Austria and Hungary call for projects

Scope

Participants are invited to submit applied R&D project proposals in the following thematic domain: cross-border testing of automated driving.

Topics should address transnational R&D projects which (for example):

• increase the sustainable impact of cooperation between Austrian and Hungarian test environments,
• improve technologies and methods, as well as test procedures within the national framework of the cooperating test areas,
• have an impact on the operation of future connected and automated mobility,
• expand the value chain and portfolio of testing opportunities, as well as access to potential customers, manufacturers and users,
• improve concepts for harmonised data collection and data management,
• support the joint cross-border, "seamless" evaluation of automated driving functions (e.g. processes, data handling, connectivity, transitions, etc.),
• consider the requirements of different vehicle classes, vehicle equipment and drive systems in a multidimensional mixed traffic-based on Operational Design Domains (ODDs),
• take advantage of the interaction of multinational framework conditions and developments and validation of functions (e.g. languages, differences in infrastructure, topography, maps, requirements from analog and digital regulations and information at border crossings, etc.) and enable cross-border solutions,
• enable the definition and demonstration of best practices in cross-border transport and thus support the early creation of de facto standards within the region (and hence stimulate the European harmonisation process),
• are conducive to the joint appearance of the Central European Economic Area and
• include potential assessments and tests of ITS services on traffic under all aspects of Vision Zero as well as reduction of emissions (Green Deal).

Funding details

• Austria (Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology BMK/FFG): Grants, with a dedicated total budget of 2.5 million euro. 
• Hungary (NRDI Office): Grants, with a dedicated total budget of 2.5 million euro. 

Eligibility criteria

Eureka has limited eligibility criteria for organisations participating in a Network projects consortium:

• Your project idea must represent international cooperation in the form of a specific project.
• The project must be directed at researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation.
• The project must have a civilian purpose.
• Your consortium must include at least two independent legal entities from the participating Eureka countries.
• No single organisation or country can be responsible for more than 70% of the project budget.

This call for projects has additional criteria for organisations to be eligible to receive funding:

• Participation of (for profit) companies, research institutes/ universities and road operators is welcome according to each country’s funding regulations.
• The project partners must express their willingness to cooperate, on a win-win/fair basis in the development of a new product, industrial process or service.
• The product, process or service must be innovative and there must be a technological risk involved.
• The project should benefit all involved partners in a well-balanced consortium.
• The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the technological cooperation between the participants from the two countries (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure etc.).
• Prior to the Eureka label endorsement, partners are required to have agreed upon a draft consortium agreement on the commercialisation of the product, process or service once the phase of research and development has been completed. This must be provided to your respective national authorities. It must includes the ownership and use of know-how and IPR settlements.
• Project proposals must include the written support letters of a test environment from Austria and Hungary.
• Partners from other Eureka countries or countries outside of Eureka can also participate, but funding must be secured within the deadlines for the call.

Any partner whose collaborative industrial research and innovation project is consistent with the aforementioned criteria can apply to the present call in accordance with their national laws, rules, regulations and procedures in effect, on a non-exchange of funds basis, and subject to budgetary availability.

Each participating funding body may apply additional eligibility criteria based on their national regulations. Applicants are strongly advised, prior to submitting the application, to contact their funding body using the contact form below to discuss their project idea and check the eligibility of their project.

How to apply

Stage 1 - Eureka application

1. Contact your national funding body using the form below to discuss your project idea, financial viability, eligibility and national procedures.
2. Create an account on our application portal (one per consortium) and select the funding opportunity you want to apply to. 
3. Using the portal, complete one application form per consortium (in English) and invite other consortium partners to fill in a partner form. 
4. Upload a GANTT chart (one per consortium), a signed and completed co-signature form (which you can download from the platform) and any additional required annexes.
5. Your application will be checked for completeness and eligibility before being reviewed using a standard evaluation procedure. If successful, your project will receive a Eureka label.
6. The final step is to complete and sign a consortium agreement (CA). We recommend that you seek legal advice when drafting your CA.

You must complete this part of your application by 27 January 2021 12:00 CET.

Stage 2 - national application

In parallel to the submission of the Eureka project form, all project partners are required to submit a related national funding application to their respective funding agencies, taking into account all relevant procedures and submission rules. 

Austria has additional steps for submitting your application:

Austrian participants must submit a separate national full proposal via e-Call on the FFG webpage.

The Deadline for submitting the national full proposal is 10 February 2021 12:00 CEST.

The evaluation of the Austrian project part is carried out by external experts. The project must fulfill national criteria.

Hungary has additional steps for submitting your application:

Hungarian participants must submit a separate national full proposal via the Electronic Portal for Proposals, Information and Communication (EPTK).

The Deadline for submitting the national full proposal is 10 February 2021 12:00 CEST.

The evaluation of the Hungarian project part is carried out by external experts. The project must fulfill the national criteria.

Evaluation

Your project application will be reviewed according to our Network projects evaluation methodology.

1. Impact

• Is the market properly addressed (i.e. size, access and risks)?
• Is the value creation properly addressed (i.e. employment opportunities and environmental and societal benefits)?
• What are the competitive advantages of your project (i.e. strategic importance, enhanced capabilities and visibility)?
• Are your commercialisation plans clear and realistic (i.e. return on investment, geographical and sectoral impact)?

2. Excellence

• What is the degree of innovation? (i.e. is the proposed product, process or service state-of-the-art? Is there sufficient technological maturity and risk)?
• How is the new knowledge going to be used?
• Is your project scientifically and technically challenging for consortium partners?
• Is the technical achievability and risk properly addressed?

3. Quality and efficiency of implementation

• What is the quality of your consortium (i.e. balance of the partnership and technological, managerial and financial capabilities of each partner)?
• Is there added value through international cooperation?
• Is your project management and planning realistic and clearly defined (i.e. methodology, planning approach, milestones and deliverables)?
• Is your cost structure reasonable (i.e. costs and financial commitment for each consortium partner)?

4. Overall perception

Experts will list three positive and negative points to your application and finally state whether they recommend your project for public investment.

A multilateral consensus meeting made up of representatives from all national funding bodies (NFBs) involved will agree which projects to approve for labelling based on the assessors’ scores, using the Eureka project assessment methodology.

Successful projects are put forward for a Eureka label. After a common list of labelled and non-labelled projects has been agreed, applicants will be informed about the results.

National funding decision

Your national funding body may carry out a further evaluation (performed by the national project coordinator and technical experts) according to national rules before allocating funds to successful applicants.

Funding of project partners is subject to budgetary availability and national funding conditions stipulated by each funding body.

All project partners are notified of the funding decisions by their respective national funding agencies.

Any IPR arising from cooperative project activities under this call shall be regulated in a Consortium Agreement in accordance with the relevant laws of the countries participating in the project.

A signed Consortium Agreement on the execution of the project and commercialisation of the projects results is mandatory for selected projects and must be send to the relevant national funding agencies before Eureka label endorsement.

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