“Enhancing transnational research & innovation cooperation in the Danube Region:

Joint EUREKA – Danube-INCO.NET workshop”

11-12 December 2014, Vienna, AustriaFederal Ministry of Science, Research and Economics

Freyung 3, 1010 Vienna, Austria

High-level Representative – Mr. Eli Anavi, Director of SMEs and Innovations Directorate, Ministry of Economy

National Project Coordinator – Mrs. Bogdana Vatashka, Director of Programmes and Projects Directorate, BSMEPA

EUREKA in BULGARIA

EUREKA in BULGARIA

National Funding Body - Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency

National Funding Programme – National Innovation Fund

National Innovation Fund

Main goal

To promote the scientific research and development activity of enterprises and to increase their competitiveness

National Innovation Fund

Scientific research and development projects – focused on

technological development of new products, processes and

services, or on the significant improvement of existing products,

processes or services - industrial research and experimental

development

Maximum grant – 500 000 BGN (EUREKA 1 000 000 BGN)

Duration of the project – from 12 to 36 months

National Innovation Fund

2. Technical Feasibility Studies – explore the possibility for

future realisation of a scientific research and development

project.

Maximum grant – 50 000 BGN

Duration of the project – from 6 to 12 months

NIF doesn’t finance ready to market innovations!

Requirements to the applicants and project proposals

For beneficiaries: Enterprises registered in Bulgaria under the Commercial Law; Research organisations, Universities and Enterprises can participate as Partners.

For projects:The Fund finances projects in all areas except for: - agriculture - fish industry - forestryThe Fund does not finance investment projects – more than 60 % of the costs to be envisaged for purchase of machines/equipment. The maximum intensity of the subsidy – up to 80% of the eligible costs.Relative weight of the evaluation criteria: - innovativeness – 60 % - economic sustainability – 40 %

Eligible Costs

• Personnel costs;• Depreciation Costs of

instruments/equipment/machines;• Costs of subcontractors;• Costs of materials/consumables;• Costs of intellectual property rights – only for

SMEs;• Audit Costs;• Travel costs abroad;

TECHNOLOGICAL PRIORITIES – RIS3

• Mechatronics and Clean technologies;

• ICT;

• Biotechnologies;

• Nanotechnologies;

• Creative industries;

• Pharmacy;

• Food processing industry

DANUBE REGION CALL

• The funding for EUREKA projects is provided upon

application and positive evaluation within open call

for proposals of NIF.

• New procedure envisaged for Danube region call

• Budget for the Danube region call – 2 mln. BGN

(appr. 1 mln. Euro) – still not confirmed

Danube Region Project Example

• Eurostars-Project E!8213 TRIPLE-S MicroscopeAustria, Bulgaria, Switzerland

EXPERIENCE WITH STRUCTURAL FUNDS

Smarter Cluster Policies for South East Europe(ClusterPoliSEE) SEE/C/0008/1.3/X,

financed under the OP SEE

Implementation period: 1.5.2012 – 31.12.2014