Delays in formalising the UK’s association to Horizon Europe cause concern

Delays in formalising the UK’s association to Horizon Europe are causing growing concern amongst the UK research and innovation community.

In December 2020, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement revealed that the UK would associate to Horizon Europe. This meant UK entities would be able to access funding on equivalent terms as organisations in EU countries.

However, ten months on, the European Commission is yet to sign off on the deal. In recent weeks, Mariya Gabriel, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, has said that the UK will only be allowed to associate to Horizon Europe once other political disputes are resolved (Source: Science | Business).

Growing Concern

Organisations in both the EU and the UK are becoming increasingly concerned about the delay. The European University Association has claimed that delays are creating unnecessary insecurity within the European knowledge community, which threatens plans for scientific cooperation.

In a recent statement, they called for the process of association to be accelerated:

“Europe’s universities therefore urge the European Commission and the UK government to finalise Protocol I linked to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement as a basis for UK association and to move onward to a fast and successful association of the UK to Horizon Europe.”

What does this mean for UK applicants?

Despite recent uncertainty, UK entities can continue to apply for funding from Horizon Europe. However, grant agreements will only be signed once association has been finalised.

In an earlier Q&A on the UK’s participation in Horizon Europe, the European Commission said they expect the UK’s association agreement to enter into force before the first grant agreement signings.

With several countries already formally associated to Horizon Europe, we are hopeful that the UK's agreement will follow soon. Share your thoughts in the comments below and please contact us if you have any questions.

by Jonny O'Rourke

Pump priming grants available for UK Horizon Europe applicants

UK researchers can apply for grants of up to £5000 from the ‘Horizon Europe Pump Priming Collaboration between UK and EU Partners’ funding call. This competition is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and delivered by organisations including the British Academy and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The purpose of this call is to support the development of collaborative activity between UK and EU/associated countries’ entities. It focuses specifically on Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe (Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness).

Applicants can use this funding for various activities, including feasibility studies, application advice and training, and partnership building. Significantly, this extends to support services such as proposal writing.

Eligibility

• Proposals are welcome in all disciplines.
• All projects must be led by a named Principal Investigator, who will be responsible for directing and managing the grant. They should be a researcher of at least postdoctoral status from an eligible UK-based organisation. In addition, their position should last at least the duration of this grant.
• The competition welcomes proposals from UK research institutes and universities. It encourages proposals that involve working with any other type of organisations eligible for Horizon Europe funding, such as SMEs, hospitals, and commercial partners.
• Applicants must identify a call in Pillar 2 that they intend to apply to as a result of this pump priming funding.
• This funding can only apply to calls that open between 1^st September 2021 and 7^th September 2022.

The full eligibility criteria are available in the Scheme Notes.

How to apply

All applicants must register in the British Academy’s online Flexi-Grant system. From there, they will need to complete a short application form that provides details of their planned project.

The deadline for the first wave of assessment is 13^th October 2021. Further assessments will take place every two weeks until all funding has been allocated. For more information and to apply, please visit the British Academy website.

Source: British Academy

by Jonny O'Rourke

The EIC Accelerator Application Process

The EIC Accelerator is the European Innovation Council’s flagship programme for start-ups and SMEs. It provides blended finance to support the development of cutting-edge innovation projects with high growth potential.

Under Horizon Europe, the EIC Accelerator has a new 4-step application process:

1. Diagnostic Module

The Diagnostic module is a mandatory step in the application process. At this stage, you will answer a series of questions on your innovation. The Diagnostic will then assess the details you have provided to give an idea of your chances of success.

2. Short Application

There are five sections to complete within the short application:

1. Firstly, you must supply general information about your proposal.
2. Provide information about your company and CEO.
3. Next, you should upload a pitch deck in pdf format. While there is no pre-defined template, it should not exceed ten slides.
4. Upload a video up to 3 minutes long. In this video, the core members of your team (up to three people) should explain your innovation and the main motivation behind your application.
5. Lastly, you must answer a series of questions that comprise a 5-page form. They cover the details of your innovation, your potential market, and your team. There is a limit of 1000 characters per section.

Your short application will be assessed remotely by four expert evaluators and you will receive the outcome within four weeks. They will each give a GO or NO GO. If at least two evaluators give a GO, your short application has been successful and you can move forward.

If you were unsuccessful, you can resubmit your proposal. You should make improvements in line with the feedback you received, as if your next application is rejected, you will not be allowed to resubmit for 12 months.

3. Full Application

The full application is in the form of an online questionnaire, comprised of three modules: Ideation, Development and Go 2 Market. You can find an indicative template of questions in the Guide for Applicants.

In addition, you will need to:

• Define the type of funding you are applying for - please note that UK entities are only eligible for the grant component.
• Submit a pitch deck – this should be different from the one in your short application. There is no pre-defined template nor limit of slides. However, remember that you will present this pitch deck if you get through to the face-to-face interviews.
• Complete the Financial Annex and use the 10 extra pages allowed to provide Letters of Intent or similar.

Full applications will be assessed after the set cut-off dates by three remote experts. To be successful, you will need all 3 of the remote experts to give a GO for all the criteria.

If 1 or more give a NO GO under any of the criteria, your application will be rejected. However, you will be eligible to resubmit an improved full application to one of the next two cut-offs. If rejected again, you may submit a new or significantly improved short application after 12 months.

4. Face to Face Interview

Interviews will take place remotely or in Brussels, approximately 8-9 weeks after the cut-off date. You can send a maximum of 3 representatives to the interview, where they will be assessed by a panel of up to 6 jury members.

The interview will last up to 40 minutes and include 10 minutes of presentation and a 30 minute Q&A to clarify aspects of your proposal. Following the interview, the jury members will prepare an Evaluation Summary Report that includes i) the evaluation outcome and ii) specific comments related to the three award criteria.

You will learn the interview outcome within 2-3 weeks. Successful applicants will then negotiate terms and sign an initial agreement for the grant component. If you requested an investment component, your company will simultaneously be subject to a due diligence process by the EIC Fund.

If your proposal is unsuccessful, you may resubmit based on the following rules:

• First rejection: resubmit an improved full proposal to the remote evaluation at one of the two following cut-offs
• First rejection and the jury decides your proposal is a potential GO after improvements: you will be able to resubmit a revised proposal directly to one of the next two interview sessions
• Second rejection: after 12 months, you may submit a new or significantly improved short application

About RedKnight

Our team can support both short and full applications. Contact us to arrange a free consultation where we can discuss your project’s suitability for the EIC Accelerator.

Source: EIC Accelerator Guide for Applicants

by Jonny O'Rourke

Horizon Europe Releases Main Work Programme

The European Commission has adopted the main Horizon Europe work programme for 2021-2022! Over the next two years, the European Commission will invest €14.7 billion in the research and innovation priorities set out in the Strategic Plan.

What will it fund?

The work programme shows a clear intention to accelerate Europe’s green and digital transitions while working towards a sustainable post-coronavirus Europe.

Of the funding available, over a third - €5.8 billion - will be invested in research and innovation to support the European Green Deal, while another €4 billion will fund the development of core digital technologies. Finally, around €1.9 billion will fund research and innovation to help repair the immediate economic and social damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:

“With 40% of its budget devoted to making Europe more sustainable, this Horizon Europe work programme will make Europe greener and fitter for the digital transformation. Horizon Europe is now fully open for business: I would like to encourage researchers and innovators from all over the EU to apply and find solutions to improve our daily lives.”

Background

Horizon Europe is the EU’s €95.5 billion research and innovation programme for 2021-2027 and the successor of Horizon 2020. Significantly, the UK will have ‘Associated Country’ status. This means that UK entities will be able to access funding on equivalent terms as organisations in EU countries.

The programme has three ‘pillars’: 1) Excellent Science, 2) Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness and 3) Innovative Europe. For more information about what comes under each pillar, click here.

Funding is available for a wide variety of research and innovation areas, such as health, ICT and climate change. In addition, funding is available to all sectors through the European Innovation Council.

Next Steps

The first calls for proposals will open on the Commission’s Funding and Tenders Portal on 22^nd June. Additionally, Horizon Europe Information Days targeting potential applicants will take place between 28^th June and 9^th July.

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by Jonny O'Rourke

EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2021

The EIC Pathfinder provides funding for advanced research on breakthrough technologies. Alongside an open call for funding that closed on 19^th May, the European Innovation Council (EIC) has announced five Pathfinder Challenges for 2021:

1. Awareness inside (consciousness in AI systems)
2. Tools to measure and stimulate activity in brain tissue
3. Emerging technologies in cell and gene therapy
4. Novel routes to green hydrogen production
5. Engineered living materials

What are the Pathfinder Challenges?

Pathfinder Challenges provide a top-down funding opportunity that targets the EIC’s strategic priorities. Each challenge sets out to build on cutting-edge science and technology, leading to disruptive innovations grounded in high-risk research and development. With each challenge call, the EIC aims to establish a multi-disciplinary portfolio of projects which will be supervised by a dedicated EIC Programme Manager.

Who can apply?

Firstly, you should apply if you have a project idea that could contribute to the goals of one of the challenges. In contrast to the Open Call, the Pathfinder Challenges support applications from both consortia and single legal entities (unless otherwise stated in the specific challenge criteria).

What funding is available?

The total indicative budget for this call is €132 million which will be split across the five challenges. Typically, individual proposals should cost up to €4 million and the grant will cover 100% of your project's eligible costs. However, applicants can request larger amounts if there is a justifiable need for extra funding.

Further grants of up to €50,000 will be available to explore pathways to commercialisation or for portfolio activities. As well as this, successful applicants will receive access to a wide range of Business Acceleration services and be able to submit an EIC Accelerator proposal via a fast-track scheme.

More information

The call will open from 15th June until 27^th October 2021. For more information on each of the challenges, such as specific eligibility criteria, download the EIC work programme. If you’re thinking of applying and would like bid writing support, please contact us to arrange a free consultation.

In addition, you can find alternative grant funding opportunities on our blog or in our monthly newsletter.

by Jonny O'Rourke

EU Prize for Women Innovators 2021

First launched in 2011, the EU Prize for Women Innovators celebrates female entrepreneurs across the EU and in countries associated to Horizon Europe. In 2021, the European Innovation Council will award three prizes of €100,000 each in the main category. Additionally, a fourth prize of €50,000 will be available for a ‘Rising Innovator’ aged 30 or younger.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be each of the following:

• A woman
• Established in an EU Member State or a country associated to Horizon Europe
• Founder or co-founder of an active innovative company registered at least two years before the submission deadline
• If applying within the Rising Innovator category, applicants must have been aged 30 or younger at the start of 2021

Previous Winners

Looking for inspiration? Check out last year’s winners of the EU Prize for Women Innovators!

• Madiha Derouazi (Switzerland), founder and CEO of Amal Therapeutics, a company developing therapeutic cancer vaccines
• Maria Fátima Lucas (Portugal), co-founder and CEO of Zymvol Biomodeling, a company developing computer-designed industrial enzymes by applying molecular modelling
• Arancha Martínez (Spain), co-founder and Managing Director of It Will Be. Her company helps tackle poverty through technological innovation and provides support to vulnerable women and children
• Lastly, the winner of the Rising Innovator 2020 prize was Josefien Groot (Netherlands), co-founder and CEO of Olavers. Her company is developing microstructures to boost the efficiency of wind turbines

Background: Gender Equality in European Research and Innovation

There are more women than men in Europe. Despite this, just 16% of European start-ups are founded or co-founded by women and only 6% have all-female founding teams (European Commission). As a result, the European Commission will prioritise gender equality through Horizon Europe, the new framework programme for research and innovation. The programme will introduce strengthened provisions, including:

• From 2022, all public bodies, research organisations and higher education establishments will need a gender equality plan to access Horizon Europe funding.
• Under the Widening Participation pillar, funding will be available for research and innovation organisations to develop their own gender equality plans.
• Flagship measures and activities promoting gender equality under the European Innovation Council (EIC). Targets include increasing the number of women-led companies invited to pitch their projects to 40%.
• The Commission will encourage gender balance in evaluation panels and among researchers involved in projects. This is particularly important, as it will be a potential tie-breaker for equally ranked proposals.

For more information on gender equality provisions in Horizon Europe, click here.

Applications for the EU Prize for Women Innovations 2021 are open until 30^th June. Don’t forget to share this blog with any female entrepreneurs who might be interested!

by Jonny O'Rourke

EU missions in Horizon Europe: everything you need to know

EU missions are an important novelty of Horizon Europe, the new framework programme for research and innovation. There are five missions, each of which will tackle a major societal challenge: cancer; adaptation to climate change; oceans, seas and waters; climate neutral and smart cities; and soil health and food.

Importantly, the EU missions will also help to deliver key policy priorities, including the European Green Deal and the Beating Cancer Plan. In addition, they will address United Nations Sustainable Development goals, such as food and water security and biodiversity.

Conquering Cancer: Mission Possible

The mission aims to improve understanding of cancer, promote prevention, optimise diagnosis and treatment, and ensure equitable treatment across Europe. Overall, the mission aims to save more than three million lives by 2030 and help cancer patients to live longer and better lives.

A Climate Resilient Europe – Prepare Europe for climate disruptions and accelerate the transformation to a climate resilient and just Europe by 2030

In light of the global climate crisis, this mission will scale up climate-related innovations, build demonstration projects, create cross-border partnerships and trigger societal change centred on citizens.

Mission Starfish 2030: Restore our Ocean and Waters

By 2030, the EU aims to fulfil the following objectives: to clean marine and fresh waters, restore degraded ecosystems and habitats, and decarbonise the Blue Economy.

100 Climate-Neutral Cities by 2030 – by and for the citizens

Support will be available for 100 European cities in their systemic transformation towards climate neutrality by 2030.

Caring for Soil is Caring for Life

Soils are an important resource; if healthy, they provide food, clean water, and habitats for biodiversity, while also contributing to climate resilience. Therefore, the aim is for 75% of soils in each Member State to be healthy by 2030.

The five identified missions are currently in a preparatory phase, during which time the Commission will develop implementation plans. We expect the EU missions to launch later this year. To stay up to date on all the latest Horizon Europe news, keep an eye on our blog or sign up for our free monthly newsletter!

Source: European Commission

by Jonny O'Rourke

The European Innovation Council is officially launched

The European Commission has officially launched the European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe, following a three-year pilot phase under Horizon 2020. The agency has a budget of €10 billion for 2021-2027 to develop and scaleup breakthrough innovations. This makes the EIC the most ambitious step the EU has ever taken in the field of innovation.

The agency will support the EU’s overall strategy in building back better from Covid-19. Areas of focus include digitalisation, as well as the green agenda, climate change and sustainability. In addition, the EIC seeks to overcome biases in innovation, including those against women and poorer regions of the EU. This is reflected in the new EIC Prizes.

The first annual work programme of the EIC is now available, making funding of over €1.5 billion available for 2021. You can find more information on each of the main calls below:

EIC Accelerator

Firstly, the EIC Accelerator has €1bn available to help start-ups and SMEs bring their innovations to market and scale up. Under Horizon Europe, the EIC Accelerator features a new, simplified application system. Start-ups and SMEs can submit a short application at any time.

It provides a unique combination of blended finance, with both equity and grant funding available*. Half of the available funding will support the Green Deal, digital technologies, and health innovation.

*Please note that UK entities are only eligible for the grant component.

EIC Pathfinder

Secondly, the EIC Pathfinder will fund advanced research on breakthrough technologies. Grants are available for consortia of at least 3 partners, each of which should be established in a different Member State (or Associated Country).

The programme has a budget of €300 million, with individual research teams eligible to apply for up to €4 million in grant funding. The majority of the programme’s budget will be allocated through open calls. However, €132 million will tackle five Pathfinder challenges: self-aware artificial intelligence, tools to measure brain activity, cell and gene therapy, green hydrogen, and engineered living materials.

EIC Transition

Thirdly, the EIC Transition aims to bridge the gap between research and innovation by increasing your project’s market and technology readiness. The first call will focus on promising results generated by EIC Pathfinder pilot projects and European Research Council Proof of Concept projects.

All projects funded by the European Innovation Council will also have access to Business Acceleration Services. This includes access to coaches, mentors and expertise, partnership opportunities with corporates and investors, and a range of services and events.

European Innovation Council Prizes

• EU Prize for Women Innovators
• European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital)
• European Social Innovation Competition
• The European Innovation Procurement Awards

The EU Prize for Women Innovators and the European Capital of Innovation Awards are now open for applications. The other EIC Prizes will open later this year.

How RedKnight can help

RedKnight aims to make innovation funding as simple as possible for tech-based startups and SMEs. Since our launch in 2015, we have secured over £9.9 million of grant funding! If you’d like to discuss a project with one of our advisers, please contact us to arrange a free consultation.

by Jonny O'Rourke

Eureka Clusters AI Call 2021: €30 million available

The Eureka Clusters AI Call 2021 has €30 million available for innovative projects in artificial intelligence (AI). The competition aims to boost the productivity and competitiveness of European industries through the adoption and use of AI systems and services.

This competition previously opened in 2020. Due to the interest that was shown, as well as the national priorities of participating countries, Eureka has decided to launch the call again. It hopes that by paving the way for transnational collaborative projects, the competition will stimulate activity in AI. This will support economic growth and benefit society as a whole.

Participating Countries

The following countries have allocated funds to support ground-breaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey. Please note that the UK is not participating in this call.

Eligibility

• The call is open to large enterprises, SMEs, Research & Technology Organisations (RTOs), and academia. Eureka has specifically encouraged SMEs to participate.
• The consortium should include at least two companies from different Eureka participating countries.
• The product, process or service must be innovative and there must be a technological risk involved.
• The project should generate an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the technological cooperation between the participants.
• The proposal should highlight any economic and societal benefits that the project will have.
• Eureka anticipates “mid-size” projects with eligible costs in the range of €3-€15 million, but they will assess project proposals that fall outside of this range.

Why Participate?

Eureka expects this call to have a success rate of 30%! This is far above the average success rates of other innovation funding competitions, including those run by Innovate UK and the EIC. You can read more about average success rates here. You will also benefit from exposure to a large network of organisations from countries in Europe and beyond. In addition, you will have access to free coaching throughout the development and execution of your project.

The Eureka Clusters AI call is open from 1^st March until 28^th June. You can find more information on the competition page and apply via the submission portal. If you’re looking for support for your application, please contact us today; we’d love to hear your ideas!

by Jonny O'Rourke