The GreenOffshoreTech 3-Phase Accelerator Programme
The key activity of the GreenOffshoreTech Consortium to support SMEs was the successful establishment and delivery of the GreenOffshoreTech 3-phase Accelerator Programme for SMEs (PHASE 1, PHASE 2, PHASE 3), which included:
1. 2.96 million EUR in financial support for the development of new products, processes, or services though cascade funding (up to 60,000 EUR per SME Innovation Project) via two open Calls for Proposals.
2. A comprehensive Business Support Programme with eight Business Support Services, including business & tech academy, matchmaking events, access to finance, internationalization, branding, investor pitching training, investor round and tailored one-to-one business coaching.
3. An open collaboration space to facilitate cross-sectoral and cross-regional technology transfer and foster future partnerships,
4. The GreenOffshoreTech Innovation Award and Prize (40,000 EUR) to recognise outstanding achievements.
Each awarded SME Innovation Project participated in our 3-phase Accelerator Programme, focused on technology development and commercialisation strategy:
₋ PHASE 1: 83 projects received 5,000 EUR each to develop an Initial Business Plan,
₋ PHASE 2: 55 projects received 45,000 EUR each to design and build prototypes,
₋ PHASE 3: 32 projects received 10,000 EUR each to create a draft plan for promotion and exploitation activities.
Each SME Project went through a competitive selection process between phases, with outcomes evaluated by international experts. PHASE 1 and PHASE 2 were complemented by our Business Support Services.
The GreenOffshoreTech 3-phase Accelerator Program was prepared and delivered directly by all GreenOffshoreTech Consortium partners, which comprised 12 European partners from 16 regions across seven countries, including nine European clusters, two SMEs and one research institute.
In Period 1, the first six months focused on preparing the GreenOffshoreTech 3-phase Accelerator Programme and calls, including identifying SME challenges in offshore industries, defining call topics, preparing call documents, preparing a Business Support Service Programme and setting up the collaboration space. The first Call for Proposals (CALL#1) was launched on 6 April 2022, with 38 proposals received. Winner SMEs were selected and contracted, leading to 29 SME Innovation Projects and the start of the first Accelerator Programme in Oct 2022 (PHASE 1) and in Feb 2023 (PHASE 2). The second Call for Proposals was published on 10 January 2023.
In Period 2, we focused on delivering the 3-phase Accelerator Programme to the Winner SMEs from CALL#1 (PHASE 2, PHASE 3) and CALL#2 (PHASE 1, PHASE 2, PHASE 3). The first three months were spent evaluating 88 proposals, selecting and contracting 54 Winner SMEs for CALL#2, doubling the numbers of proposals and grants compared to CALL#1. The GreenOffshoreTech Innovation Award was launched in April 2024, concluding with a public pitch competition in June 2024. Call#2 closed in October 2024.
In parallel, the project was promoted through communication and dissemination efforts, highlighting Winner SMEs on the website, LinkedIn, at exhibitions, and during the 2-day GreenOffshoreTech Final Event where 30 Winner SMEs from 7 countries participated and showcased their innovations.
Notable outreach included industry fairs (e.g. SMM2024), EISMEA and recognition in an OECD report.
