EU Funding and Investment for SMEs Made Easier!

All this pitch training will pay off. The EU’s SME Instrument will resemble a venture capital process and promote radical innovation.

On 10 October 2017, the EU’s Executive Agency for SMEs published the draft 2018-2020 Work Programme, announcing a radical overhaul of the SME Instrument process to resemble more of a venture capital process.

Read more about the draft at the European Comission web pages.

Topics are Gone, Business Case is King

Pre-defined topics, as was the case in previous programmes, are removed. This means that entrepreneurs are free from having to fit their projects into one topic. The focus is rather on radical, market-creating innovation and strong business cases.

Less Writing, more Pitching

Application forms are made easier, adapted to standard business practice and language. What is new during Phase 2 is the introduction of face-to-face interviews with top applicants who will be invited to pitch in Brussels. Only the best and most disruptive innovation ideas will cut it. In the course of 2018, GCE Subsea will be organising pitch training for partners.

Access to Investors is Improved

The last and maybe most important change is that the pool of expert evaluators has significantly expanded to include investors.

To find out more, visit EASME's page and contact our EU Advisor, Poppy Kalesi, to discuss your project ideas.