Call for Proposal invited for EU-Egypt Innovation Fund – Grant Scheme2.
A key component of the Programme is the Innovation Fund that supports research outputs’ exploitation and innovation with closer links to national and/or European/ENPI industries. The Fund provides grants to cooperative applied research projects on competitive basis that aim at enhancing the innovative capabilities of industrial companies and notably the privately owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Throughout its four year duration (during RDI-1), the fund launched two Calls for Proposals, received 719 proposals and funded 51 projects addressing several industrial challenges.
The Fund through its Scheme 2 competitive grants will support projects and activities aiming at the enhancement of collaboration between the research community and the industry with emphasis on technological innovation. It also targets raising awareness on the importance of R&D and innovation and the development of innovative ideas, which will benefit SMEs.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
There are three sets of eligibility criteria, relating to:
• Applicant which may request a grant (2.1.1), and their partners (2.1.2);
• Actions for which a grant may be awarded (2.1.3);
• Types of cost which may be taken into account in setting the amount of the grant (2.1.4).
Eligibility of applicants: who may apply?
In order to be eligible for a grant, applicants must:
- Be legal persons and
- Be specific types of organizations such as: university, research centre, large enterprise, SMI, international (inter-governmental) organizations as defined by article 43 of the implementing rules to the EC financial regulation
- Be established in a member state of the European Union or Arab republic of Egypt or another ENPI neighbourhood country. This obligation does not apply to international organizations and
- Be registered and based in the Arab republic of Egypt and
- Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with their partners, not acting as an intermediary
The global objective of this Call for Proposals is Support research outputs, exploitation and innovation with closer links to national or European industries
The Specific objective of this Call for Proposals is:
- Enhance collaboration between the research community, the industry, and the society at large to embark on fruitful cooperation aiming at fostering technological innovation
- Raise awareness on importance of R&D and innovation in developing new technologies and their economic and social impacts.
- Promote and foster the culture and passion for science and innovation
- Enable entrepreneurs to develop certain ideas that do not need mega financing
- Strengthen cooperation with European and regional counterparts and hence enable the transfer of technology, know how, and best practices to Egyptian institutions.
The overall indicative amount made available under this Call for Proposals is EUR 1,000,000.00. The Contracting Authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.
Size of grants:
Any grant requested under this Call for Proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
• Minimum amount: EUR 50,000.00
• Maximum amount: EUR 100,000.00
Any grant requested under this Call for Proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum percentages of total eligible costs of the action:
- Minimum percentage: 50 % of the total estimated eligible costs of the action.
- Maximum percentage: 90 % of the total eligible costs of the action (see also Section 2.1.4).
The balance (i.e. the difference between the total cost of the action and the amount requested from the Contracting Authority) must be financed from the applicant’s or partners’ own resources, or from sources other than the European Union budget or the European Development Fund.
Deadline for submission of proposals: September 09, 2012
For further information, visit the link.
