consortium agreement Download the checklist for the creation of a Consortium agreement

Eurostars Registration One registration per application is required

Eurostars Application form Ensure that the Application form is the latest version

Upload Application form Check availability of acronym Upload project application form Pass validation check

Upload annexes Upload remaining documents Draft Consortium Agreement in English according to skeleton Financial Document for each participant Certified Accounts Business Plan Not required for public organisations Other annex (optional)

Draft Consortium Agreement Must cover all aspects contained within the skeleton provided Does not need to be identical Can contain more information Do not use FP model Focus on Project Management Access to existing know how Protection of project results Exploitation of project results Agreement of partners is critical This is a legal document. You must be happy with all aspects. Important to have a strong draft document Protects partners Protects project Provides clarity for roles Can help with faster processing and commencement

Confirmation and signing of application A confirmation of the participation to the project is asked by sending the document signed by fax or mail to the Eureka Secretariat address within 7 days following the sending date and maximum 7 days after the cut off date. A confirmation of the participation in the project is sought by sending a ‘signature and commitment form’ to each participant after the cut-off deadline. This must be returned to the EUREKA Secretariat within 5 working days of its delivery.

The Eurostars Programme Assessment process 25

Central evaluation process

Eligibility check The EUREKA Secretariat is responsible for providing the eligibility check Consortium leader is an R&D-performing SME from a Eurostars participating country? At least one other participant is from another Eurostars country? R&D-performing SME(s) contribution 50 % or more of the total project costs? Is the consortium well balanced? (no single participant or country is responsible for more than 75 % of the total project costs) Is the project duration 3 years or fewer? Is market introduction within 2 years of the project’s completion? Does the project meet the EUREKA criteria? (No restrictions on thematic area, civilian purpose)  10% FTE engaged in R&D or 10% turnover dedicated to R&D

Cover note by National offices The National Offices are responsible for answering eligibility questions relating directly to the project participants from their country Is this participant is a legal entity in the host country? Should this participant be accepted following the application of national track record? Are there serious doubts as to the finances and practices of the entity (bankruptcy, fraud, no viability)?

A two-steps of central evaluation process Technical assessment by two independent experts /EUREKA Project Assessment Methodology – PAM/ Basic Assessment Well balanced partnership; Added value through cooperation Technological and managerial capacity of all participants Methodology; Cost and financing structure Technology and Innovation Degree of technological maturity Technological achievements envisaged Degree of Innovation Market and Competitiveness Market size, access and risk Time to market Return on investment Evaluation and ranking by members of the Independent Evaluation Panel (IEP)

The selection of Technical experts

Who are Technical experts Industrialists and Academics with specialist technical knowledge and market appreciation Selected according to eligibility criteria and experience 574 Experts accepted to database 485 Contracts signed from 29 countries

The assessment of applications

Evaluation by the IEP Independent Evaluation Panel : Chairman + 8 members Each of the IEP members evaluate each individual proposal

Ranking of applications by the IEP

Eurostars HLG endorsement of the IEP Ranking list Threshold less than 60% in each criteria and less than 67% overall

Funding availability and contribution simulator

Funding of successful project applications The funding of partners is based on the national funding rules The funding of projects is following the ranking list until national budget exhaustion All partners of a Eurostars project must have a funding secured Upon receipt of the “funding availibility” letter, all participants must contact their NPC within 10 days

The Eurostars Programme Results of cut-off 1-5 38

The Eurostars Programme First deadline: 8 February 2008 Second deadline: 21 November 2008 Third deadline: 24 September 2009 Fourth deadline: 25 February 2010 Fifth deadline: 30 September 2010  Sixth deadline: 24 March 2011 39

Rate of eligible – Above threshold

Eurostars Programme - global overview Submission Stage Cut-Off1 Cut-Off2 Cut-Off3 Cut-Off4 Cut-Off5 Total Applications Received 215 317 279 316 343 1470 Total Budget 300 M€ 446 M€ 385 M€ 421 M€ 495 M€ 2061 M€ Number of Applicants 667 1098 957 1061 1092 4875 4. Number of SMEs 74% 73% 71% 72%   Evaluation Stage 5. Applications Eligible 189 245 236 268 … 938 6. Applications Above Threshold 133 111 112 102 458 Funding Stage 7. Projects Funded 90 89 85 64 328 8. Total Budget 129 M€ 128 M€ 130 M€ 80M€ 472 M€ Public Funding * 60 M€ 63 M€ 61 M€ 38M€ 222 M€ Members States Funding * 45 M€ 47 M€ 46 M€ 28M€ 166 M€ EC Funding * 15 M€ 16 M€ 10M€ 56 M€ *Estimations based on the average public funding rate 41 41

Global Overview- Project profile Cut-Off1 Cut-Off2 Cut-Off3 Cut-Off4 Average cost (M€) 1.4 1.5 1.3 Average participants per projects 3.1 3.4 3.3 Average countries per project 2.4 2.5 Average duration (months) 30 29 27

Global overview - Project applicants Overall, 73% of the applicants are R&D SMEs and SMEs, 5% are large companies, and 21 % are Universities and Research Institutes

Global overview - Project participants Overall, 71% of the applicants are R&D SMEs and SMEs, 6% are large companies, and 22% are Universities and Research Institutes

Global overview - Technological areas

Global overview - Market areas

R&D SMEs profile

Types of consortium – Approved projects

The Eurostars Programme is effective

Eurostars is effective because… Predictable procedures (effective EUREKA network support and transparency) Short lead-time (3 months from cut-off date to evaluation results) Funding is assured (national commitment)

Main motivations for participation

Thank you for listening info@eurostars-eureka.eu Next cut-off date: Cut-Off 6 24 March 2011 at 20h00 CET