EUREKA - France Spain call for projects

Deadline: Jun 28, 2018  
CALL EXPIRED

Bpifrance (BPI) from France and the Centre for Industrial Technological Development, EPE (CDTI) from Spain are announcing this call for Proposals for joint R&D projects, focusing on developing innovative products and applications in all technological and market areas. Applicants are expected to develop ready to market solutions or projects which have strong market potential for France and Spain.

The French National Authority is BPI, the French Public Investment Bank, which is in the service of the financing and development of companies.

The Spanish National Authority is the CDTI, responsible for fostering the technological development and innovation of Spanish companies.

Both BPI and CDTI will provide all necessary assistance to project partners during project proposal preparation and submission, evaluation and monitoring phase. In addition, both parties will facilitate EUREKA application process and acquisition of the EUREKA label for accepted proposals. These organizations will also provide access to public funding for the joint projects. The support will be given to each partner by its own Authorities in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures in effect, on a non-exchange of funds basis, and subject to budgetary availability in each country.

Special focus

Although this call invites projects in ALL thematic areas or application domains,special focus is given to the following domains:

• Transport (including automotive and aeronautics)
• Agrofood technology
• Energy
• Tourism

Eligibility criteria

Eligible partners are invited to present joint proposals for industrial R&D projects according to the following criteria:

• The partners should include, at least, one French and one Spanish companies. Participation of research institutes/universities is welcome as subcontractors  according to each country’s funding regulations.
• Companies from other countries may also participate, but they will not be funded by CDTI or by BPI.
• The French and Spanish partners must express their will to cooperate to the development of a new product, industrial process or service. The product, process or service must be innovative and there must be a technological risk involved.
• The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the technological cooperation between the participants from the countries (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure etc.).
• The project should demonstrate the contribution of all participants and the project must be significant to them.
• The participants are required, prior to obtain the EUREKA label, to have signed a consortium agreement.

Any partner whose cooperative R&D project is consistent with the aforesaid criteria can apply to the present announcement in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures in effect.

Submission and approval procedures

Participants are invited to contact the officers from the National Authorities (see contact details at the end of the text) before submitting the documents.

This call will have 2 phases:

Project outline

In order to check the eligibility of the proposal, partners will be requested to submit a project outline according to the template provided by the National Authorities. This document has to be submitted before 28 June (12:00 local time)

Only those proposals which has been positively assess by the National Authorities will be able to submit the full proposal.

Full proposal

Partners will have to submit their applications according to the procedures of each National Authority:

• In France, the participants will have to submit the Eureka Application form (in English), as well as Bpifrance funding application form (Aide pour le Développement de l’Innovation).
• In Spain the participants will have to submit a formal R&D international project application through CDTI’s website (https://sede.cdti.gob.es/) including the Eureka Application form (in English), draft consortium agreement. Additional documents in Spanish language, containing detailed information on the Spanish participants, could be requested depending on the specific type of funding requested by the company.

Deadline for submission to BPI and to CDTI: 20 July 2018 (12:00 h. local time).

Funding details

The funding support will be given to each eligible partner by its own National Authority. Funding conditions and eligibility criteria may vary from country to country. As a summary, the main funding criteria are explained below:

France

French companies must submit their funding application to BPI. According to BPI funding rules, French enterprises with less than 2,000 employees are financed through reimbursable loan free of interest (commonly called "avances récupérables"). The global funding amount will be partially non- reimbursable in case of technical failure. The funding rate is up to 65% (minimum amount 50 000€, maximum amount 3 M€ per participant). French enterprises must make it clear that they have the capacity (equity capital, fund- raising) to finance the proposed activities.

Eligible costs for Bpifrance:

• Personal costs
• Overheads: 20% of personal costs
• Costs related to intellectual property, patent extension etc.
• Feasibility study • Market search • Equipment (depreciation and amortization)
• Industrial research and experimental development
• Project management and associated costs (related travel costs of French participants)
• Implementation and development of prototypes, models, pilot productions, demonstration etc.

Universities and research centers are welcomed as subcontractors of a French company. Costs relating to subcontracting are taken into account. Additionally, Bpifrance can provide funding support to cover French companies’ needs in the preparation of their project via the Technological Partnership Aid (APT) - a grant of up to 50 000€. 

In France, project activities shall not start before submitting the funding applications to Bpifrance. For further information, please contact Bpifrance.

Spain

CDTI will finance industrial research and/or technological development activities of Spanish companies. Universities and research centers could take part as subcontractors. In Spain, funding conditions for Spanish partners may vary depending on the nature of the project and the beneficiaries. For more information ​

In Spain, project activities shall not start before submitting the funding applications to CDTI. For further information, please contact CDTI. According to EUREKA’s practices, applicants may choose to request a label without public financing (e.g. self-funding is also applicable).