MCST launches new support scheme to help SMEs and other entities obtain European Innovation Council funding for breakthrough ideas

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) today launched a new Horizon support scheme aimed at supporting and increasing the participation of Maltese entities in the European Innovation Programme (EIC) under the Horizon Europe banner, the European Union’s main funding instrument for research and innovation.

The Support Scheme will allow participants to apply for up to €10,000 for the purpose of receiving proposal development support from specialised proposal writers, and business- or pitch-coaching from experienced service providers. This support is intended to help innovative SMEs, or other coordinating entities such as universities, to increase their chances of success.

The EIC is the largest European SME innovation funding instrument, having a €10 billion budget. Its programmes – Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator – cover all technology development stages, from conception to scale-up. To support Maltese applicants’ success in applying for these programmes, MCST has reviewed its EIC Accelerator Support Scheme, widening its scope to cover applicants who wish to apply for Pathfinder and Transition opportunities in earlier technology development levels.

Primarily aimed at SMEs, but also open to other types of entities like universities or research centres, EIC provides grants of up to €3 million, the possibility of accessing up to €15 million equity investment, as well as a range of other business support services. Being a highly competitive fund, MCST’s timely reform of this support scheme will give more Maltese businesses and researchers a better chance in their endeavours to acquire EU funding.

Further information can be obtained by email on eicscheme.mcst@gov.mt

L‑MCST tniedi skema ġdida ta’ appoġġ biex tgħin l‑SMEs u entitajiet oħra jirċievu fondi tal‑Kunsill Ewropew għall‑Innovazzjoni għal ideat rivoluzzjonarji

Il‑Kunsill Malti għax‑Xjenza u t‑Teknoloġija (l‑MCST) illum nieda skema ġdida ta’ sostenn bħala parti mill‑ Horizon Europe Support Schemes bil‑għan li tappoġġja u żżid il‑parteċipazzjoni ta’ entitajiet Maltin fil‑Programm Ewropew tal‑Innovazzjoni (EIC) taħt il‑kappa ta’ Horizon Europe. Il‑Horizon Euriope huwa l‑istrument ewlieni ta’ finanzjament tal‑Unjoni Ewropea għar‑riċerka u l‑innovazzjoni.

L‑iskema ta’ appoġġ se tippermetti lill‑parteċipanti japplikaw sa €10,000 biex jirċievu għajnuna fl‑iżvilupp ta’ proposti minn kittieba ta’ proposti speċjalizzati, u taħriġ kummerċjali jew pitch minn fornituri ta’ servizzi b’esperjenza. Dan is‑sostenn lill‑SMEs innovattivi, jew entitajiet oħra ta’ koordinazzjoni bħall‑universitajiet, qed isir biex iżidu ċ‑ċansijiet tagħhom ta’ suċċess.

B’budget ta’ €10 biljun, l‑EIC huwa l‑akbar strument Ewropew ta’ finanzjament tal‑innovazzjoni għall‑SMEs. Il‑programmi tal‑EIC ‑ Pathfinder, Transition u Accelerator ikopru l‑istadji kollha tal‑iżvilupp tat‑teknoloġija, mill‑bidu nett  sat‑tkabbir. Biex tappoġġja l‑ parteċipazzjoni tal‑applikanti Maltin f’ dawn il‑programmi, l‑MCST irrevediet l‑iskema ta’ appoġġ tal‑ Accelerator tal‑EIC biex twessa’ l‑ambitu tagħha u tkopri applikanti li jixtiequ japplikaw għal opportunitajiet ta’ Pathfinder u Transition f’livelli ta’ żvilupp teknoloġiku preċedenti.

Immirat primarjament għall‑SMEs, iżda wkoll miftuħ għal tipi oħra ta’ entitajiet bħal universitajiet jew ċentri ta’ riċerka, il-Kunsill Ewropew għall-Innovazzjoni se jkun qed jipprovdi għotjiet sa €3 miljun, kif ukoll se tingħata l‑possibbiltà li jaċċessaw sa €15‑il miljun investiment ta’ ekwità, kif ukoll firxa ta’ servizzi oħra ta’ appoġġ għan‑negozju. Minħabba li l-fond tal‑EIC huwa kompetittiv ħafna, ir‑riforma f’waqtha tal‑MCST ta’ din l‑iskema ta’ appoġġ se tippermetti li aktar negozji u riċerkaturi Maltin ikollhom suċċess fl‑isforzi Ewropej tagħhom sabiex jakkwista il‑fondi mill‑Unjoni Ewropea.

Aktar informazzjoni tista’ tinkiseb minn eicscheme.mcst@gov.mt