Support for the Ukrainian tech SMEs and startups

The proposed action is expected to support the Ukrainian tech SMEs and start-ups and SMEs to enable them to better attract private investments, deploy innovations on the market, and scale up. The activities funded should be for civilian applications only.

The requested grant is expected to be used for:

• addressing investors and test/validate the market readiness towards commercialisation and deployment (market research, value proposition, business case and business model, prospects for growth, intellectual property protection, competitor analysis etc.) and if relevant, aspects of regulation, certification and standardisation, aimed at getting both the technology and the business idea investment ready; and/or;
• the maturation and validation of novel technologies beyond proof of concept to viable demonstrators of the technology in the intended field of application (i.e. from minimum TRL 4 to at least TRL 6-7).

At the end of the project, beneficiaries should:

• demonstrate that the technology component of their innovation has been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment (at least all aspects of TRL 5 completed, preferably higher);
• be ready to apply for EIC Accelerator and/or to seek other investors or sources of funding to enter licensing or collaboration agreements with third parties, or other routes to market deployment;
• benefit from increased global visibility and access to funding and European and global markets.

Successful applicants will be granted free access to the EIC Business Acceleration Services, such as coaching and specific events tailored to their needs (e.g. for improving their attractiveness towards investor and market readiness).

Successful applicants will also be eligible for the Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator, which provides access to larger grants and EIC Fund investments.

This action focuses on deep-tech startups which 1) have high-impact innovation technology, product, service, or business model that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones, and 2) have the ambition and commitments to scale up.

The successful applicants are expected to work on the deep-tech innovation within the abovementioned priority areas. Such companies often struggle to attract financing because the technology and investment risks are too high.

This topic is designed to enable promising deep-tech startups to develop further their innovations from at least TRL 4 (technology fully validated in a lab) and attract the investment amounts needed for scale up in a shorter timeframe.

The applicants are expected to demonstrate in their application that they:

• have developed technology validated in the lab level (at least all aspects of TRL 4 completed)
• have the potential to reach application and market in period of 2-3 years;
• possess the necessary Intellectual Property Rights to ensure freedom to operate and adequate protection of the idea;
• have a clear vision on the intended pathway and route to market. This includes specific milestones together with concrete and verifiable KPIs to assess progress towards the market.

Applications from women-led companies are encouraged.

If relevant, for those applicant companies that are currently located in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, a clear intention to relocate back the company to Ukraine whenever feasible is expected.