An eco-innovation company, Advanced Sports Installations Europe AS received a 1.6 million grant from Horizon 2020 SME Instrument to finalise the development of unique synthetic grass fields´ recycling solution

Invent Baltics assisted Advanced Sports Installations Europe AS (ASIE) in putting together successful project application for Horizon 2020 SME-Instrument. In cooperation with Invent Baltics, ASIE had previously completed SME-Instrument Phase 1 (50,000 € grant) for conducting comprehensive feasibility study, including freedom-to-operate analysis and market studies. As a result of phase-1 project, ASIE and Invent Baltics created a successful Phase 2 project application for SME-Instrument environment, raw materials and resource efficiency topic, making ASIE one of the few Estonian companies that have acquired such product development grant from European Commission.

The total budget of the project is 2.3 million euros, from which the EU contribution forms 1.6 million. The project duration will be 2-years and several subcontractors will be included in the process.

One of the key subcontractors in this project is Tallinn University of Technology that offers ASIE their competencies in machine building, logistical concept elaboration and materials science. Therefore, this project is a perfect example of successful joint industry-academia cooperation that has been supported by large European grant.

Invent Baltics has helped ASIE in writing and managing successful SME-projects both in Phase 1 and Phase 2. Invent Baltic´s tasks have involved ASIE´s development plan and business idea structuring and focus setting, performing additional market analysis, establishing detailed project work plan, writing highly competitive project proposals, assisting ASIE in grant management processes, performing administrative project management and completing the final reporting for Phase 1 project.

The SME Instrument is a dedicated funding instrument under the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program that supports innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Europe and associated countries. The instrument aims to fill the gaps in funding for research and innovation at early stages and thereby accelerate the exploitation of novel solutions to address key societal challenges or enabling technologies. Applications are expected in various topics and companies can apply for funding individually. Subcontracting is allowed both in Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects.

The SME Instrument Phase 1 funding supports SMEs to cover the funding for initial feasibility assessment and business modelling for the novelty. Phase 2 funding is targeted to SMEs with particular focus on product development, demonstration activities and market replication. The next cut-off dates are at 7th September and 9th November 2016 (Phase 1) and 15th June and 13th October 2016 (Phase 2). Invent Baltics OÜ provides initial consultancy regarding funding opportunities within the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program free of charge.

More info:
Silver Toomla
silver.toomla@invent.ee
+372 51 71 781