Innovation investments Strand 1 - MANU
European Comission
Objective :
This topic focuses on improving the delivery of new or improved products, processes or services in the manufacturing industry. In the context of advanced manufacturing; knowledge and innovative technologies are used to produce complex products and improve processes to lower waste, pollution, material consumption and energy use. Robotics, 3D and 4D printing, artificial intelligence as well as high performance computing for modelling are important elements in advanced manufacturing.
The present call for proposals under this topic supports interregional innovation investments for the uptake of new or improved manufacturing solutions, as well as for supporting industry to face the challenge of digitalisation and to promote the shift towards a more environmentally sustainable production (zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment).
At least 70% of the grant must be allocated to investments in companies.
If the proposal is related to the topics of digital transition or green transition in the smart manufacturing, then the applicant should submit the proposal under the smart manufacturing topic.
Scope :
Themes and priorities
The present call for proposals under this topic encourages applications in one or a combination of the following intervention areas (a non-exclusive list):
- Demonstration processes, i.e. helping new products to reach the market faster or having more efficient and sustainable processes adopted by the industry.
- Valorisation of research results and practical applications. This might include the active involvement of ecosystems and the co-creation process with stakeholders and end-users.
- Connecting or making complementary use of testing and demonstration facilities at interregional level. In this framework, synergies with circularity hubs are encouraged.
- Improving the use of natural resources and in the reuse of materials, promoting circularity models (de- and remanufacturing) and investments in carbon neutrality. Specific implementation (including funding) strategies can be envisaged, ensuring the participation of all stakeholders (industry, SMEs, local authorities, educational institutions and civil society).
- Implementation of interregional demonstration cases to test and replicate the results.
- Innovation diffusion and involvement of SMEs in EU value chains. Expected Impact :
Short-term
- Deploying new green and digital technologies fostering the growth of Europe’s manufacturing sector
- Innovative technologies adopted by SMEs
Medium-term
- Making the EU industry more efficient and sustainable
- Reinforcing the capacity of regions to co-invest together, joining forces on common S3 investment priorities (interregional investments).
- Innovation diffusion
Long-term
- Reinforcing/reshaping EU value chains whilst increasing the competitiveness of the EU in global markets.
- Unlocking the innovation potential of EU regions/countries.
Conditions
- Admissibility conditions: described in section 5 of the call document
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
- Eligible countries: described in section 6 of the call document
3 . Other eligibility conditions: described in section 6 of the call document
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in section 7 of the call document
Evaluation and award:
Submission and evaluation processes : described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual
- Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: described in section 9 of the call document
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in section 4 of the call document
- Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in section 10 of the call document
Call documents:
Standard application form ([ToA]) — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Letter of Support (MS S3 Endorsement)
Additional documents:
Smart Specialisation Platform (S3)
Commission Decision C(2021) 6152 final - approving the I3 Work Programme
Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 - CPR
Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 - ERDF
EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual