UK and Israel call for innovative R&D projects

This call invites consortia to apply high quality R&D projects within all technology fields.

• 21 May 2024: Call opens.
• 30 October 2024: Deadline for Eureka application and national applications in Israel and UK.
• November 2024: Eligibility feedback to applicants
• November 2024 – January 2025: National evaluation
• December 2024 – March 2025: Eureka label procedure and funding decision
• December 2024 – March 2025: Project starts.
• Up to 24 months: Project duration

Expected project results will have to contribute to the development of commercial products, applications and / or technology-based services. The project proposals have to comply with the following guidelines:

• The partners should include at least one Israeli and one UK commercial company (though participation of research institutes/universities is welcome as additional participants or subcontractors according to each country’s funding regulations).
• Companies and/or academia from other countries may also participate. These partners’ participation follows Eureka participation and financing rules and procedures and the funding regulations of these partners’ countries of origin.
• The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants from the two countries (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure, new fields of application, etc.).
• The project should demonstrate the contribution of the participants from both countries

Any partner whose cooperative R&D project is consistent with the aforesaid criteria can apply to the present announcement in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures in effect.

UK

Funding from Innovate UK will not exceed 70% if you are a micro or small business,  up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business  & up to 50% if you are a large business of the eligible and approved costs of the R&D.  For industrial research projects, you could get funding for your eligible project costs of in the form of a conditional grant and in accordance with normal Innovate UK T&C’s.  The projects are expected to last no more than 2 years. We expect grants to be typically in the region of £200- £250 K.

Israel

An Israeli R&D performing company which initiates a single or multi-year program that will provide know-how, processes or methods for the manufacture of a new product, application, technology-based service or process is eligible to apply. The product must have a sizeable potential for export sales. Research institutes or other participants may apply as a subcontractor to a company. The support is in the form of a conditional grant amounting generally up to 50% (+ regional incentives for companies located in “development zone “) of the eligible R&D budget. Further details regarding grants and payment of royalties are available at the Innovation Authority web site: https://innovationisrael.org.il/

If there is no allocated budget for your organisation type in your country and you want to participate in a project consortium, contact your national funding body using the form below to see whether there are other funding opportunities available or talk to them about self-funding.

Eureka has limited eligibility criteria for organisations participating in a Network projects consortium:

• Your project idea must represent international cooperation in the form of a specific project.
• The project must be directed at researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation.
• The project must have a civilian purpose.
• Your consortium must include at least two independent legal entities from a minimum of two Eureka countries.
• No single organisation or country can be responsible for more than 70% of the project budget.

Each participating national funding body may have additional eligibility criteria based on their national regulations. You are strongly advised, before submitting your application, to contact your national funding body to discuss your project idea and verify your and your project’s eligibility.

Your project application will be reviewed according to our Network projects evaluation methodology.

1. Impact

• Is the market properly addressed (i.e. size, access and risks)?
• Is the value creation properly addressed (i.e. employment opportunities and environmental and societal benefits)?
• What are the competitive advantages of your project (i.e. strategic importance, enhanced capabilities and visibility)?
• Are your commercialisation plans clear and realistic (i.e. return on investment, geographical and sectoral impact)?

2. Excellence

• What is the degree of innovation? (i.e. is the proposed product, process or service state-of-the-art? Is there sufficient technological maturity and risk)?
• How is the new knowledge going to be used?
• Is your project scientifically and technically challenging for consortium partners?
• Is the technical achievability and risk properly addressed?

3. Quality and efficiency of implementation

• What is the quality of your consortium (i.e. balance of the partnership and technological, managerial and financial capabilities of each partner)?
• Is there added value through international cooperation?
• Is your project management and planning realistic and clearly defined (i.e. methodology, planning approach, milestones and deliverables)?
• Is your cost structure reasonable (i.e. costs and financial commitment for each consortium partner)?

4. Overall perception

Experts will list three positive and negative points to your application and finally state whether they recommend your project for public investment.

Your national funding body may carry out a further evaluation (performed by the national project coordinator and technical experts) according to national rules before allocating funds to successful applicants (see section “Funding conditions and rules per national funding body” for detailed information).

1. Contact your national funding body using the contact form on Eureka’s website to discuss your project idea, financial viability, eligibility and national procedures.
2. Create an account on our application portal (one per consortium) https://eureka.smartsimple.ie/s_Login.jsp and select the funding opportunity you want to apply to.
3. Using the portal, complete one application form per consortium (in English) and invite other consortium partners to fill in a partner form.
4. Your project application must be completed online by 30 October 2024 17:00 CET.
5. Upload a GANTT chart (one per consortium), a signed and completed co-signature form (which you can download from the platform) and any additional required annexes.
6. Your application will be checked for completeness and eligibility before being reviewed using a standard evaluation procedure. If successful, your project will receive a Eureka label.
7. If required by your national funding body, you must submit a related national funding application – taking into account all relevant national procedures and submission rules. Submission deadlines might differ between the participating national funding bodies.
8. Your national funding body may carry out a further evaluation (performed by the National Project Coordinator and technical experts) according to national rules before allocating funds to successful applicants.
9. The final step is to complete and sign a consortium agreement (CA). We recommend that you seek legal advice when drafting your CA.

Applicants are invited to contact the officers from the National Authorities (see contact details at the end of the text) before submitting the documents.

The simple online Eureka application form (https://eureka.smartsimple.ie/) must be submitted by 30th of October 2024, 17:00 (CEST).

The forms must be legally signed by all participating companies. The signatures must be scanned and sent together with the form as an integral part of the application. The forms must be filled in English, signed by both project partners, and sent to the program managers.

A collaboration agreement signed by the legal representatives of all participants is also required after grant award. The collaboration agreement should include details on data and IP sharing within the consortium.

Following submission to the Eureka Secretariat, applications will be checked for eligibility by the Eureka National Project Coordinators. In addition to the application form submission to Eureka, UK applicants should register with Innovate UK. A copy of the Eureka application should be uploaded with additional supporting documentation. IIA may also require additional supporting documentation. Please refer to the relevant national guidance below for full details

In addition, applicants will have to submit their applications according to the procedures of each National Authority:

• In the UK the participants will submit an application through Innovate UK’s website:
• In Israel, the Israeli partner is required to submit the National Application Form in accordance with the Israel Innovation Authority regulations, through an online system https://innovationisrael.org.il/international/rnd

Deadline for submission to Innovation Authority and InnovateUK : October 30, 2024 till 12:00.

UK and Israel call for innovative R&D projects

Apply