FINANCE SECTOR: THE HORIZON 2020 EUROPEAN COMMISSION PROGRAM
Financing problems of the agro-food business can be offset by various European programs, such as H2020, put at its disposal significant financial aid.
Horizon 2020 is the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation of the European Union for the period 2014-2020.
Under three main axes, social, and scientific excellence Industrial leadership, H2020 integrates all knowledge generation and market characteristics productive business processes. Thus, research, technology development, pilot manufacturing lines, social innovation, standardization and commercial development of products and services are the basis on which companies can act in order to receive state aid program, by venture capital and guarantees a robust system of safeguards established by the EU. With a budget of more than EUR 70,000 million over seven years, Horizon 2020 is one of the few areas of the next multiannual EU budget has had a significant increase in resources, 25% more than the previous program framework (7PM ).
The H2020 overall strategic objectives are to create a science of excellence that reinforces the position of the EU in the global scientific landscape by increasing the resources of the European Research Council and supports the training, mobility and skills researchers and business professionals. In addition to developing technologies and applications to improve competitiveness with investments in technology industry (ICT, nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and space industry). Finally, another objective of the research is on the big issues affecting European citizens focused on areas essential to a better life: health, food and agriculture, energy, transportation, climate and raw materials, inclusive societies and security.
They point out the activities for PYMEs can participate in collaborative projects and social challenges and Technology which is targeted funding at least 20% of the budget. The project duration is about 3 years old and the largest budget of 2M€. Companies also have the so-called "instrument PYMEs", by which they can finance from the evaluation of the concept and its feasibility to development, demonstration and market replication, reaching support for the marketing support services for profitable exploitation of results.
H2020 offers optimal conditions for funding, usually cover 100% of the direct costs for all types of entities and 70% for companies working in the phases of innovation; as Indirect costs are 25% of the direct costs.
Due to its characteristics of public interest, the program promotes public-private partnerships, offering great opportunities for companies and researchers, including SMEs for which it has created a specific instrument and new financing options.
Any company, university, research institute or European legal entity that wants to develop an I+D+i whose content matches the lines and priorities set out in any of the objectives of Horizon 2020, may submit proposals to the calls of program, which inition in December 2013, the call this year 2014 still pending.
The Spanish agro-food enterprises, H2020 instrument equipped with a unique opportunity to earn a recesarios funding to meet its objectives of I+D+i strategy. From GÉMINA encourage community professionals to learn about and participate in such programs, which enable companies to increase the Spanish decisively competitive in the European market.
+info:
- Horizon 2020 in Spain: http://www.eshorizonte2020.es/
- EU Horizon 2010: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/
- Horizon 2020 quick guide: http://www.cdti.es/recursos/doc/5811_10111011201320716.pdf