Innowwide library and guidelines

We've answered questions about the second Innowwide call for market feasibility projects submitted to the helpdesk and/or asked during webinars. Repeated questions have been grouped.

Disclaimer: These FAQs are for reference purposes only and do not have legal value in themselves. Please consult the Innowwide call for projects text and implementing guidelines.

What is the total available budget for the second Innowwide call for projects?

4.2 million euro to fund 70 market feasibility projects.

How many SMEs will apply?

We expect to receive between 400 and 600 applications.

Can I submit multiple applications to the same Innowwide call for projects (e.g., one targeting United States and another targeting South Africa)?

You may only submit one application per call for projects.

If I received funding from Innowwide’s pilot phase or the first Innowwide call for projects in 2022, can I apply and receive funding again?

Yes, but you must apply with a different project and targeting a different market.

Is there a focus (thematic or industry) for this call for projects?

This call for projects has no thematic or industry focus. Innovative SMEs from any sector can apply.

Can an organisation registered as a foundation apply?

Foundations can apply only if they are an SME according to the European Union definition, which considers:

• economic activity
• number of employees
• revenue

You must confirm your status as eligible to receive Innowwide funding.

Do I already need an existing product, or can I apply if I only have a product concept?

You can participate in Innowwide with an innovative product concept or a solution you have already developed and commercialised (in your home market).

Your Innowwide market feasibility project can be the start of a future international R&D and innovation project you intend to carry out (in the short or medium term) with local counterparts in your target country. This future project may be for developing, improving or researching new applications for your innovative solution (product, process or service), including frugal innovation.

Does a specific technology readiness level apply to this call?

There is no minimum technology readiness level or limit in this call for projects. However, where you expect to carry out further R&D activities, technology readiness level 7 is the top limit.

If your innovative solution is already in your home market and only needs some changes to fit into the pilot market, the technology readiness level can be higher.

How will the requirement of “high impact in the target country” be measured?

In the impact section of your application, you must describe how your innovative solution is relevant to your target market in terms of sales, societal, environmental, ethical and gender relevance (in particular, in relation to Sustainable Development Goals).

Independent experts will consider this when evaluating the impact of your project.

What does ”civil applications” mean?

Innowwide projects (and results) cannot be for military use.

Innowwide only fund projects with an exclusively civilian purpose. This does not exclude project results that could meet the needs of both civilian and military end-users (known as "dual-use" goods or technologies), provided the project has a clear focus on civilian applications.

Is there a template for the workplan?

Yes, you can download a template for your workplan in the implementation section of your project application form. We advise you use the template.

Must Innowwide projects start after a funding decision has been made?

Yes. When a funding decision has been made and a grant agreement has been signed, your market feasibility project can begin.

When will I receive a funding decision?

We intend to tell you evaluation results in the first quarter of 2024.

We expect grant agreements to be signed in March 2024 (five months after the call for projects deadline).

If my Innowwide market feasibility project is funded and successful, am I obliged to market my product, process or service in the target country?

Although the aim of your market feasibility project is to determine whether your product-, process- or service-market combination can be commercialised in your target market, you are not obliged to commercialise it after your project ends.

Do I already need to have a source of funding ready for a future R&D project that will result from my Innowwide project?

No.

Can growing startup companies that have not begun making a profit yet apply?

Startups can apply to this call for projects. Instead of a self-financial viability check, startups (or SMEs that do not have two years of financial records) will be assessed their financial capacity based on a two-year business plan.

What do I need to include in my final report?

Your final report includes:

• a technical report, focusing on your activities and project results
• an impact questionnaire on your organisation's experience of the project or the commercial and financial impact of the project on your organisation, etc.
• an impact questionnaire for your main subcontractor
• A financial statement

We will provide you with a final report template before the end of your market feasibility project.

Subcontracting

Can I choose to target two different countries in a single project application?

No. Your market feasibility project must target only one pilot market (country) where you intend to develop and validate your innovative business solution with a local counterpart.

Can a market feasibility project have more than one subcontractor? Can subcontractors be based in another country than the target country?

You must have one local counterpart (main subcontractor) based in your target country.

You are allowed to use other minor subcontractors in your target country or in a different country (including in EU or Horizon Europe Associated Countries). These subcontractors must be justified and can only conduct minor tasks (e.g., publishing, preparing promotional material, supporting participation in trade fairs, supporting matchmaking, clerical support, etc.).

Can subcontracting costs be 0? Is there a maximum subcontracting amount?

Subcontracting costs cannot be 0. Cooperation with a main subcontractor is an important part of your market feasibility project, so you must allocate a reasonable budget to your subcontractor.

As subcontracting costs vary from country to country, you can decide how much you want to dedicate to subcontracting.

Does all of my budget need to be spent in the target country or can we spend some budget in our home country (e.g., with other partners or subcontractors)?

You can incur costs in both your target country and home country.

However, you must provide a contract with your main subcontractor in your target country for an amount of above zero euro. You must also maintain regular bookkeeping practices to be ready for any checks, reviews, audits or investigations.

Are there any recommended amounts or portions we should attribute to personnel or other cost categories?

Other than the restriction that subcontracting costs must be above zero euro, we recommend you are consistent between the task descriptions and assigned resources. This is considered when your application is evaluated.

Can subsidiaries/affiliated companies based in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries or parent firms based in non- EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries be main subcontractors?

Subsidiaries/affiliated companies and parent firms can be a main subcontractor if they:

1. are independent from the applicant SME,
2. are based in an eligible target country,
3. are legal entities according to the EU definition and
4. have local competencies to collaborate on the project with the applicant SME.

What type of organisation must the subcontractor be?

Subcontractors can be any type of legal entity organisation.

A purpose of Innowwide is for you to create a long-term partnership with your counterpart in your target country (initially your main subcontractor in your market feasibility project). You must choose your main subcontractor considering their capabilities (e.g. legal, technical, market analysis) to accomplish your eligible activities, but also to continue a future collaboration.

How is the subcontractor paid?

The beneficiary SME is responsible for allocating work to and paying the subcontractor. You should define a payment method in the contract you sign with your subcontractor.

How can I find a counterpart in another country?

Finding a counterpart can be time consuming. Please take this into account before starting your application for this call for projects (deadline 17 October 2023).

We have provided a (non-exhaustive) list of organisations that can help you find a relevant partner.

When contacting these organisations, please state information about your company (type of company, sector, previous experience in international collaboration, etc.), the type of partnership you need (cooperation description, type of partner sought, country, etc.) and your contact information.

Are SMEs in the United Kingdom eligible to receive funding through Innowwide? Is the United Kingdom a possible target country?

The United Kingdom and European Commission reached political agreement on 7 September 2023 on the United Kingdom’s association to Horizon Europe. This means that all calls in Work Programme 2024 will be covered by association. However, in agreement with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Innovate UK, we confirm that pre-existing eligibility requirements have not changed for the current (open) Innowwide call for projects (closing 17 October 2023). Therefore, organisations from the United Kingdom cannot participate either as a beneficiary SME or as a target country subcontractor.

Organisations in Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Holy See, Liechtenstein, Kosovo, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland and Ukraine are also excluded from this call for projects.

Funding

Does Innowwide fall within De Minimis rules?

Innowwide is funded by Horizon Europe and exempt from De Minimis rules.

Can I receive Innowwide funding at the same time as participating in other EU funding programmes?

European Commission financial regulations prevents you from receiving funding from more than one European Union programme for the same activities and expenses. Activities in your Innowwide market feasibility project cannot be funded by any other EU funding programme.

Are there rules for calculating personnel costs? Do I need to submit timesheets after finishing my project? Do I need to submit evidence like flight tickets?

Innowwide reviews the outcome of your receiving the 60,000 euro lump sum. The payment of the grant is linked to approval of your deliverables rather than eligible costs.

If your project is carried out properly and your final report is approved, you do not need to report actual costs and resources (the grant will be paid regardless of the costs actually incurred). However, you need to follow regular bookkeeping practices. The beneficiary SME must have specific financial accounts and report the execution and results of your market feasibility project.

Purchases and subcontracting costs must be done taking into account best value for money and must be free of conflict of interest.

At any moment, the Eureka Association (or the European Anti-Fraud Office, the European Court of Auditors, etc.) reserves the right to carry out checks, reviews, audits or investigations.

Does Innowwide fund more than 60,000 euro per project?

Successful market feasibility projects receive a fixed grant of 60,000 euro.

The maximum funding is up to 70% of minimum project eligible costs (personnel, subcontracting, purchasing costs, travel and subsistence, equipment depreciation and other goods, works and services) of 86,000 euro.

Should I state the budgets of the main partner and local counterpart in the application form?

No. You must only state the budget for the beneficiary SME. Subcontracting costs (for the local counterpart in your target country) are listed in a budget category within the overall budget.