Fast Track to Innovation is the only initiative in Horizon 2020 that is open to proposals in any area of technology or application. It promotes near-to-market innovation activities for mainly industrial consortia and funds the final steps in the development of an innovation, such as piloting, test-beds, validation of business models, standard setting….
The aim is to reduce the time from idea to market, stimulate the participation of first-time applicants for EU research funds and increase private sector investment in research and innovation.
These open-themed business grants are aimed at companies that have the ambition to grow, develop and internationalize through a business project with a European dimension. In this way, this program supports beneficiaries in validating their innovative products, services or business processes that have the potential to revolutionize existing markets or create entirely new markets. The FTI program promotes the development of innovation activities close to the market and led by industry by subsidizing 70% of the budget to companies and 100% to technology centers or universities.
With a budget of 300 million Euros, the program aims to reward those innovation projects developed in collaboration with between three and five entities, with the participation of the industrial sector being mandatory to ensure rapid assimilation by the market. To this end, at least 60% of the budget must be allocated to industrial participants in the consortium.
FTI supports actions that take innovation from the demonstration stage to market uptake:
- piloting
- test benches
- validation of systems in real-world working conditions
- validation of business models
- pre-normative research
standard setting - It is aimed at relatively mature and innovative new technologies, concepts, processes and business models that need final development in order to shape a new market and achieve wider deployment.
Eligible Countries will be Member States of the European Union and associated countries of the Horizon 2020 program.
Scope: Europe
Application deadline: October 27, 2020
Organization: European Commission
Nature: R&D
BENEFICIARY
Between 3 and 5 partners from at least three European countries with a minimum of 2 out of 3 or 3-4 industrial partners out of 5 partners. At least 60% of the total project budget must be dedicated to industrial partners. Actors who play an important role in commercialization (clusters, end-users, industrial associations, incubators, investors and the public sector) are encouraged to participate.
Start-ups with innovative ideas that can create new markets are encouraged to participate. Universities and research and technology organizations may also participate.
TYPE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS
70% for for-profit entities // 100% for non-profit entities
ELIGIBLE COST
All costs directly related to activities such as trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing under real conditions (TRL6 to TRL8).
The budget categories include in addition to personnel costs, travel, consumables, depreciation of equipment, contracting of services, indirect costs (calculated as 25% of the remaining costs, except subcontracting).
The non-refundable aid intensity will be 70% of the approved and justified budget. Non-profit partners receive 100% of eligible costs.