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EIC Accelerator spurningakeppni

Farðu í gegnum EIC Accelerator Quiz: Mikilvægt tæki fyrir upprennandi umsækjendur

European Innovation Council (EIC) hröðunarforritið stendur sem tækifæri fyrir sprotafyrirtæki og lítil og meðalstór fyrirtæki (SME) um alla Evrópu. Með tælandi loforði um allt að 2,5 milljónir evra í styrkveitingu og viðbótarmöguleika upp á 15 milljónir evra í hlutafjármögnun, opnar EIC Accelerator heim möguleika fyrir nýsköpunarfyrirtæki. Hins vegar getur verið erfitt að vafra um umsóknarferlið. Þetta er þar sem EIC Accelerator spurningakeppnin kemur við sögu – mikilvægt skimunartæki sem hjálpar umsækjendum að meta hæfi þeirra og reiðubúna til þessa virtu ESB-styrkja- og hlutafjármögnunartækifæris.

Að skilja markaðsvæðingaraðferðina

Spurningakeppnin byrjar á því að kanna markaðssetningarstefnu umsækjanda. Það nær yfir ýmsar gerðir eins og Business to Business (B2B), Business to Consumer (B2C), Business to Business to Consumer (B2B2C), Business to Government (B2G) og fleira. Þessi spurning er mikilvæg þar sem hún hjálpar EIC að skilja markaðsvirkni og hugsanlegt umfang fyrirhugaðrar nýsköpunar.

Tæknisvið: Að bera kennsl á sess þinn

Spurningakeppnin kafar djúpt inn í tæknisviðið og biður umsækjendur um að flokka tækni sína í sérstakar geira eins og orku, geim, líftækni/læknatækni, hreint tækni, gervigreind og fleira. Þessi flokkun er nauðsynleg til að samræma tillöguna við stefnumótandi hagsmuni Evrópusambandsins (ESB) og auðkenna tækniviðbúnaðarstigið (TRL) sem krafist er fyrir EIC Accelerator.

Samræming við stefnur og þemu ESB

Einn af mikilvægum þáttum spurningakeppninnar er áhersla hennar á stefnur ESB og ný þemu eins og Human Centric Generative AI, Industry 5.0, Quantum Technology og fleira. Að skilja og passa inn í þessi þemu getur aukið verulega líkurnar á árangri í umsóknarferlinu.

Samkeppnislandslag og vörutegund

Umsækjendur eru einnig spurðir um samkeppnishæfni iðnaðarins og eðli vöru þeirra (vélbúnaður, hugbúnaður eða samsetning). Þessar spurningar miða að því að leggja mat á markaðsmöguleika og sérstöðu nýsköpunarinnar.

Hugverkaréttur, hópsamsetning og viðvera á netinu

Spurningakeppnin fjallar um hugverkaréttinn þar sem spurt er um einkaleyfi í Bandaríkjunum eða ESB. Það kafar einnig í uppbyggingu teymisins, þar á meðal fjölda starfsmanna í fullu starfi (FTEs) og útbreiddra liðsmanna, auk nærveru lykilstarfa eins og forstjóra og CTO. Þar að auki mælir það viðveru fyrirtækisins á netinu í gegnum vefsíðu þess, notkun lénspósts og virkni á kerfum eins og LinkedIn.

Fjármálaheilbrigðis- og tengslanetátak

Spurningar um heildarfjármögnun sem aflað er, samskipti við fjárfesta og dreifingu hlutafjár meðal stofnenda og liðsmanna veita innsýn í fjárhagslega heilsu og fjárfestingarvilja fyrirtækisins. Að auki sýna fyrirspurnir um viðskiptatengsl og virka þátttöku í netviðburðum hversu markaðshlutdeild fyrirtækisins er.

Sjálfsbjargarviðleitni og R&D möguleiki

Að lokum spyr spurningakeppnin hvort fyrirtækið geti náð árangri án EIC og hvort það sé arðbært eða hafi umtalsverðar tekjur fyrir rannsóknir og þróun. Þessar spurningar hjálpa til við að skilja sjálfsbjargarviðleitni fyrirtækisins og möguleika þess til að nýta stuðning EIC Accelerator á áhrifaríkan hátt.

Að lokum þjónar EIC Accelerator spurningakeppnin sem bráðnauðsynlegt forskref fyrir sprotafyrirtæki og lítil og meðalstór fyrirtæki sem leitast við að sækja um EIC styrkinn og eigið fé. Það hjálpar ekki aðeins við sjálfsmat heldur einnig leiðbeinandi við að fínstilla forritið til að samræmast viðmiðum European Innovation Council. Með því að svara nákvæmlega þessum spurningum geta fyrirtæki aukið verulega möguleika sína á árangri í þessu mjög samkeppnishæfu en gefandi forriti.

Eureka Network

Eureka Network offers multiple international collaborative R&D programs including Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, with funding ranging from €50K to €6.75M per project depending on the specific program. The network focuses on market-driven innovation and deep-tech development across diverse technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars specifically targeting R&D-performing SMEs.

EIC Transition

EIC Transition provides up to €2.5 million in funding to bridge the 'valley of death' between laboratory research and market deployment, focusing on technology maturation and validation. The program supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Technology areas include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics.

EIC STEP Scale-Up

EIC STEP Scale-Up offers substantial equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies ready for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The program targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have secured pre-commitment from qualified investors. Focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero goals, and Biotechnologies.

EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Pre-Accelerator is a 2025 pilot program providing €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. The initiative is exclusively available to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to support regional innovation development. The program covers deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains.

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder offers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The program requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials.

EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator provides flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The program targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Other technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors.

Innovation Partnership

Innovation Partnership facilitates collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The program supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects focus on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches.

Innovation Fund

The EU Innovation Fund provides substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The program targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Applicants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK offers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular focus on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization.

Industrial Partnership

Industrial Partnership provides €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The program supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships.

Eurostars

Eurostars is a joint EU-Eureka program offering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program takes a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities.

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme provides €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The program supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Applicants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges.

Neotec

Neotec is a Spanish program offering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence.

Thematic Priorities

EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas.
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