Open Call for Open Innovation and Creativity OIC 3 – Business for Community

STARHAUS is an innovative project funded under the Horizon Europe programme, building upon the successes of the previous DIY4U initiative. STARHAUS aims to advance manufacturing capabilities through the development, testing, and validation of eight innovative hardware module prototypes. These prototypes will enhance existing Manufacturing Demonstration  Facilities (MDFs) established in the DIY4U project, facilitating the production of personalized  fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) in the areas of pet food, fertilizers, beverages, and breakfast cereals.

The project aims to attract third parties, i.e., SMEs, which can contribute by providing additional tools, services, applications, ideas or devices, as well as by proposing strategies to enhance the acceptance of the project solutions in the target communities, municipalities and following an EU-wide adoption.

This final Open Call under the EU-funded STARHAUS project is your opportunity to contribute to shaping scalable business models and market integration plans for STARHAUS solutions.

Objectives

• OIC#3 | Business for Community:
  • Brainstorming and prototyping to create tangible results and methods for presenting the concept and project outcomes to local communities.

Funding Information

• Total allocated budget: EUR 100,000 (max 50,000 per beneficiary).

Eligible Activities

• Activities to be funded within the 3rd Open Call include:
  • Business Model and Market Integration: Formulate a viable business model for STARHAUS, outlining plans for market entry, distribution channels, pricing, and promotional strategies, and construct a commercialization roadmap with scalability options for various contexts.
  • Engagement and Communication Tools: Design engaging tools (e.g., infographics, visual presentations) that clearly convey the environmental and social benefits of STARHAUS to target communities, enhancing public understanding and adoption.
  • Market and Community Analysis: Gather community insights through surveys and interviews and conduct a techno-economic analysis to identify expansion opportunities beyond the initial use-cases and adapt to community needs.

What they’re looking for?

• Clear, innovative strategies for commercialization and community engagement
• Scalability and adaptability of the technology across different contexts
• An ability to articulate environmental and societal benefits

Eligibility Criteria 

• The first eligibility screening process will access the following:
  • Applicant entities must be registered in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries.
  • Applications made by organisations that are not SMEs are NOT eligible.
  • Applications need to be submitted by the deadline of the call. Late application will not be admitted.
  • Applications must be submitted in English. Applications submitted in any other language will not be eligible.
  • Duration of the proposed Experiments is limited to a minimum of six (6) months and a maximum of ten (10) months. Applications proposing Experiments with duration outside these limits are NOT eligible.
  • Entities from the STARHAUS consortium are NOT eligible.
• The STARHAUS Open Call #OIC3 | Business for Community (OC3-STARHAUS 2024) will fund projects implemented by one (1) legal entity or consortia of a minimum  of 2 legal entities that are considered eligible under Horizon Europe rules. The  following type of entities are invited to submit their innovative research or application ideas:
  • Private-for-profit start-ups and SMEs established in an eligible country. A beneficiary is qualified as an SME as defined in the EU recommendation 2003/3614.
  • The following additional conditions apply:
    • The participating organisations should not have been declared bankrupt or have initiated bankruptcy procedures.
    • The organisations applying should not have convictions for fraudulent behaviour, other financial irregularities, and unethical or illegal business practices.
    • There should not be any conflict of interest with any of the STARHAUS partners (beneficiaries).
• Entities established in any of the following countries are eligible to participate in the STARHAUS  Open Call #OIC3 | Business for Community (OC3-STARHAUS-2024):
  • The Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU), including their outermost regions.
  • Horizon Europe associated countries: according to the updated list published by the EC.

For more information, visit European Union.