Don't miss out on all the information on how your SME can benefit from Activa Startups.
The Activa Startups program, promoted by the EOI and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, offers SMEs grants of up to €40,000 to promote digital transformation through collaboration with startups. The main objective is to promote innovation in SMEs and startups, promoting their digitalization and participation in collaborative projects.
Who is Activa Startups aimed at?
The Activa Startups program is aimed at SMEs and startups with the objective of promoting the digital transformation of the company through collaboration and open innovation.
Each SME will pose an innovation challenge that they will have to solve with the help of an emerging company (the maximum age of the startup that solves the problem is 5 years). The solutions will be based on innovation through disruptive technologies.
Both companies and SMEs that request aid must have an operational work center in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.
The following sectors will be excluded from the call:
- Companies operating in the fishing and agriculture sectors
- Companies engaged in the primary production of agricultural products
What is the deadline for applying for aid?
The call for applications opened on June 8 and ends on July 8, 2022.
What is the total budget for the call for grants?
The total budget for the call for Activa Startups Catalonia is 3,400,000 euros, with funding expected for 85 beneficiary SMEs.
What is the type of Activa Startups grants?
The grants are in the form of a grant and cannot exceed €40,000 per beneficiary company. They will be granted to finance the expenses derived from the innovation processes of SMEs with the collaboration of startups.
The actions eligible for funding will be innovation projects in the area of digital transformation, development and incorporation of emerging technologies, transformation towards a low-carbon economy or incorporation of the circular economy into the SME business model.
The types of action may be any of the following:
- Projects for the generation of innovation through the resolution of technological challenges in companies, sectors, cities and/or missions that serve to break social, generational, and territorial divides.
- Advisory actions on innovation in the technological field, with the objective of responding to challenges posed by companies that seek open innovation through solutions based on disruptive technologies.
- Actions aimed at acquiring new knowledge and skills that may be useful for developing new products, processes or services, or make it possible to considerably improve existing ones.
- Demonstration, adaptation and customization of various technologies, tests and experimentation with digital technologies, knowledge and technology transfer, validation tests, concept tests, prototype production, etc.
What public bodies fund the aid?
- European Union through Next Generation EU Funds
- MINETUR: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism
- Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan
- Collaborating: ACCIÓ and the Government of Catalonia
This call for grants is included in the Capabilities for SME Growth Program of component 13 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
What will be the evaluation criteria?
The main evaluation criteria for applications for Activa Startups will be the following:
- Global assessment of the identified challenge and of the proposed resolution through adaptation. Taking into account the level of description and specificity of the challenge posed and the technological and productive capacity of the SME benefiting from the project. (35 points)
- Assessment of the degree of innovation in solving the challenge, its differential value. (30 points)
- Assessment of the human or material resources that will be dedicated to solving the challenge. (30 points)
- Socio-economic and environmental impact assessment. Special emphasis will be placed on measures aimed at gender equality, social inclusion and sustainability. (5 points)
You can find more information about the call in the next link.
