The KITT4SME project will provide 2.5 M€ of direct financial equity-free support via 2 Open Calls, and will provide the IT-infrastructure and core AI-based software modules to support the production by SMEs and mid-caps from the manufacturing world. The project is currently running the 2nd Open Call that will close next 12th August 2022, at 5m CET.
About the KITT4SME project
KITS4SME is an EU funded project (EU Horizon 2020) that aims to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) seamlessly in manufacturing production systems. Leveraging the network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH), the project ensures that results are scope-tailored, industry-ready and delivered as a modular customizable digital platform. KITT4SME specifically targets European SMEs and mid-caps, with a role in the manufacturing environment.
The project, that follows a cascade funding scheme (take a look at our last publication about How Cascade Funding Works and discover all the benefits for your organisation), has already run a 1st open call attracting 45 AI-based software solutions with a value for the manufacturing industry, of which 10 were selected for funding. Now, with a total budget of EUR 1.5 million, the project has just launched the 2nd open call looking for 7-8 teams to be part of their portfolio solutions.
KITT4SME open call summary
In the second Open Call the KITTS4SME project is looking for up to 8 teams to develop pilot experiments that validate the technical and business value of the KITT4SME platform for the manufacturing end users to adopt AI solutions in the three prioritised key areas:
- Artificial Intelligence for Quality Control that aims in early and automatic error-detection and better run time decisions.
- Artificial Intelligence for Reconfiguration or product personalization – on both levels of production optimization and of optimization of scheduling.
- Artificial Intelligence for Human-Machine Interaction.
The pilot experiments are expected to be structured around specific Use Cases of the project, which will be formulated from real-life problems faced by the participating end users. The aim is to build and demonstrate added-valued AI solutions deployed in the specific factory floor, but which have a clearly evidenced market potential for other manufacturing end users.
WHO CAN APPLY?
The application to the second open call can only be done as a team of legal entities (at least 2, maximum 3 entities) that include at least one Solution Provider and at least one Manufacturing end user, both SMEs or Mid-Caps.
All applicants must be registered in one of the EU27 Member States or in Horizon 2020 Associated Countries. The list of the countries associated with Horizon 2020 is available here. Additionally, the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to the Member States are also eligible. UK applicants are eligible under the conditions set by the EC for H2020 participation.
The team members with technical capacity are expected to deploy the proposed solution at the manufacturing end users’ demonstration area and be responsible to install and integrate the necessary technologies to bring their data from the shop floor to the KITT4SME platform and to the AI solution
TRL LEVEL
Proposals should address technologies which are currently assumed from TRL5 and above. If you want to know more about the TRL definition, you can check this official document from the European Commission.
PROPOSAL
The proposals consist of an online form and a word document that must be submitted via the oficial form of the call. The page limit is 10 pages per proposal and it has 3 main sections:
- Summary of the Action: This section should provide details about the proposed AI solution and the added value it provides. It has to be clear how proposals are linked to the main scope of KITT4SME and to the main selected topic.
- Background of the Applicants: This section should provide information to assess the capacity of the team to implement the proposed Action.
- Detailed proposal description: This section should provide details about the excellence, impact and implementation of the project.
DURATION OF THE PROJECTS
The duration of the action is fixed for all Actions. It is set to 12 months (Feb 2023 – Jan 2024).
WHERE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Proposals must be submitted electronically, using the Proposal Submission System which is also available on the open calls page of KITT4SME. Proposals submitted by any other means will not be evaluated. Applications must be submitted in English and before the official deadline: 12 August 2022, 17:00 CEST
FUNDING
The budget for this second Open Call is around EUR 1 500 000 that will be allocated by to the 8 successful experiments. The funding for each team is as a lump sum of up to 200k EUR. The requested grant is calculated with funding rate that is the 70% of costs declared for the project execution. This means that applicants presenting a budget with a total cost of EUR 285 714, will receive the EUR 200 000 (70% of total costs).
PAYMENTS
The funding will be given in the form of lump-sum payments in three instalments:
- 30% of the budget for which each Action is eligible will be given as pre-financing at the start of the Action (after the finalization of the contractual process);
- 30% of the budget will be given after successful approval of the Mid-Term report;
- 40% of the budget will be given to the Action after the finalization of the Action, that is after the submission of the Final Report and subject to the approval of the Final Report by the KITT4SME Consortium.
RELEVANT DATES
- Launch of the 2nd Open Call 10/6/ 2022
- Deadline of the 2nd Open Call 12/08/2022, 17:00 CEST
- Evaluation, announcement of the final beneficiaries and contracting procedure of the Sub-Grant Agreements Aug 2022 – Jan 2023.
- Tentative Start date of sub-projects 1/2/2023
- Projects expected end date 31/1/2024
USEFUL INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
The KITT4SME consortium has carried out the open call launch event in which you will find more details about the project, the open call and the consortium that is behind the initiative.
For further questions and clarifications, you may check and address the following ways:
I. Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
II. Guidelines for applicants [LINK]
How can SPLORO support your organisation with cascade funding grants?
We want to help you make these type of calls more accessible for your organisation. That is why we have designed a series of services to maximise your opportunities of receiving cascade funding grants:
- Identification and analysis of funding opportunities: our team monitors all open calls and make a first check on the eligibility of your organization.
- Proposals writing and submission management: we support you to land that idea that you have in mind and adapt it to the requirements of the call. In addition, we carry out the management and upload on the different platforms of all the necessary documentation to ensure that your project is eligible for the call.
- Access to international network: if you have not identified a partner yet, or simply don’t know who to start this adventure with, in consortium projects we take care of finding the partner for your project.
- Project management support: our service does not end with uploading the documentation, we help you throughout the full life cycle of the project, providing you management support and ensuring that you receive 100% of the grant you have won.
If you want to know more about our services for startups, do not hesitate to contact us and book a meeting with our CEO through this link ;).
If you need assistance in the proposal writing preparation, finding the right partners for the call or even having a double-check on what you are currently preparing, do not hesitate to contact us
If you are, on the other hand, managing a cascade grant and want us to promote your call and do a review of this nature, feel free to contact, we can definitely address the topic and help with dissemination within our networks.