Insights

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Taking you to the frontier: the popular funding scheme for SMEs revamped

European Commission shifts into high gear in its popular funding scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises. Preparing for Horizon Europe, the upcoming ninth framework programme for funding innovation, the European Innovation Council is rolling out the Accelerator Pilot during 2019 and 2020. Combining grant and equity funding, the EIC Accelerator Pilot replaces the SME Instrument Phase II with its first cut-off on October 9th. The SME Instrument Phase I, the 50,000 € grant for a feasibility study, will no longer be available after the September 5th cut-off.  

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One of the most competitive supercomputers in the world to be placed in Kajaani, Finland

CSC datacenter in Kajaani will host a pan-European high-performance supercomputer. The machine will be about ten times more powerful than the most powerful supercomputer currently in Europe. The decision was made by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, a high performance computing (HPC) initiative supported by the European countries and the European Union. This decision will provide highly competitive HPC resources for Europe's scientific, industrial and public users. In addition, it will provide a framework for Europe to strengthen its position as one of the pioneers of the data-driven economy. Spinverse supported CSC and the consortium in the EuroHPC application process. 

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LuxTurrim5G ecosystem builds the smart city of the future

Nokia Bell Labs driven industry group is building key enablers for fast 5G network based on smart light poles, which will form the digital backbone of future smart cities. The LuxTurrim5G ecosystem project has developed the 5G smart pole concept where 5G base stations, a variety of different sensors, video cameras, displays and other devices have been integrated to light poles. This creates a novel platform providing fast, low latency mobile communications and possibilities to exploit huge amount of data to make new digital services for smart cities. The solutions have been piloted already during last two years at Nokia Campus in Espoo, Finland, and now the plans are to expand the piloting to real environment in Kera region of Espoo.

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EU lingo – a language that the target group does not understand

For those of us who work with EU projects, it feels quite natural, after a while, to talk in terms of milestones, work packages and deliverables. For those who really will benefit from the results of the projects – the market – this is all Greek."I am a work package leader in the projects IRIS and United-Grid. In addition, I am responsible for certain specific tasks, milestones and deliverables," Ulrika Wahlström, Innovation Project Manager at IMCG says and laughs, well aware that this is gibberish for ordinary people.   

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Finland’s EU-presidency, bringing impact to EU Innovation Funding?

Finland’s EU presidency begins on 1 July 2019. During that time, major changes to innovation funding were achieved. This time around, our presidency oversees the preparations for Horizon 2020 with unprecedented levels of funding. EU funding can be leveraged to further industry’s innovations and commercialising them, and access to EU funding is easier than ever. It is time for Finnish industry to make the most out of their innovations. EU innovation funding only has impact only if it has the industry to lead the way.

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