The document discusses opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the SME Instrument of the Horizon 2020 program. The SME Instrument provides funding across three phases to support innovation in SMEs: Phase I provides feasibility assessments, Phase II provides funding for demonstration and development of innovations, and Phase III involves support for commercializing innovations. The SME Instrument aims to bridge funding gaps for SMEs and support the development of new products, services, and processes. It receives approximately €3 billion in funding and involves evaluation of proposals based on excellence, impact, and implementation.

1. Opportunities for SMEs:
Introduction to the SME Instrument tool
of the Horizon 2020
Dr. Giorgos Tzamtzis
tzamtzis@help-forward.gr
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

2. National infrastructure for technology transfer, research co-
operation, innovation and entrepreneurship
Goal : enhance competitiveness of SMEs & research centers
• strengthening links between business & industry
• promoting innovation & entrepreneurship
• fostering transnational cooperation
Main Activities
• Enterprise Europe Network (Co-coordinating Greek EEN)
• Innovation Support Services
• National Contact Point for HORIZON 2020
(including NCP for SMEs)
PRAXI NETWORK
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

3.  EC Framework programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020
 Budget of 70,2 billion €
 Basic pillar of EU strategy for :
• Economic Growth and Jobs creation
• Meeting Societal Challenges
• Strengthening EU position in research and innovation globally
Horizon 2020
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

4. The link between Growth and Investment in R&D
Horizon 2020
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

5. The 3 Priorities of Horizon 2020
1. Excellent Science 28 billion €
2. Industrial Leadership 20 billion €
3. Societal Challenges 20 billion €
Horizon 2020
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

6. 1st Priority: Excellent Science
• World Class Science
• Support and Retaining of talented researchers
• Access to better infrastructure
Horizon 2020
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European Research Council (ERC) Frontier research by the best individual teams 13 095
Future and Emerging Technologies - Collaborative research to open new fields of
innovation
2 696
Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) - Opportunities for training and career
development
6 162
Research infrastructures (including e-infrastructure) - Ensuring access to world-class
facilities
2 488
Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

7. 3rd Priority: Societal Challenges
• EU Policy goals require Innovation (Energy, Climate, Sustainable
Development)
• Interdisciplinary Approach for solutions
• Testing and Proof of promising innovative solutions
Horizon 2020
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Health, demographic change and wellbeing 7 472
Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the
Bioeconomy
3 851
Secure, clean and efficient energy * 5 931
Smart, green and integrated transport 6 339
Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials 3 081
Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies 1 309
Secure societies 1 695
Science with and for society 462
Spreading excellence and widening participation 816
Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

8. 2nd Priority: Industrial Leadership
• Europe needs more Innovative SMEs for Growth and Job creation
• Strategic investment in Basic Technologies in specific Sectors
• Europe needs to attract more Private investments in innovation
Budget
1. Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies (LEITs) 13.557 million €
(ICT, nanotechnologies, materials, biotechnology, manufacturing, space)
2. Access to risk finance 2.842 million €
Leveraging private finance and venture capital for research & innovation
3. Innovation in SMEs
Fostering all forms of innovation in all types of SMEs
616 million € + plus 20% of the SC + Industrial Leadership budget
Horizon 2020
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

9. SME support: Integrated approach
Horizon 2020
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014
20 % budgetary
target in LEITs & SC
'Innovation in
SMEs'
Collaborative Projects
13%
SME instrument
7%
Eurostars II
Enhancing Innovation Capacity
Market-driven Innovation
Access to Risk Finance

10. What is the SME Instrument
The SME Instrument
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

11. 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 € 3.000.000.000 for the duration of H2020
(2014-2020)
The SME Instrument
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

12. Goal: Filling the Funding Gap
The SME Instrument
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

13. Three Phases
1. Technical and Market Feasibility
2. Demonstration Activities
3. Commercialisation
The SME Instrument
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014
Phase I
10% of the Budget
5,200 projects will
be funded
Phase II
90% of the Budget
1,700 projects will
be funded
Phase III
Support Actions

14. Phase Ι: Concept and feasibility assessment (optional)
• Funded Activities: Feasibility of concept, Risk assessment, IP regime,
Partner search, Design study, Pilot application, etc.
• Funding scheme: € 50.000 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.
The SME Instrument
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

15. 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 : € 500.000 - € 2.500.000 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
The SME Instrument
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

16. Phase ΙΙΙ: Commecialisation
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)
The SME Instrument
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

17. The SME Instrument
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014
EEN
Initial
Assessment
Phase I Phase II Phase III
Coaching
Regional
HR
…
TO/TR
EUFunds
SME
Instrument
Support for
Application
Support for EU project
Management
Support for Access to
Finance
Facilitation and Moderation

18. Thematical Areas
The SME Instrument
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• 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
(2015 only)
• SME business model innovation
(2015 only)
Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

19. Technology Readiness
The SME Instrument
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The SME Instrument targets innovation projects with minimum Technology
Readiness 6.
• 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)
Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

20. Submission Cut-off Dates
• Constant submission for Funding for Phase I and II
• Cut-off dates for the examination of submitted proposals
The SME Instrument
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2014 2015
Phase Ι: Technological and
Market Assessment
18 June
24 September
17 December
18 March
17 June
17 September
16 December
Phase ΙΙ: Innovation Actions
9 October
17 December
Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

21. 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
The SME Instrument
21
Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

22. SME Instrument: Results and Statistics
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014
June 2014: 2666
Sept. 2014: 1,944

23. Phase Ι results – June 2014
Very Competitive on EU Level.
SME Instrument: Results and Statistics
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EU Level
Submitted Proposals 2666
Above threshold 317
Percentage above Threshold 11,89%
Funding 155 total - 5,81%
Success rate for Above threshold 48,89% = 1 out of 2
Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014

24. SME Instrument: Results and Statistics
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014
Oct. 2014: 580

25. National Contact Points for SMEs (Greece)
Useful Links
• Enterprise Europe Network (ΕΕΝ)
• IT Helpdesk
• European IPR Helpdesk
• Partner Search Services
• H2020 On line Manual
SME Instrument: Information and Support
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Bridging Energy Research and Innovation
in the EUROMED area
Friday, December 5, 2014
1. Panagiotis Karniouras
Praxi Network,
Tel. 210 3607 690,
e-mail: karniouras@help-forward.gr
2. Eleni Spyropoulou
e-mail: nenaspyr@gmail.com

26. Thank you for your attention
Dr. Giorgos TZAMTZIS
Technology Transfer Consultant
PRAXI Network
tzamtzis@help-forward.gr
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