Avoiding groundwork? Don’t dream you can win SME Instrument!

I am sure you have explored many times who the winners of the SME Instrument are and what are their projects about. Maybe sometimes you also concluded that your solution is from some reason better. Do you wonder how did the winners present their innovation?

For a minute imagine you are an evaluator…

You have a responsible task to perform – to provide an expert opinion whether SME Instrument proposals in front of you should obtain EU grant or not. Decision is important one as it directly influences which idea will get financial injection. Decision will soon reflect in a real world affecting (or not if rejected) certain segments of the international market, industry or society. You are potentially shaping many peoples lives. Tough call right?

When applicants understand that, it becomes quite clear that the project presentation must be clear, concise, convicing. We deliver such presentations when we actually know what we are talking about. It seems so obvious but from the experience gained, when coaching different SME Instrument applicants, it is not allways a common practice.

Foundations of highly competitive project are laid down before you write a single word into the application form

Many applicants are developing their idea by the way, only during project preparation. Usually they have an idea but no solid evidence support its innovation character or business case. Under the pressure of time they gather what they can and result is below expectations.

But the best projects are written almost at the end of the process of project development. I have elaborated the process »10 steps to repeatedly develop highly competitive SME Instrument proposal in short period of time« in details in our previous, very well accepted blog post (almost 3.000 readers and hundreds of process downloads).

Strategic intelligence will help you asses if your idea is appropriate for the SME Instrument

As you know there are several cut of dates set out through the year. Therefore serious applicants plan their efforts for their project development. There is no excuse of »surprise« deadline.

Why wouldn’t you then invest the time to explore and understand the landscape of your proposal? With gathered information you will gain insight where you really are. If idea turns out not to be ready or appropriate, then it is better to pick different idea or a different call. You will save time and money!

You should explore different aspects of your idea. Here are recommendationsfor some of them (assuming you are SME and reached TRL6), which you could reconsider to and do that extra mile which winners make to join to European Champion League.

Aspects of your idea assessment:

  • Market
  • State of the art
  • Industry Competitors
  • Research Competitors
  • Technologies
  • Regulations
  • Standards
  • IP & IPR
  • Potential barriers

 

Only after you will gain relevant information you will understand your baseline and justify the project and its objectives. And most importantly you will be able to plan the best route to achieve maximum impact.

Benefits of this approach go beyond project proposal itself

You should always approach to EU projects as a complimentary action (and funding) to your daily business activities.  As an example: when we were working with the client in the Transport sector we did similar analyses. As a result, not only we could justify the project very clearly. We also noticed that there is a segment within their market, they didn’t think of and that numbers are showing it is a unique opportunity they need to reconsider. They also decided to change the technology they are presenting at specialized international fairs – the one which offers better response to global market needs. They gained anyway, regardless the outcome of the evaluation. It just wouldn’t be possible without the groundwork.

Develop meaningful projects!