The EIT Health Head Start and Proof of
Concept Funding Programme
Publication of call: February 1st 2017
Submission Deadline: March 31st 2017, 16:00
Contact: Palle Hoy Jakobsen, Scandinavian CLC Director & Business Creation Coordinator, CLC Scandinavia,
[email protected], +45 30444818
EIT Health CLC Scandinavia hereby opens The EIT Health Head Start (HS) and
Proof of Concept (PoC) Funding programme for projects that need funding for
the commercialisation of new technologies, products, or services in the EIT
Health space.
1. Purpose of the EIT Health HS/PoC Funding
The purpose of the EIT Health HS/PoC Funding is primarily:
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To support commercialisation projects and startup´s to realise a breakthrough step towards the market
To verify the need/benefit of the product/service for users/customers/payers/partners
To increase the possibility to attract further private investment
2. Funding terms and conditions
Each project can receive a maximum funding of 50 000 €. The funding is a grant with no strings attached.
The EIT Health HS/PoC Funding has to be matched by the same amount of co-funding through:
1.
Existing funding to the project/company from local, regional, or national sources. These could for
example be investments/grants/loans from a TTO or university holding company, or from other
innovation support structures in the local environment.
And/or
2.
In kind/KCA contribution from one or more EIT Health partners. These could be in the form of business
coaches, access to incubator facilities, access to laboratories etc.
The project activities to be funded have to be finished by the 31st of December 2017.
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3. Eligible applicants and projects
The EIT Health HS/PoC Funding Programme is open to:
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Pre-startup commercialisation projects associated with EIT Health Partners
New start-up companies
Very small SMEs (0-10 FTEs)
Additional eligibility criteria are:
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The project or company has to be part of the innovation support system or business development
processes at an EIT Health Scandinavian CLC Core or Associate partner*, including their linked third
parties.
A Contact person at one of the EIT Health Scandinavian CLC Core or Associate partner organisations*
has to be actively involved in the project/company, back the proposed project plan and sign a support
letter to be submitted together with the application.
The project has to be within the scope of the three main challenges in EIT Health – Healthy Living,
Active Ageing, and Improved Healthcare.*
The project owners or company have/has to own and control any intellectual property that is the basis
for the project.
The project has to be at least at TRL 4 – “Technology validation in laboratory”.*
Two types of projects can be proposed:
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“Proof-of-concept” projects = Projects to verify the commercial potential and suitable
commercialisation route, where a company has not yet been incorporated
“Head Start” projects = Projects to verify or develop the commercial potential and get a product or
service closer to the market, where a company has already been incorporated
Proposals not meeting the above eligibility criteria, as checked by the evaluation committee, will be rejected.
*A list of eligible partners, the thematic scope of EIT Health, and an overview of the TRL scale can be found in the
EIT Health HS/PoC Funding FAQ.
4. What the funding can be used for
The funding can be used for all activities that are necessary and relevant to reach the HS/PoC funding project’s
objective. The funding cannot be used for pure research activities.
5. How to apply
The application is submitted via the application form available on: https://eithealth.wufoo.com/forms/2017headstart-and-proof-of-concept/
The Contact person and the project owner should together decide on the appropriate actions and project plan
to make sure that it fits the scope and goals of the EIT Health HS/PoC Funding.
The deadline for submission is: March 31st 2017, 16:00
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6. Selection process and criteria
The proposals will be evaluated by a committee consisting of representatives from EIT Health CLC Scandinavia
and external investors and experts.
Funding decisions are taken within 3 weeks after the submission deadline and the formal decision is
communicated in a decision letter. Specific feedback may be communicated to the applicants and the Contact
person.
The selection criteria are:
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Potential impact on EIT Health priorities and thematic scope*
Business potential
Impact on EIT Health KPIs*
How the EIT Health funding contribution will make a difference for the applicant project/company
Feasibility of the proposed project (goals/activities vs funding/resources)
Proposed projects addressing the following themes from our Public partners in EIT Health will receive priority
among applications with an equal score:
1) Innovation in support of the autonomous citizen independent of health care and the autonomous
patient getting health care at home.
2) Overcoming language barriers and improving understanding in the interaction between primary
health care personal and citizens.
*EIT Health priorities and thematic scope as well as the relevant KPIs can be found in the EIT Health HS/PoC
Funding FAQ document
7. Practical issues
The funding decisions are made by the Scandinavian CLC, but the money will be transferred directly from EIT
Health’s Headquarters (KIC LE) to the Recipient. The Recipient will have to sign a standard project grant
agreement with the KIC LE.
The Recipient has to be a legal entity. If a company has not yet been established for the commercialisation of
the project, the Recipient has to be the EIT Health Partner in which the project is being developed. If so, the
funding has to be clearly directed at a specific project.
The Contact person should follow up continuously to make sure that the project is on track.
A final report using an EIT Health template is required at the end of the project.
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