Insights

SWEETWOODS is a 43-million-euro joint pilot project that was recently granted 21 million euros in funding under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme’s Bio-Based Industries financial instrument. Horizon 2020 is the biggest research and innovation programme in the world, supporting the development and introduction of new technologies. SWEETWOODS represented the only flagship project in the bioeconomy sector. The project is implemented through collaborative efforts of nine partner companies.

Open Innovation (OI) ecosystem projects are complicated and demanding. Ecosystem partners have multiple roles and different internal drivers and objectives. Typically innovation projects involve high technological and commercial risks, which increase the level of complexity. Furthermore, there may be competing ecosystem projects either running parallel or about to be initiated. These characteristics require special measures and actions when leading and managing OI ecosystem projects.

Temperature sensors, drug tests and disease detection devices made out of paper: the future of green electronics has kicked-off  with the INNPAPER project. The four-year project aims to develop alternative solutions to traditional electronics. It is funded by the European Commission and has a budget of €7.5 million.

The European Commission has earmarked €30 billion for Horizon 2020 during 2018-2020 in the last work programme. According to the Commission, over the next 3 years, it will strive for greater impact of its research funding by focusing on fewer, but critical topics such as migration, security, climate, clean energy and digital economy. Horizon 2020 will also be more geared towards boosting breakthrough, market-creating innovation.

The possibilities of EU funding - case example of a success story.

EU Breakfast seminar: In just 1,5 hours, learn if your company could receive funding. At the same time you will learn how the SME instrument will change in the beginning of 2018 and how this will affect you. After the presentations, you have the possibility to discuss your potential for EU funding with experts and go through already existing project ideas.

Into is a new funding service offered in Finland by Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, to boost the international growth of SMEs. It provides the SMEs opportunities to strengthen their innovation competencies in order to grow into international markets.

Fast Track to Innovation is a funding instrument to boost close-to-market innovation projects.

Two large industry-driven DIMECC innovation programs led by Spinverse have successfully boosted both science and competitivity of the manufacturing industry in Finland through application-driven digitalized material R&D&I.

The Horizon 2020 Work Programme for 2016-2017 has been published with over 1000 different funding opportunities for R&D&I, demonstrations, piloting and new market entry in very many different areas. This is the time to start looking for funding opportunities for you if you haven't done so already.