OP Oost is the abbreviation for the Operational Programme of the European Regional Development Fund in the eastern Netherlands. This is a joint grant programme run by the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland, comprising a number of interesting schemes.
R&D collaboration between two SMEs (MIT)
Two SMEs that carry out joint Research & Development activities are eligible for a grant. The R&D activities must be aimed at developing new or improved products, processes or services. ‘Collaboration’ means that both companies share responsibility for and bear the risk associated with the project. The project must also fall within the Agrofood, Health, High-Tech Systems and Materials, or Energy and Environmental Technology (including bio-based) sectors.
The grant amounts to 35% of the project costs, up to a maximum of €100,000 per applicant within the partnership. All project costs incurred by the SME itself, provided that conclusive evidence can be submitted to show that the costs were incurred for the project, are eligible for the grant. These include, for example, labour costs, overheads, contributions in kind and depreciation costs.
Proposals may be submitted from 15 June 2017 to 7 September 2017 inclusive.
R&D collaboration involving at least one SME
Where the collaboration is not between two SMEs, but between at least one SME and another organisation, it is also possible to be eligible for a grant from OP Oost. Here too, the R&D activities must be aimed at developing new or improved products, processes or services. However, the SME must bear at least 35% of the costs. Once again, the project must fall within the Agrofood, Health, High-Tech Systems and Materials, or Energy and Environmental Technology (including bio-based) sectors. An important condition is that projects in this category must also be linkable to the themes of Smart Industry, Circular Economy or General Innovation.
Smart industry
Smart industry encompasses the intelligent use of manufacturing technologies and ICT with the aim of driving process innovation, product innovation or the renewal of business models. Examples include the “Internet of Things”, big data, robotisation and 3D printing.
Projects on this theme may be submitted from 1 March 2017 to 9 May 2017 inclusive.
Circular economy
In a circular economy, the reuse of products and raw materials is central, and harmful emissions are prevented as far as possible because raw materials remain in the supply chain for longer.
Projects on this theme may be submitted from 15 April 2017 to 20 June 2017 inclusive.
General innovation
Activities under the ‘general innovation’ theme must consist of experimental development or of industrial research combined with experimental development.
A grant must be at least €250,000 and no more than €2,000,000. The grant rate is set at 50 per cent for SMEs or knowledge institutions, and at 40 per cent for other organisations. Once again, project costs for which conclusive evidence can be provided to show that they were incurred for the project are eligible for funding.
If any of the above situations apply to you, please contact your adviser.
This article was produced in collaboration with Major Q. Major Q is a specialist in grant acquisition. You can find more information about Major Q here.
