Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Access2EIC (Capacity-building and transnational cooperation for National Contact Points (NCPs) for the EIC and Access to Risk Finance – Access2EIC)
Reporting period: 2019-09-01 to 2021-08-31
ACCESS2EIC was a 24-month coordination and support action aimed to empower and facilitate transnational cooperation within the network of National Contact Points - NCPs focused on the Horizon 2020 European Innovation Council - EIC Pilot and the specific objective Access to Risk Finance - ARF. It involved a consortium made of formally appointed NCPs under ‘Future and Emerging Technologies – FET’, ‘Innovation in SMEs – SME’ and ‘Access to Risk Finance - ARF’ areas of Horizon 2020. Overall, the network will aimed to: -
develop an improved, more consistent and professionalised NCP service across Europe, thereby helping simplify access to EIC Pilot calls, and lowering the entry barriers for newcomers;
- identifed and shared good practices into raising the general standard of support to EIC and ARF programme applicants, taking into account the novelties of this transition period and the diversity of actors that make up their constituency.
Special attention was devoted to outreach and support activities aimed at helping potential applicants in those countries that have been participating at low levels in the EIC calls and its predecessors (FET instruments and SME Instrument). These activities helped the NCPs rapidly acquire the know-how on NCP operations accumulated in best practice countries and included priority awareness raising actions aimed at increasing visibility of the enhanced EIC Pilot to potential applicant organisations in the above mentioned countries.
ACCESS2EIC achieved the following specific objectives:
1. Improving NCP capacities to provide systemic knowledge (NCP Curriculum) to clients across different EIC enhanced pilot calls and access to finance opportunities through networks collaboration (WP2).
2. Identifying key success factors for EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator funding schemes based on the experiences of FET, SME Instrument and FTI funded projects, by improving the set of tools (e.g. analysis and involvement of innovation ecosystems, development of annotated templates, factsheets), and consequently the efficacy of the assistance of NCPs (WP3).
3. Understanding EIC successful applicants’ characteristics and EIC fund offer, including how to deal with exploitation and market aspects under a Pathfinder project as well as with the equity offer of the EIC accelerator. (WP4).
4. Spreading knowledge on access to risk finance opportunities under the Framework Programmes, notably InnovFin products sharing information and practices on financial instruments for R&I across researchers, SMEs and ARF national communities; setting the ground for the new generations of financial instruments including the EIC Pilot and the ones expected under the next Programming Period ; Fostering the cross-border access to risk finance for specific high potential businesses actors participating or emerging from EIC calls (WP5).
5. Enhancing the outreach of this Network through strategic information, communication and dissemination activities to maximize the impact of its activities, services and results to a wider audience of clients and stakeholders and avoid overlapping with further initiatives in those areas (WP6).
develop an improved, more consistent and professionalised NCP service across Europe, thereby helping simplify access to EIC Pilot calls, and lowering the entry barriers for newcomers;
- identifed and shared good practices into raising the general standard of support to EIC and ARF programme applicants, taking into account the novelties of this transition period and the diversity of actors that make up their constituency.
Special attention was devoted to outreach and support activities aimed at helping potential applicants in those countries that have been participating at low levels in the EIC calls and its predecessors (FET instruments and SME Instrument). These activities helped the NCPs rapidly acquire the know-how on NCP operations accumulated in best practice countries and included priority awareness raising actions aimed at increasing visibility of the enhanced EIC Pilot to potential applicant organisations in the above mentioned countries.
ACCESS2EIC achieved the following specific objectives:
1. Improving NCP capacities to provide systemic knowledge (NCP Curriculum) to clients across different EIC enhanced pilot calls and access to finance opportunities through networks collaboration (WP2).
2. Identifying key success factors for EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator funding schemes based on the experiences of FET, SME Instrument and FTI funded projects, by improving the set of tools (e.g. analysis and involvement of innovation ecosystems, development of annotated templates, factsheets), and consequently the efficacy of the assistance of NCPs (WP3).
3. Understanding EIC successful applicants’ characteristics and EIC fund offer, including how to deal with exploitation and market aspects under a Pathfinder project as well as with the equity offer of the EIC accelerator. (WP4).
4. Spreading knowledge on access to risk finance opportunities under the Framework Programmes, notably InnovFin products sharing information and practices on financial instruments for R&I across researchers, SMEs and ARF national communities; setting the ground for the new generations of financial instruments including the EIC Pilot and the ones expected under the next Programming Period ; Fostering the cross-border access to risk finance for specific high potential businesses actors participating or emerging from EIC calls (WP5).
5. Enhancing the outreach of this Network through strategic information, communication and dissemination activities to maximize the impact of its activities, services and results to a wider audience of clients and stakeholders and avoid overlapping with further initiatives in those areas (WP6).
WP2 was designed to Improve NCP capacities to provide systemic knowledge (NCP Curriculum – adopting a step by step approach within a training portfolio where the respective NCP selects the trainings he/she needs) to clients across different EIC enhanced pilot calls and access to finance opportunities through EU network collaborations especially EEN. Under Task 2.1 a plan for training / workshops and webinars was prepared based on a survey conducted among the NCPs based on the needs of FET, SME and ARF NCPs. On this basis, a set program of training, workshops and webinars - Capacity Building Strategy in cooperation with other NCPs networks and other related stakeholders was prepared and implemented. This plan was then updated according to NCPs needs (transition phase between H2020 and HE) and COVID-19 situation. Under Task 2.2 a self-training path for NCPs was planned, identifying 20 courses relevant for training within an international MOOC platform. Additional business-oriented courses and training that were not specifically related to H2020 were selected in order to support candidates for the EIC. Among the selected courses and themes available were courses such as: soft skills, financial elements, entrepreneurship, innovation, IP, marketing. Selected courses and topics were tailored to meet the need for additional skills and the role of the NCPs' offer, which is profiled, dedicated, free of charge and in line with the needs, will allow NFP EIC and ARF to expand their knowledge, competencies, and experience at any time. Under Task 2.3 the consortium managed to organize 19 events, both on-site and then online due to the situation related to COVID-19.
The impact of the project was to enhance access to EIC enhanced pilot calls, lower the entry barriers for newcomers and organizations based in those Countries registering a low participation rate, and raise the average quality of proposals submitted, by enabling NCPs to deliver better services to applicants across EU.
• An improved and professionalised EIC and ARF NCP service across Europe which helps simplify access to EIC calls. Especially NCPs from less experienced or low participation countries will raise their level of knowledge on EIC, as well as improve their capacity in delivering advice services.
• Availability of more effective tools for EIC potential applicants and consistent level of NCP support services across Europe and in connection with other relevant networks. It will lead to lowering the entry barriers for newcomers and organization located in those Countries participating insufficiently at EIC calls and raising the average quality of proposals submitted.
• Systemic understanding of EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator beneficiaries’ value proposition leading to enhanced NCP quality support services and increased valorization of EIC applicants exploitation and growth strategies.
• Maximizing collaboration between access to finance communities
• An optimized flow of information on NCP SME and access to finance activities, services, stakeholders and results across the EU and worldwide
• An improved and professionalised EIC and ARF NCP service across Europe which helps simplify access to EIC calls. Especially NCPs from less experienced or low participation countries will raise their level of knowledge on EIC, as well as improve their capacity in delivering advice services.
• Availability of more effective tools for EIC potential applicants and consistent level of NCP support services across Europe and in connection with other relevant networks. It will lead to lowering the entry barriers for newcomers and organization located in those Countries participating insufficiently at EIC calls and raising the average quality of proposals submitted.
• Systemic understanding of EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator beneficiaries’ value proposition leading to enhanced NCP quality support services and increased valorization of EIC applicants exploitation and growth strategies.
• Maximizing collaboration between access to finance communities
• An optimized flow of information on NCP SME and access to finance activities, services, stakeholders and results across the EU and worldwide