Small Finnish-Russian innovations
Announcement of the collection of proposals for joint projects
in the field of applied research and innovation between Russian and Finnish
small innovative enterprises.
1. Goals and previous experience.The Foundation for Assistance to the Development of Small Forms of Enterprises in the Scientific and Technical Sphere and the Finnish Agency for Financing Technologies and Innovations Tekes announce the beginning of the third collection of proposals for joint projects in the field of applied research and innovation for Russian and Finnish small innovative companies.
Proposals from participants should include the development of new types of products or technologies in all scientific and technical areas, and should demonstrate the innovative component of the proposal, as well as the prospects for commercialization of the product.
The main goal of the initiative is to implement projects with the participation of small enterprises from both countries with the provision of funding for R&D by relevant funding organizations: the Fund for the Promotion of Small Forms of Enterprises in the Scientific and Technical Field (www.fasie.ru ), which will finance Russian small enterprises, and the Finnish Technology and Innovation Financing Agency Tekes (www.tekes .fi), which will finance Finnish small and medium-sized enterprises.
The collection of proposals is carried out within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement signed on January 26, 2011 between the Assistance Fund and Teches.
2. Mandatory requirements for incoming proposals.The expected results of the project should include the development of a new product, technology, mastering the production of the product, as well as strengthening cooperation between the two companies, plans to create a joint venture, access to new markets for both companies.
The following mandatory conditions must be taken into account in the proposals:
a) the proposal must be submitted with the mandatory participation of at least two partners: one Russian small enterprise and one Finnish small/medium-sized enterprise. The participation of other organizations, such as Universities or research institutes, is possible and welcome, but only as additional partners in the consortium (the main applicant should be a small enterprise). Funds allocated by financing organizations may be transferred to these organizations only under subcontracting agreements in accordance with the internal financing rules of each of the parties.
b) requirements for Russian small enterprises: in accordance with the legislation regulating the activities of small businesses.
c) requirements for Finnish enterprises: the consolidated number of employees should not exceed 250 people, the annual turnover of the company should not exceed 50 million euros, and/or the annual balance sheet should not exceed 43 million euros. Enterprises with more than 250 employees, but who are interested in a joint project with a Russian participant, should contact the program coordinator from the Finnish side.
d) the project should demonstrate the visible benefits arising from the cooperation of small companies of the two countries, the commercial benefits of its implementation, access to research infrastructure, etc.
e) the proposal must demonstrate a tangible contribution from each participant to the implementation of the project (the execution of work on the project should be distributed among the participants).
f) proposals for joint projects should take into account that financing for them can be started no earlier than June 1, 2013. The duration of the work should be from 18 to 24 months.
3. Collecting proposals from participants.The consortia of applicants who meet the formal requirements specified in paragraph 2 (a-e) must submit their joint proposals to the Fund for the Promotion of Small Forms of Enterprises in the Scientific and Technical Field and the Finnish Agency for Technology and Innovation Financing Tekes as follows:
– Russian applicants must submit Form A and Form B in Russian in electronic form to their program coordinator (see paragraph 5).
– Finnish applicants must fill out an electronic form on the Tekes website, as well as submit Form B in Finnish in electronic form to their program coordinator (see p 5).
Only those joint proposals for joint projects that have been received by both the Assistance Fund and Tekes will be considered. Proposals from participants who have not provided all the forms or in an incomplete set will not be considered. All received proposals will be considered and evaluated by the joint council of experts of Tekes and the Assistance Fund.
The beginning of the collection of proposals: November 9, 2012.
Deadline for submitting proposals: January 15, 2013
Decision on project financing made by financing organizations: April 15, 2013.
Start of project financing: June 2013.
4. The procedure for financing projects.Projects approved by the expert council can expect to receive funding in the following order: Russian companies can expect to allocate no more than 6 million rubles for the project (from the Assistance Fund), provided that the financing of the work will be carried out on a parity basis (R&D at the expense of the Fund, the rest necessary for creation of a product, work – at the expense of the applicant); Finnish companies can apply to cover 50% of the project costs in an amount not exceeding 200,000 Euros (which will be allocated by Tekes).
The financing of projects in each country will be carried out in accordance with the rules and procedures of each funding organization.
5. Program coordinators.Information for Finnish participants:
Tekes: Sari Federley, tel: 358 400 359 222, e-mail: sari.federley@tekes.fiInformation for Russian participants:
Assistance Fund: Olga Levchenko, tel: 7 495 231 3851, e-mail: levchenko@fasie.ruPortal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru