What Is the H2020 SME Instrument Phase 1 Funding? Posted on August 29, 2017May 23, 2020 By Stephan Segler, Ph.D. The SME Instrument is a €3 billion funding scheme that is part of the largest EU research and innovation programme in of the EU called Horizon 2020 (€80 billion budget). By the end of 2020, 7500 Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) will have received funding over a period of 6 years. To find out if your company is eligible for funding, please read Can My Company Receive Funding from the EU?. The SME Instrument The SME Instrument is structured in 3 Phases: Phase 1 – The Feasibility Study (€50.000) Phase 1 is officially optional, but without it, the chances of success for Phase 2 are minimal. If a project cannot be approved for Phase 1, it is highly unlikely that it will succeed in Phase 2. The duration of this project is around 6 months and its purpose is assessing the technical, commercial and financial feasibility of the project. As a result, a Business Plan is fully developed and it will be outlined if the project is a suitable investment. Phase 2 – Innovation Development & Demonstration (€0.5 to 2.5 million) Phase 2 typically takes 1 to 2 years and its purpose is to bring the technology from the prototype level to commercial readiness. This will be the main development of the project and receives the highest amount of funding. Phase 3 – Support for Market Entry (non-financial) Phase 3 gives additional support through the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) which can give guidance and advice on project related topics. Horizon 2020 Phase 1 Phase 2 SME Instrument / EIC Accelerator EIC Accelerator successIndustries & CompaniesInvestorsSME Instrument Phase 1SME Instrument Phase 2TimelineWriting Tips
EIC Accelerator The Biggest Mistakes When Applying to the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2) Posted on August 11, 2020February 19, 2023 Every once in a while, a company is reaching out to us with a rejected EIC Accelerator grant (SME Instrument Phase 2) application which they have prepared themselves but were unsuccessful with. Very rarely, such self-prepared applications are professionally written and reach a high score (i.e. above 13 out of… Read More
EIC Accelerator How To Identify a High Quality SME Instrument Project (EIC Accelerator) Posted on October 12, 2019March 20, 2020 If you are considering to apply for the start-up grant by the EU, here is the most important information on how to identify a high-quality project: (1) Hardware products: More than 60% of all funded projects are related to hardware manufacturing, followed by subscription services at only 16%. This… Read More
EIC Accelerator How to Select an EU Grant Financing Program such as the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument) – Part 1 Posted on December 26, 2020December 20, 2020 The EIC Accelerator blended financing (formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, grant and equity financing) program is an interesting opportunity for startups and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) but it might not be suitable for all applicants (read: Introduction). There are a variety of considerations to be made in advance which… Read More