SynergistEIC: Open call for scaling EU GreenTech Startups

The SynergistEIC project is part of the EIC’s attempts to scale up of companies in Europe and specifically to connect local digital and deep tech startup ecosystems across the EU. With an available budget of €750k, the 1st Open Call will close next 14th of June at 17:00 (CET).

About the SynergistEIC Project

SynergistEIC is an EU-funded deep tech growth program that seeks to ensure the scaling up of EU deep tech startups by providing custom, industry-focused, 6 months growth programs that will act as a catalyst in delivering market-ready applications and technology solutions in 4 key impact areas: climate-tech, clean-tech, circular economy, and agri-food.

SynergistEIC’s long term strategic objective is to help European technology startups scale, contributing towards the competitiveness and strategic autonomy of the EU and fulfilling its ambitious Net Zero goals. It will do so by providing tailored, specific, and hands-on support to European impact-driven startups, notably in the Greentech sector to become more competitive and increase their readiness to be successful in the EIC Accelerator. Special focus will be devoted to attracting high-potential companies from Widening countries. Startups developing deep tech solutions (based on AI, Machine learning and language processing, Bigdata, Advanced Computing, Bioengineering, Next Generation Internet, Blockchain, IoT) will be favoured.

SynergistEIC’s main objectives are to:

Identify promising startups in green tech sectors with high potential to access EIC Accelerator, particularly through Startup Europe initiatives.
Reinforce the activities of the European Innovation Council by targeting high potential startups that have applied for EIC Accelerator but were not awarded the grant yet.
Accelerate the growth of innovative non-EIC applicant startups.
Connecting startups with relevant ecosystem stakeholders and raise their readiness for investment.

During the project, SynergistEIC will distribute €1.5M via sub-grants to the third parties (startups, SMEs and scaleups) to access the services provided according to their individual needs by the industry impact builders.

SynergistEIC 1st Open Call

The first SynergistEIC Open Call and its 6-months growth program aims to foster the launch, development, growth and scaling of new products, services, processes, and integrated solutions in the Green Tech sector. The 1^st Open Call to participate will be open until Wednesday June 14^th, 5pm CET.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Single legal entities established in Member States (MS) of the European Union (including their outermost regions) or in Horizon Europe associated countries are eligible to participate in the SynergistEIC’s 1^st Open Call for Green Tech Startups.

A total of 15 startups will be selected and the programme will be divided between those with (x5) and without (x10) experience in applying the EIC Accelerator (or former SME Instrument).

EIC-applicant startups

Non-EIC applicant startups

Digital and deep tech startups that:

Have applied for EIC Accelerator and were preselected after Step 1 and not selected or have not applied to Step 2.
Can provide proof of SoE or successful Step 1 application for EIC Accelerator/ SME Instrument Phase 1 and evaluation feedback.
Have implemented an SME Instrument Phase 1 project.
Are Seal of Excellence holders (SME instrument or EIC Accelerator).

Activities should aim to increase market coverage of selected solutions. It can be achieved through:

Activities & services that qualify for financial support should aim to increase market coverage of selected solutions.
Specific eligibility criteria: Can provide proof of SoE or successful Step 1 application for EIC Accelerator/ SME Instrument Phase 1 and evaluation feedback.

Digital and deep tech startups that:

Have not applied for EIC Accelerator or SME Instrument.
Have not received more than €500,000 in private or EU, national or other types of grant funding.

Activities & services that qualify for financial support should aim to increase the market readiness of the products or services developed by beneficiaries and their readiness to apply for EIC Accelerator.

Specific eligibility criteria:

Minimum TRL level 4.
Funding: Can provide proof of receiving private or public funding of up to €500,000.

WHY TO APPLY?

The SynergistEIC program brings the following benefits to the selected beneficiaries:

50,000€ sub-grants to be used for reaching their development KPIs.
Access to growth services, mentorship, and event attendance.
Connections with industry companies and organisations.
Support in fundraising process and intros to investors.
Support in understanding the EU funding and public procurement.
General promotion for your startup.

WHERE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

The SynergistEIC application form is available on F6S platform , which is the unique entry point for all application submissions to the 1st Open Call. Applications must be submitted in English (submissions done in any language other than English will not be eligible or evaluated) and before the official deadline: 10th of May 2023, 17:00 (CEST).

Proposers will need to submit two files as their application package:

An application form (annotated template will be provided by the consortium).
A 3-minutes video pitch featuring the founders introducing their product, potential for growth, and results expected from benefiting from the action.

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process will take place through different steps.

STEP 1: ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION. Initial eligibility check made by the consortium. After that check, the consortium will create and validate the ‘Eligible Applicants List’, dividing the applications received by category (EIC-applicant or non-EIC-applicant).
STEP 2: EXTERNAL EVALUATION. The external evaluation will be done remotely by 5 external expert evaluators, selected from a pool of experts. The criteria used will be:
- Excellence
- Impact
- Implementation
- Transversal criteria.
STEP 3: RANKING OF PROPOSALS. At the end of the external remote evaluation process, the scores of a panel of evaluators will be considered to calculate the average score. All proposals will be ranked in lists. The criteria for the ranking of proposals will follow rules.
STEP 4: CONSENSUS MEETING AND FINAL SELECTION. A Selection Committee will decide by consensus and based on the ranking obtained as a result of the External Evaluation, the “Shortlist” for the allocation of financial support.

At the end of the evaluation phase, 15 proposals will be selected. The other proposals that were invited to the Step 2 evaluation will remain in a reserve list in case a selected proposal fails to sign the sub-grant agreement.

USEFUL INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

For further questions and clarifications, you may check and address the following ways:

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
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 discover all the Cascade Funding opportunities we have created a dedicated webpage that maps out all available calls. We invite you to check it out and see what is on offer! We also have a free-subscription newsletter to be up to date with all the calls opening.

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.