Frequently Asked Questions

The abstract for your SME Instrument proposal has a strict character limit of 2000 characters. Be mindful of this limit and ensure your abstract is concise and impactful.

While proposal writing is crucial, other factors like providing accurate legal and financial data, as well as ensuring proper company registration, are also essential for a successful application.

No, the acronym doesn't necessarily need to have a direct meaning. You have the freedom to be creative when choosing an acronym for your SME Instrument proposal.

Yes, if you suspect a conflict of interest, you can exclude specific reviewers from evaluating your proposal. The EU publishes a list of all evaluators for the SME Instrument.

Yes, according to the blog post, companies unable to secure financing outside the EIC Accelerator may have a lower chance of success within the program. External funding can be seen as validation.

Companies should have extensive validation of both their technology and, especially, their business model. While the initial evaluation steps focus on innovation, the final interview stage prioritizes financial and commercial validation.

While innovative technology is important, the EIC Accelerator places a strong emphasis on the business model, especially during the Step 3 interviews. A clear and validated commercial strategy is crucial for securing funding.

Truly disruptive projects often lack the market validation that the EIC jury prefers. Consider focusing on demonstrating the potential market and de-risking the commercial strategy as much as possible to increase your chances of success.

A good strategy is to present a complicated and innovative technology alongside a clear, proven, and simple commercial strategy. The jury has a higher tolerance for technological uncertainty than for commercial uncertainty.

While ambition is good, focus on demonstrating a clear path to commercial success. The EIC jury prefers projects with a solid foundation and proven market potential over purely speculative or highly uncertain ventures.

While not strictly essential, having existing financial backing from sources like your own revenues, a parent company, or private investors significantly strengthens your application. It demonstrates confidence in your project's viability.

Having a highly experienced and capable team is crucial. Highlight your team's relevant work experience, past projects, education, and support network to showcase your ability to execute the project successfully.

No, your project should demonstrate potential for expansion beyond the immediate Phase 2 developments. Show that your project has long-term viability and can be scaled up within the next decade.

Addressing a promising market segment means targeting a market that shows strong growth potential, has a substantial size, and faces relatively limited competition. Demonstrating this in your proposal is crucial.

Recognition such as awards, features in publications, or other forms of acknowledgement can greatly improve your chances. It provides external validation of your project's innovative potential and impact.

Yes, highlighting the social benefits your project brings to the EU can significantly strengthen your application. Funders often prioritize projects that contribute to broader societal goals.

Use your main proposal color to simplify navigation between sections and subsections. Make sure the color helps readers easily differentiate between parts of the document without being so bold that it distracts from the headers themselves.

Reproduce market projections, charts, and other relevant graphics to ensure they are high-quality and fit your proposal's color scheme and font sizes. This ensures a professional and consistent presentation of your data.

Keep your watermark opacity very low, ideally between 2-7%. This ensures it's subtle and doesn't distract from the main content of your proposal. The watermark should enhance, not overwhelm, the page.

It's generally better to create images and tables specifically for your proposal. Existing ones might not fit the color scheme, have low resolution, or use unsuitable font sizes. Tailoring them ensures a cohesive and professional look.

Yes, every image and table should have a caption. The image or table, along with its caption, should be self-explanatory. It should support or deepen a point made in the text, not introduce a new one.

Don't worry if you don't have everything immediately available. We can discuss what you have during the initial call and identify any gaps. We can then work together to gather the remaining information needed for a complete proposal.

After the initial video call, we will review the information discussed and the materials provided. We will then work on developing a tailored proposal that addresses your specific needs and project goals. We'll keep you informed throughout the entire process.

We require full CVs and pictures of the three project leaders and company founders to showcase the expertise and experience behind the project. This information helps build credibility and demonstrates the team's capabilities to potential stakeholders.

Yes, the initial video call to discuss your project is free of charge, irrespective of a contract being signed or not. It's an opportunity for us to understand your needs and determine how we can best assist you.

On average, about 9% of all applications for the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument receive funding. However, this number varies significantly depending on the specific topic and the number of applicants. Some topics have success rates as low as 0% or as high as 21%.

You can find a list of all beneficiaries for the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, including both Phase 1 and Phase 2 recipients, at the provided link. This can give you an idea of the types of projects that have been successful in the past.

If you only consider high-quality proposals that meet the funding threshold, the success rate increases dramatically. It can range from 28% to 100%, with an average success rate of around 70%, depending on the specific topic.

The number of applicants and the overall success rate can vary between cut-off dates. However, the statistics from the November 2015 cut-off provide a general indication of the success rates for different topics. Use this data as a guide, but be aware that the specific numbers may fluctuate.

Even with a high score, your proposal might be rejected due to budget limitations and the competitiveness of the topic. The analysis considers all applications, including those that didn't meet the general funding threshold. Focusing on proposals that meet the threshold gives a better indication of success.

Consider choosing a less 'crowded' topic with a relatively high budget. Review the success rates for individual topics from previous years to identify those with a higher likelihood of funding. However, ensure your project genuinely aligns with the topic's objectives.

Based on past data, topics 09 (Low-Carbon and Efficient Energy), 07 (Agri-Culture, Food and Bio-Based Sectors), and 06 (Health, Well-Being and Ageing Well) have shown higher success rates. However, it's important to remember that any project that aligns well with a topic has the potential to be funded.

The budget size and the success rate don't always correlate directly. While a larger budget can potentially mean more projects are funded, it doesn't guarantee a higher success rate. The number of applicants and the quality of proposals also play significant roles.

Yes, funding is available to accelerate the market introduction of ICT solutions for Health, Well-Being, and Ageing Well. The goal is to bridge the gap between research and market uptake of relevant ICT products and services in these areas.

Yes, there's dedicated support for biotechnology SMEs, especially those closing the gap between lab research and market application. Funding is available for SMEs working in industrial biotechnology and those using systems or synthetic biology.

Yes, the EU supports SMEs innovating in sustainable agriculture, forestry, agri-food, and bio-based sectors. This includes developing resource-efficient solutions for safe, healthy food, sustainable production systems, and low-carbon supply chains.

Yes, funding is available to SMEs accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies, advanced materials, or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies. The aim is to create added value by combining research results with other elements, transferring results across sectors, and accelerating innovation for profit or other benefits.

Yes, there is support for innovative SMEs in the healthcare biotechnology sector. This includes funding for clinical research validating biomarkers and diagnostic medical devices, as well as cell technologies in medical applications.

Yes, the EU offers funding for small business innovation research in Transport and Smart Cities Mobility. This supports SMEs delivering innovations for sustainable and smarter mobility, better accessibility, and improved logistics in urban areas.

Yes, the EU provides funding to stimulate innovation in SMEs for a low-carbon and efficient energy system. This includes projects focused on reducing energy consumption, low-carbon electricity, alternative fuels, smart grids, and new energy technologies.

Yes, the EU provides funding to engage SMEs in space research and development. This includes applications related to Galileo and Copernicus, spinning-in terrestrial solutions to space challenges, and developing critical space technologies.

The noun in the title should clearly identify the product or service that your project is focused on. Examples include 'Point-of-Care Device' or 'Battery Management System'.

While there's no specified length, aim for a concise title that effectively communicates the key aspects of your project. It should be easy to understand and memorable.

Use adjectives that highlight the unique selling points of your product or service. Examples include 'integrated,' 'secure,' 'sophisticated,' or any other descriptive word that emphasizes its key features.

Yes, starting the title with an introductory word or phrase like 'The first' or 'Novel' can effectively highlight the innovative aspect of your project.

No, there isn't a strict structure, but a helpful template includes an introduction, adjectives describing USPs, a noun identifying the product, the product's USPs, and the broader impact. This template helps create a clear and impactful title.

Yes, a well-crafted title can create a positive first impression and make your project more memorable to the evaluators. It's a crucial element in presenting your project effectively.

You can find examples of successful abstracts, titles, and acronyms in the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) database and on the EIC Accelerator call page.

USP stands for Unique Selling Proposition. Highlighting the USPs in the title quickly communicates what makes your product or service different and better than existing solutions.

The broader impact should reflect the positive effects your project will have on the industry or Europe as a whole. Consider impacts like creating a circular economy, mitigating climate change, or developing new treatments.