EPICENTRE 1st Call for proposals

Data science, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, machine-learning, cybersecurity, digital twin solutions, VR, sensors

SMEs and Startups will be invited to submit a project proposal to solve a set of challenges provided by the Corporates from the Health, Agrifood and Digital-Fintech sectors. The applications selected, will enter the EPICENTRE Acceleration program and enrol in the EPICENTRE Academy.

The EPICENTRE Acceleration Program is a 3-step funnel acceleration programme divided in the LAUNCH, SUSTAIN and DRIVE phases :

– LAUNCH (4 months, EUR 1.400 of financial support)
Up to 50 SMEs-projects will receive support via mentoring, coaching and training on how to work with Corporates, to prepare a video pitch presenting their value proposition.
Activities: EPICENTRE Academy Bootcamp + 16h mentoring.
Outcome: D1- Video pitch with value offer to the Corporates.

– SUSTAIN (9 months, EUR 31.000 of financial support)
Up to 25 SMEs-projects will receive support via mentoring, coaching and training to fine-tune the technical requirements and to develop a minimum viable product which serves to (i) verify some key functional aspects of the intended solution, (ii) demonstrate the technical feasibility of the proposed solution, (iii) provide technical solutions for all critical functionalities.
Activities: Up to 32 hours of mentoring and coaching; the EPICENTRE Gala.
Outcome: D2 – “Strategic and Technical development Plan of the prototype”
D3 – “Prototype ready to test with Corporates”

-DRIVE (5 months, EUR 10.000 of financial support)
Up to 3 projects will receive support via mentoring, coaching and training to develop testbeds with Corporates, to continue evolving their products/ services in a real corporate environment and to explore opportunities for long-term partnerships with big industrial players.
Activities: due-diligence sessions (4 session of 2 hours); Investment readiness training workshop to raise additional external finance beyond EPICENTRE (Up to 8 hours)
Outcome: D4 – Product Market Fit Assessment”.

Each phase looks forward to advancing SMEs projects to achieve at least TRL 8, in collaboration with Corporates and by enhancing their hard and soft skills and competences, with an innovation and entrepreneurship approach.

Eligibility requirements :

– Be legally established in an EU Member States or in countries associated to the Single Market Programme (as of today: Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein); or in Ukraine, when established in territories that are under the effective control of the Ukrainian authorities at the submission deadline.

– Belong to the value chain of the Health, Agri-food, Digital- ICT and Fintech sectors.

– Be a SME (including startup) according to the EU definition.

Proposals can be submitted individually or jointly by 2-3 SMEs maximum. Only one proposal per SME can be selected for funding. Applicants must complete the online form. [https://epicentre.idconsortium.com/]