Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Commercialisation Voucher Programme is a formidable instrument aimed at bridging the existing gap in the R&I framework as well as improving the overall development and commercialization potential of innovative ideas. This Programme acts as a demand side measure, enticing user driven innovation, with an aim to increase research, technological development, and innovation activities, which could eventually be implemented in industry. The Vouchers are primarily intended to assist prospective applicants of the FUSION Technology Development Programme to prepare themselves better in terms of project proposal and validation. In some cases, it may also assist beneficiaries of previous or current R&I Programmes as well as projects funded through the European Programmes. Submission, evaluation, and selection of application will be in the form of a one-stage process in which a legal representative of the applicant will be asked to submit all the necessary information, to enable a decision on acceptance or rejection. The Commercialisation Vouchers are subject to a Scientific Evaluation and priority will be given to the Smart Specialisation Areas. State Aid rules apply.

Interested parties should submit their application form electronically to voucher.mcst@gov.mt with “CVP 2023 Call Application” as a subject. The Application must be dated and signed by the applying entity’s legal representative. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the timely submission of the application within the timeframes provided for in the call. Emails larger than 6MB shall be automatically rejected by the system. File sharing software is limited to WeTransfer or Dropbox.  All received applications shall be acknowledged by email and provided with a reference number.   Additional notes to applicants:

• Altering the parameters of the application template might lead to disqualification. Inputted text should not exceed the printable area of the text boxes.
• Annex I is to be used to include a clear diagrammatic representation of how the project will go beyond the state-of-the-art. Annex I should be stamped or signed by the applicant and scanned together with the application form.
• Annex 2 is to be used to include a reference list with full citations for each item. Annex 2 should be stamped or signed by the applicant and scanned together with the application form.
• Additional information pertaining to guidelines, rules, procedures, and the application form can be found in the documents attached with this call.

Visit the below link to download guidelines and application forms.

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Source of Funding: EIT Food

EIT Food is looking for startups, scale-ups and small or medium size organizations participate in EIT Food “RIS Straight to Market (RIS S2M)” programme.

The RIS Straight to Market is coordinated by EIT Food South and seeks connect retailers with small and medium-sized companies, startups and scale-ups, to bring to mainstream markets and supermarkets food products that are new or highly improved at a nutritional/sustainable level (see definition below).

The goal of the programme is to address EU policy priorities through R&I, and increasing the number of consumers using products developed with the support of EIT Food to personalize or change diet in line with relevant Food-Based Dietary Guidelines for Europe, by bringing to mainstream markets and supermarkets food products that are new or highly improved at a nutritional/sustainable level, in alignment with EIT Food’s Impact Framework regarding new food products

Each selected start-up will work with one retailer to market their new or highly improved food product. A consortium established by one retailer and one start-up will be named “Project” in the below text. Each Project is expected to test and launch in the market at least 1 new food product.

Each startup will receive a maximum net funding of 30.000 EUR to cover the eligible costs of the project.

The strong market-oriented aim of this call will be combined with the engagement with consumers, through co-creation workshops in which their needs and expectations are heard, and feedback on product is given to validate the added value in terms of nutritional improvement for consumers.

Click on the below link to download guidelines and additional documentation.

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Source of Funding: Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Created in 1992, it has co-financed thousands of projects. The LIFE programme 2021-2027 is managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), has a budget of €5.4 billion and is divided into four sub-programmes:

• Nature and biodiversity
• Circular economy and quality of life
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Clean energy transition 

An online information shession will be held on 1st June 2023, visit the below link to read further.

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Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Technology Extension Support Programme will form part of FUSION, the National Funding Programme, administered by the R&I Unit at MCST. The Technology Extension Support Programme will incentivise industry to seek technical support from Higher Education Institutes (HEI), to ensure incremental product or process improvement. This programme aims to accelerate the application of technological innovation to the industry, in a low-risk environment. This support measure is designed to incorporate R&I at all stages of product or process development and support collaborations between private and public entities. Maltese private entities can benefit from up to €40,000 per project of 15-months. Get in touch by contacting us on rtdi.mcst@gov.mt keeping abigail.aquilina@gov.mt in copy further information or assistance.

Visit the below link to acess the call specifications.

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Source of Funding: X2.0 Driving Deeptech Growth Project - EU Funded

SMEs, startups, and scaleups in the AgriTech sector encouraged to apply and receive €30K

The second Open Call as part of €1.5M total to startups launched last week. With a focus on AgriTech, the X2.0 Project is looking for startups offering innovative and deeptech solutions to advance the agriculture sector. Only 10 selected startups will have the chance to participate in this competitive and customized 5-month program designed to launch, develop, and scale new products, services, processes, and integrated solutions. Each beneficiary will receive€30K in Innovation Vouchers to reach the next level in their advancement with mentoring from more than 100 selected experts – known as Impact Builders (IBs)– providing tailored support and scaling services. The first Open Call in Manufacturing & Circular Economy received a great response, with 76 innovative startups applying.

Do you have a solution to disrupt the Agri-Industry?

The AgriTech Open Call is aimed at startups, scaleups, and SMEs with technologies to improve production and address challenges, especially in the context of climate change. We seek innovative solutions, such as precision farming techniques (e.g., sensors and drones) and advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms, that help farmers make more informed decisions.

Download the official press release or visit the below link for further information.

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Source of Funding: Ministry for the Economy, European Funds and Lands (MEFL) and the University of Malta, supported by the Knowledge Transfer Office, Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation and the TAKEOFF Business Incubator

The TAKEOFF Seed Fund Award is a joint initiative between the Ministry for the Economy, European Funds and Lands (MEFL) and the University of Malta, supported by the Knowledge Transfer Office, Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation and the TAKEOFF Business Incubator.
The new feature of the TAKEOFF Seed Fund Award 2023 cycle is the involvement of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), for the support of research projects in the area of Artificial Intelligence.

A total of €150,000 has been earmarked for distribution between start-ups and academics to enable the next phase towards the commercialisation of their business or research idea. Grants between €2,500 and €25,000 will be awarded to the selected projects.

The will fund two types of initiatives: University of Malta academic staff may apply for ‘Proof of Concept’ funds which will enable a step-change in taking an innovation developed through research at the University closer to being commercialised; entrepreneurs may apply for ‘Seed’ funds which will enable a step-change in taking their independent technology or knowledge-based start-up closer to the first customer or investment.

All applicants must attend the relevant online workshop being organised as part of the TAKEOFF Seed Fund Award application process. The workshops will provide an overview of the application process as well as tools for creating a competitive proposal. The final application form will only be accepted if applicants or their representatives register and attend the required TAKEOFF or Knowledge Transfer Office workshop. This will only be waived in extenuating circumstances. Should applicants be unable to attend alternative meetings must be held directly with the Knowledge Transfer Office for POC or TAKEOFF for SF. Both events will be held online and links will be shared with those who register for the respective workshops beforehand. To register for the event, please click here

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Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China would like to announce that the SINO-MALTA Fund 2023 Joint Call for Project Proposals is now open for Malta-based applicants. The SINO-MALTA Fund supports research, development, and innovation projects between Maltese and Chinese researchers.

For the SINO-MALTA 2023 Joint Call, the eligible Thematic Areas are:

1. Health, with a focus on:

• Cancer,
• Cellular therapy,
• Drug development,
• Traditional Chinese Medicine,
• Digital tools to support healthcare.

2. Green and Blue Economy Transitions, with a focus on:

• Renewable energy,
• Sustainable mobility,
• Smart manufacturing,
• Marine and Maritime technologies.

3. Digital technologies,

• Digital technologies may remain general as a theme,
• Digital technologies as a cross-cutting theme may be equally supported.

Proposal Deadline: 27th June, 23:59 CET

The submission process for the 2023 Call will follow a one-stage process that allows for Malta-based applicants to find China-based partners to collaborate and submit a full proposal that describes the state of the art, methodology, implementation, and foreseen outcomes.

Click on the below link to download application forms and guidelines.

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Source of Funding: SuperCharger Ventures

­SuperCharger Ventres' accelerator programme in Malta is catered to a diverse range of founders seeking to:

• Expand their team by 3 to 10 people and consider remote work options from Malta, which can be finacned with up to 75% of their salaries through soft loans.
• Access EU market through local POC and international reference clients and a European presence of 500 million consumers.
• Invest heavily in tech and research, specifically AI and realted fields. Malta offers a wealth of highly skilled students and employees and a fast track for visa applicants for specific industries.
• Raise more than a million euros in funding and access additional non-dilutive funding to supplement their pool of funds.

Read further on this programme on the below link or download their brochure from here.

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Source of Funding: EIT Urban Mobility

At EIT Urban Mobility, our mission is to accelerate change towards a sustainable mobility model for liveable urban spaces. In the current context of climate emergency, our objective is to support our community of innovators to develop solutions that help mitigate and adapt to climate change and, at the same time, are able to improve the quality of life of our cities, create jobs and strengthen the European mobility sector.

To this end, the primary emphasis of our Innovation Programme for 2023-25 is to radically advance commercially viable solutions/services/products that support this mission and those goals.

Since 2020, we have a growing portfolio of projects to support agile and collaborative mobility projects across Europe. We work with innovators in city administrations, research organisations and businesses, to strengthen the urban mobility ecosystem.

The focus of our 2024 Call is on three Challenge Areas: Sustainable City Logistics, Energy and Mobility, and Future Mobility. Whilst addressing these challenges, we seek proposals that tackle the most pressing issues facing public, private or hybrid mass transit providers. Nonetheless, we remain open to excellent proposals from other providers within the urban mobility arena.

In this Call, we align with the aims and objectives of the Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. The EU Mission challenges cities to accelerate their digital, energy and mobility transformations through urban mobility experimentation supporting the race to Net Zero. Moreover, we support active alignment with the European Technology Platform – ALICE in relation to the Sustainable City Logistics challenge area.

Continue reading on the below link.

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Source of Funding: SynergistEIC (EU-funded Project)

SynergistEIC is an EU-funded project that started in January 2023 with an overall budget of €1,986M to help European deep tech startups, scaleups and SMEs from the GreenTech sector to scale in the EU and globally. Throughout its 2-year duration SynergistEIC will hold 2 Open Calls selecting and supporting 30 companies, providing them with a combination of financial support, advisory services, and connections with the broader innovation ecosystem.

Up to € 50,000 per startup will be distributed in Open Call 1. The first Open Call will provide grants to 15 startups (5 EIC-applicants and 10 non-EIC applicant companies) along with a 6-months tailored support which includes a 3-month acceleration programme to increase scalability, as well as series of workshops on EU funding and procurement topics, and networking opportunities with EU innovation ecosystem players.

Who can apply?

SynergistEIC welcomes applications from deeptech startups developing innovative solutions addressing ClimateTech, CleanTech, Circular economy and AgriFood challenges with a preference on certain technological focus (notably using AI, Machine learning and language processing, Big Data, Advanced Computing, Bioengineering, Next Generation Internet, Blockchain, IoT).

Application deadline: 14th of June 2023, 17:00 CET!
Companies can apply on the F6S platform SynergistEIC Open Call 1.

What do companies get? 

15 GreenTech companies will be selected in the first SynergistEIC Open Call to receive up to €50k grant to refine their technology, engage with users, and improve commercial metrics. Also, they will be enrolled in a 6-month tailored support programme addressing the startup’s needs and challenges.

What are the other programme benefits that the companies get:

• Connections to peer-companies, investors, national and European innovation ecosystem actors.
• Boost scalability and business performance.
• Increase of market coverage or market readiness of developed products. .
• Raise companies’ awareness of EU funding and procurement opportunities.
• Wide promotion & visibility.

How does it work?

The Open Call process is composed of different phases:

• Phase 1: Application submission 
• Phase 2: Admissibility & eligibility check
• Phase 3: Proposals evaluation

• Phase 4: Tailored Growth programme begins with selected companies.

The evaluation will be performed by external evaluators (external experts with expertise and experience corresponding to the open call topic). Detailed information on the evaluation process could be also found in the Guide for applicants available on the SynergistEIC webpage. 

Selection criteria: 

• Companies that have applied or are interested in applying for EIC Accelerator
• Seal of Excellence (SoE) holders (for EIC-applicants) or 
• Minimum TRL4 level companies that have received funding up to 500k Euro (for non-EIC applicants)
• Female Entrepreneurs and / or with women in high management positions (C-level)
• Companies coming from the EU member states or Associated Countries with preference given to companies from Widening Countries. 

Additional information: 

Detailed information would be provided to candidate applicants on a dedicated SynergistEIC Open Call Info Webinar which will take place on 17 May 2023, 15:00 - 16:00 CET. Register here.

Answers to the most common questions related to the SynergistEIC Open Call 1 are provided in the FAQ section of our website, as well. 

Applicants are also welcome to ask their questions also by contacting us via email at info@synergisteic.eu 

Official press release and flyer:

SynergistEIC_Press release.pdf

SynergistEIC_Press release.pdf

Flyer SynergistEIC.pdf

Flyer SynergistEIC.pdf

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