Horizon 2020 - Find out about current EU funding opportunities. Horizon 2020 is designed to be simpler than previous European Commission funding programmes with only two funding rates for direct costs and a single flat rate for indirect costs. The evaluation and negotiation processes have been speeded up to reduce the time between the Call deadline and projects starting.

2. Horizon 2020
The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

3. What is Horizon 2020?
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever
with nearly €80 billion of funding available over seven years (2014 to 2020)
– with €3 billion dedicated solely for SMEs. It promises more breakthroughs,
discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.
Horizon 2020 is open to everyone, with a simple structure that
reduces red tape and time, enabling participants to focus on what
is really important.
This approach makes sure new projects get off the ground quickly –
and achieve results faster.

4. Horizon 2020 SME Funding Instruments
Horizon 2020 has a range of options for SME project funding. However, there are significant
differences in terms of process, funding rate and scope, between all of the funding instruments.
H2020 Collaborative Project H2020 SME Instrument H2020 Fast Track to Innovation EUREKA Eurostars
Small or large consortium
Industrial or academic research driven
Single applicant (phase 1)
Single applicant or SME consortium (phase 2)
Small industry-driven consortium
(max 5 organisations)
Small SME-driven consortium,industry and
academia permitted,average 3-4 participants
SMEs encouraged
SMEs requested in specific calls
SMEs only SMEs encouraged Project leader must be an R&D performing SME
Non prescriptive funding range indicated in
the call text
€50k (phase 1) funding €0.5-2.5m (phase 2)
funding (€5m for healthcare projects)
€3m max funding €1.4m average project costs,max funding
specific to each country
Specific challenge,scope and expected
impact,all indicated in the call text
Broad scope per topic
(except healthcare projects)
Broad scope:any topic related to LEIT or
Societal Challenges
Broad scope:innovative products,processes
and services
Single or two stage deadlines Continuous submission
4 annual call dates
Continuous submission
3 annual call dates
Continuous submission
2 annual call dates
100% for RIAs and CSAs 70% for IAs Typically 70% (100% for healthcare projects) Typically 70% 50-80% (specific to each country)
Both SME instrument and FTI pilot are extremely attractive to SMEs and industry-driven consortiums
for three main reasons:
• Shortened average time-to-grant:between 4 months (SME Instrument Phase 1) and 6 months (SME instrument Phase 2,FTI pilot)
• Bottom-up programmes:applicants can come up with any project related to the target domain (except in the healthcare thematic)
• Large funding per applicant:in a mono-applicant SME instrument Phase 2 application,a single SME can receive up to €2.5m (€5m
for healthcare) for a 2-year project

5. Horizon 2020 SME Funding Instruments
Are they the right funding instruments for your business?
European funding is provided in the form of grants that are not tied to any IPR
or equity transfer to the EC.This non-dilutive funding is very attractive to SMEs,
as they get to keep their IPR and equity.
The funding does comes with a set of ‘strings attached’ but these are mostly
reporting requirements to the EC (in order to validate and document that you
are making a correct use of public funding).
However, do not underestimate these requirements, EC reporting is not
something that you should undertake lightly.

6. Horizon 2020 Dedicated SME Instrument
The Dedicated SME Instrument (DSI) is an EU funding programme specially for SMEs.
It consists of three phases covering technical and market feasibility, demonstration
activities and commercialisation across a range of thematic areas.
Company requirements
• You must be an SME employing between
10 and 250 employees
• Need to have an early prototype
(or proof of concept).
EC useTRL 6 but TRL4 has proven to be acceptable
• A turnover of up to €50 million.
You must be able to fund their part of the project
costs due to a negative cash flow for part of Phase 2
• Must be something you want to do
This is not a‘wish’project

7. Horizon 2020 Dedicated SME Instrument
Phased support
Phase 1: Feasibility assessment
Funding is available for: exploring and
assessing the technical feasibility and
commercial potential of a breakthrough
innovation that a company wants to
exploit and commercialise.
Activities funded could be: risk
assessment, design or market studies,
intellectual property exploration; the
ultimate goal is to put a new product,
service or process in the market, possibly
through an innovative application of
existing technologies, methodologies, or
business processes.
The project should be aligned to the
business strategy, helping internal
growth or targeting a transnational
business opportunity.
Amount of funding: lump sum
of €50,000 (per project, not per
participating business).
Duration: typically around 6 months
Outcome:The outcome of a Phase 1
project is a feasibility study (technical
and commercial), including a
business plan.
Should the conclusion of the study be
that the innovative concept has the
potential to be developed to the level of
investment readiness/market maturity,
but requires additional funding in view
of commercialisation, the SME can apply
for Phase 2 support.

8. Horizon 2020 Dedicated SME Instrument
Phased support
Phase 2: Innovation project
Funding is available for: innovation
projects underpinned by a sound and
strategic business plan (potentially
elaborated and partially funded through
Phase 1 of the SME Instrument).
Activities funded in can be: prototyping,
miniaturisation, scaling-up, design,
performance verification, testing,
demonstration, development of pilot
lines, validation for market replication,
including other activities aimed at
bringing innovation to investment
readiness and maturity for market
take-up.
Amount of funding: in the indicative
range of €500,000 – € 2.5 million or more
(covering up to 70% of eligible costs, or in
exceptional, specific cases up to 100%).
Duration: typically around 1 to 2 years
Outcomes: a new product, process or
service that is ready to face market
competition; a business innovation
plan incorporating a detailed
commercialisation strategy and a
financing plan in view of market launch
(e.g. on how to attract private investors,
if applicable).

9. Horizon 2020 Dedicated SME Instrument
Phased support
Phase 3: Commercialisation
With the view of facilitating the commercial exploitation of the innovation activities
resulting from Phase 1 or Phase 2, specific activities will be proposed.
These can include support for further developing investment readiness, linking with
private investors and customers through brokerage activities, assistance in applying
for further EU risk finance, and a range of other innovation support activities and
services offered via the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).

10. Horizon 2020 Dedicated SME Instrument
Eligible costs for ‘in-kind’
Time/Effort
• Real research tasks as described in the Description of
Work (DoW) (including business development, market
stimulation, attendance at conferences/expos)
• Attendance at Project Meetings (including preparation
time, travelling time, completing actions arising,
reporting back)
• Reviewing Project Reports and other documents
• Completion of cost statements and in-kind logs
• Answering EC queries
• Business case preparation
• Relevant commercial/sales meetings
• Creation/maintenance of project website(s)
• Communication with Consortium Partners
• Authoring, reviewing and approval of press releases
• Writing Description Use Plan (DUP) and providing
input to EC online questionnaires/surveys
Consumables
• Supply of materials/software
• Use of facilities and test equipment
• A proportion of the cost of Market Intelligence reports
Other costs
• Hire of Equipment
• Purchase of computers/software
• Patent preparation costs
• Legal and Agent fees associated with Project IP
• Cost of any other legal agreements (eg Licensing)
• Flights and hotels for project meeting attendance
• Fuel and Car rental

11. Horizon 2020 Fast Track to Innovation
To reduce the time from idea to market and increase industrial participation in Horizon
2020, Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) is a fully-bottom-up measure to promote close-to-
the-market innovation activities, and open to all types of participants.
• Open to all types of participants (SMEs, LEs, Universities, etc)
• Proposals for funding must be submitted by a consortium comprising of between
three and five legal entities established in at least three different EU Member States
or countries.
• Actions funded under the scheme must be ‘business-driven’because they are
intended to give promising innovation ideas the last push before entering the market.
• Products must be commercially ready within three years after the strat of the FTI
action to ensure quick market take-up
• No thematic requirement.Trans-disciplinary and cross-sector.
• TRL level 6-9 (Level 7 and above is preferred)
• €3 million maximum project size (€1-2 million expected)
• 70% funded for profit-making organisations

12. Horizon 2020 Funding Instruments
Is your business ready for European funding?
There are three fundamental questions that you need to ask yourself in order to decide if you should
apply for funding.
1. Can you wait 4-6 months before starting your project?
2. Do you have a prototype that has been tested (or proof of concept)?
3. Can you co-fund 30% of the project?
If you have answered no to any of these questions,then these instruments are not for you…yet.
However,there are other instruments within the H2020Work Programme that may fit with your
plans.For example,Research Innovation Actions (RIAs) have a funding rate of 100% and focus on
Technology Readiness Levels below 6.

13. Horizon 2020 Research innovation Actions
Research Innovation Actions (RIA) is an EU funding programme focussing on
research activities leading to the development of innovative new products, processes
and services.
100% funding
RIA will fund 100% of early-stage research which demonstrates the technical and economic
viability of a new or improved technology, product, process, service or solution.
Collaborative projects
Projects funded under RIA must be collaborative in nature.This requires a consortium of at
least three companies or universities from three different EU member states collaborating on
the project.
Specific calls
Funding is made available for projects covering specific themes (such as energy, transport etc.).
Calls for applications under different themes are made at different times.
Duration
Projects last between 36-48 months and are awarded between €2 - €5 million.

14. What makes Pera Technology different?
There are many ways that SMEs can access
DSI funding, but with unrivalled experience of
accessing European funding, Pera Technology
delivers certainty into your innovation process.
You will also be able to utilise our proven multi-disciplinary
innovation processes and competencies to get the right
product developed, by the right people, in the right way.

15. What makes Pera Technology different?
There are many ways that SMEs can access
DSI funding, but with unrivalled experience of
accessing European funding, Pera Technology
delivers certainty into your innovation process.
You will also be able to utilise our proven multi-disciplinary
innovation processes and competencies to get the right
product developed, by the right people, in the right way.
there are other ways…

16. What makes Pera Technology different?
There are many ways that SMEs can access
DSI funding, but with unrivalled experience of
accessing European funding, Pera Technology
delivers certainty into your innovation process.
You will also be able to utilise our proven multi-disciplinary
innovation processes and competencies to get the right
product developed, by the right people, in the right way.
there are other ways… …and there’s the Pera Technology way

17. Who are Pera Technology?
We are a leading new product development contractor.
We exist to make your innovation a profitable and successful venture for your business
Founded in 1946 as the Production Engineering Research Association of Great
Britain, we are now a privately owned technology-based innovation, training and
commercial research group with offices in the UK and Estonia.
We support you in creating the innovative new products that enable you to
build a competitive advantage. We bring innovation to life within your business
by bringing hard-won, real-world industry experience to your own market
knowledge. When it comes to understanding and securing funding from national
and European bodies, PeraTechnology has proved itself to be one of Europe’s most
successful intermediaries.
With an exceptional reputation for adding innovation expertise to all sizes of
businesses in all sectors, we work with you to:
conceive ideas create prototypes commercialise products

18. Innovation for SME businesses
leap® is Pera Technology’s new product development service for SMEs. We’ve helped hundreds of
SMEs conceive, create and commercialise innovative new products, providing the expertise to fill
knowledge gaps and securing the funding to make it all happen.
Our approach
Unlike a lot of our competitors, we do not offer a ‘no win-no fee’
service. We feel that this blanket approach leaves clients in an
uncertain situation that could end in a failed application, due to the
provider not fully understanding the project or SMEs business.
Instead, we charge an upfront fee to write your proposal application,
but only if we are convinced it stands the best chance of funding.
The leap® team at PeraTechnology will take the time to learn more
about your project and fully support you in your DSI application.
We assist with the project bid writing process, using our extensive
experience and expertise in securing European funding to dramatically
improve your chances of making a successful project bid.

19. Ready to take the next step?
Contact us today at and take the first step to a more secure and successful future
Phone: +44 (0)1664 501201 Email: enquiries@peratechnology.com www.peratechnology.com