Call for Applications: Provision of Innovation Vouchers

Innovation vouchers are aimed at supporting the cooperation of companies that are interested in increasing their competitiveness through digitization or innovation of their products, services and processes, in cooperation with research institutions, universities, private providers of research and development services and municipalities. The aim is to mobilize the participation of the private sector in research, development and innovation and to increase the share of innovative enterprises, but also to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, technology and innovation and to strengthen cooperation with the business sector.

The scope and content of the services included in the project are defined individually between the beneficiary of the Innovation Voucher and EIT Manufacturing. The support provided is aimed at solving a specific task/problem/requirement of the applicant related to its innovation activities.

EIT Manufacturing delivers the agreed upon services during the project lifetime, including a kick-off workshop, regular monthly mentoring and coaching meetings and a final workshop at the end of the project. Depending on the scope and budget of the project, the frequency and length of the coaching sessions can vary.

Funding Information

• The total possible project budget ranges between 5,000 EUR and 15,000 EUR.

Offerings

The service offering:

• Access to funding options and investment opportunities. Guidance on venture capital funding, facilitation of connections with investors and participation at selected events.
• Identification of partnerships, collaborations, or customers. Evaluation of the strategic fit, technology alignment, and cultural compatibility including introductions and negotiations support.
• Technology transfer. Identification of valuable technologies for licensing or transfer of knowledge including negotiations support.
• Company assessment and market research. Identification of growth opportunities, evaluation of competitive positioning and formulation of strategic plans to achieve the business objectives.
• Market entry strategies. Assessment of regulatory requirements of target market, development of market penetration strategies and evaluation of potential risks.
• Business plan and business model review. Expert coaching on pitch decks, innovative product development, financial planning and investment readiness.
• Expert Training on innovative industry methods and new technologies. Online, in-person or hybrid training solutions to ensure flexibility and accessibility across industries and borders on topics such as Blockchain, Machine Learning, EU Funding and much more.

Who can apply?

• Self-employed individuals or small and medium-sized companies (SME) are eligible to receive funds from Recovery and Resilience Plan in the form of Innovation Vouchers.
• The applicant registers to the Information System of the Recovery Plan (ISPO) of the Slovak Government Office.

For more information, visit Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic.