Apply for vouchers
In S3FOOD, SMEs (food processing SMEs or technology providing SMEs) can apply for funding up to € 60,000. Depending on the theme and the development stage you are at, you can apply for different vouchers. But don’t worry – we will guide you to the right voucher.
Please see the FAQ to check if you comply with the eligibility criteria before applying.
Closed
Deadline:
10 March 2021 @17.00 CET
€ 15,000
per SME
1st stage engagement for testing and analysis for future development (analysis, technical feasibility etc.)
Duration:
Max. 4 months
Participants:
At least 1 SME mandatory involvement of external expertise
Closed
Deadline:
10 March 2021 @17.00 CET
€ 120,000
per project
Validation of a digital solution in relevant environment related to a selected challenge of the food sector
Duration:
Max. 12 months
Participants:
Minimum 2 SMEs or minimum 1 SME with involvement of RTOs, living labs, universities, bigger companies, etc.
Closed
Deadline:
10 March 2021 @17.00 CET
€ 180,000
per project
Implementation of new digital solutions in real environment on site of the food company
Duration:
Max. 12 months
Participants:
At least 2 SMEs with involvement of a company from the food value chain
S3FOOD supports projects within these four themes
To apply for a financial support in S3FOOD your idea should fit into, at least one of the 4 thematic prirorities below.
FAQ
Applicants must be either member of one of the clusters in the S3Food consortium, established or with a branch office in the S3FOOD territorial scope.
Belgium, Denmark, France (Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur and Bretagne), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain (Principado de Asturias, La Comunidad Foral de Navarra and Galicia).
The SME Applicants must comply with the following EU definition of an SME.
| Category | Staff count | Turnover | or | Balance sheet total | |
| Medium-sized | < 250 | ≤ € 50 m | ≤ € 43 m | ||
| Small | < 50 | ≤ € 10 m | ≤ € 10 m | ||
| Micro | < 10 | ≤ € 2 m | ≤ € 2 m | ||
Furthermore, the SME need to be active in one of the following categories:
- Food production and processing chain;
- Digital solution providers (sensor producers, system integrators, ICT solutions, etc.);
- Process technology providers (machinery, packaging, etc.)
An SME can submit an application to any of the cut-off dates or request multiple travel vouchers without exceeding the ceiling of 60k€ in total.
An SME can apply together with other innovation actors (universities, research centres, public authorities, living labs, large companies, etc.) for vouchers in a single application. The 60k€ limit includes the costs of participation of the innovation actors they bring in their application.
TRL level indicates the technology readiness level. You can find an article explaining the different TRL levels including specific examples here. An article will be made to guide SME’s to understand the TRL levels.
Referring to Annex G of the General Annexes to the Work Programme 2018 – 2020
TRL 1 – basic principles observed
TRL 2 – technology concept formulated
TRL 3 – experimental proof of concept
TRL 4 – technology validated in lab
TRL 5 – technology validated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
TRL 6 – technology demonstrated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
TRL 7 – system prototype demonstration in operational environment
TRL 8 – system complete and qualified
TRL 9 – actual system proven in operational environment (competitive manufacturing in the case of key enabling technologies; or in space)
For applicants it is important to target TRL levels as described in the different voucher types. TRL levels will be part of the evaluation process.
The maximum amount to be granted per SME shall not exceed €60.000,00 in total.
SMEs applying as a consortium will benefit from vouchers up to €60k each and NOT up to €60k in total per project.
An SME can submit an application to any of the cut-off dates or request multiple travel vouchers without exceeding the ceiling of €60k in total.
An SME can apply together with other innovation actors (universities, research centres, public authorities, living labs, large companies, etc.) for vouchers in a single application. The 60k€ limit includes the costs of participation of the innovation actors they bring in their application.
Successful proposals shall receive the requested financial contribution in the form of a lump sum.
A lump sum is a fixed amount of money that the beneficiaries will receive for the implementation of their project without foreseeing the delivery of a detailed financial reporting and timesheets. However, it is necessary to provide an explanation in the application on how the lump sum will be used including a clear budget proposal (personnel, subcontracting, travels, equipment and consumables). The use of the project budget will be controlled considering the technical advancements by the technical reviewers. The final technical evaluation will assess the coherence of the spent money with the achieved results.
Please refer to Section 3.2.1 of the Terms and Conditions Guide of Applicants.
Successful proposals shall receive the requested financial contribution in the form of a lump sum.
A lump sum is a fixed amount of money that the beneficiaries will receive for the implementation of their project without foreseeing the delivery of a detailed financial reporting and timesheets. However, it is necessary to provide an explanation in the application on how the lump sum will be used including a clear budget proposal (personnel, subcontracting, travels, equipment and consumables)
The following rules apply for SMEs that want to apply for a voucher:
To receive funding, applicants must be either member of one of the clusters in the S3FOOD consortium or established or with a branch office in the S3FOOD territorial scope; Belgium, Denmark, France (Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur and Bretagne), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain (Principado de Asturias, La Comunidad Foral de Navarra and Galicia).
The SME applicants must comply with the following EU definition of an SME and need to be active in one of the following categories:
a. Food production and processing chain;
b. Digital solution providers (sensor producers, system integrators, ICT solutions, etc.); c. Process technology providers (machinery, packaging, etc.)
. The use of the project budget will be controlled considering the technical advancements by the technical reviewers. The final technical evaluation will assess the coherence of the spent money with the achieved results.
Please refer to Section 3.2.1 of the Terms and Conditions Guide of Applicants.
You can apply as a consortium but funding will be on SME level – meaning that each eligible SME will be paid directly and as such only the SME that fulfils all eligibility criteria will receive funding.
Members of the consortium that are not SME and that do not meet the criteria “member” or “territorial scope” can still participate in the consortium. Their contributions to the project will not be funded, but can be subcontracted if needed.
reporting and timesheets. However, it is necessary to provide an explanation in the application on how the lump sum will be used including a clear budget proposal (personnel, subcontracting, travels, equipment and consumables)
The following rules apply for SMEs that want to apply for a voucher:
To receive funding, applicants must be either member of one of the clusters in the S3FOOD consortium or established or with a branch office in the S3FOOD territorial scope; Belgium, Denmark, France (Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur and Bretagne), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain (Principado de Asturias, La Comunidad Foral de Navarra and Galicia).
The SME applicants must comply with the following EU definition of an SME and need to be active in one of the following categories:
a. Food production and processing chain;
b. Digital solution providers (sensor producers, system integrators, ICT solutions, etc.); c. Process technology providers (machinery, packaging, etc.)
. The use of the project budget will be controlled considering the technical advancements by the technical reviewers. The final technical evaluation will assess the coherence of the spent money with the achieved results.
Please refer to Section 3.2.1 of the Terms and Conditions Guide of Applicants.
There is no limitation in the number of innovation actors participating in an application; however, only SMEs are eligible for a voucher.
In the case of exploration voucher is clear (1 SME and minimum 50% for external expertise). But in other cases the criteria are different:
– Validation voucher: 2 SMEs or 1 SME with external expertise. In the last case, could we apply as a partner and not as a subcontractor?
– Application voucher: Only contemplates SMEs, a technology centre couldn’t apply with an SME, could they?
For subcontractors, what percentage is the maximum eligible for each case?
Only SMEs are eligible to apply for S3FOOD vouchers. A technology centre can participate only as external expert, namely subcontractor. Regarding maximum allowed percentages in budget distribution, please consult the Annexes 3, 4 and 5 of the Terms and Conditions Guide of Applicants.
1 consortium, 2 SMEs. The SME leader is member of a S3FOOD cluster and the SME partner is not (and it is not even established or with a branch office in the S3FOOD territorial scope). Will this condition satisfy the eligibility conditions? Or both SMEs have to follow the requirements?
Only SMEs that are established within the territorial scope of S3FOOD or member of one of the cluster partners are eligible for funding. The project consortium can be comprised of additional partners (larger companies, SMEs from outside the regional scope, etc.) but they will not be eligible for funding.
For instance, two SMEs, applying for a validation voucher, can as a project consortium receive up to 120,000.00 € if both of them are eligible. If only one of them meets all the eligibility criteria, this amount will be reduced to max 60,000.00 €.
Yes it is, but only depreciation costs for equipment that is relevant for the success of the project and only for the real time used in the project lifetime.
S3FOOD project only grants SMEs. SMEs are allowed to use the grant they receive to subcontract others, like universities.
Yes, supporting new innovative companies without any audited accounts yet is in line with the project’s aim.
The categories of costs that are covered by each voucher cannot be changed. Should the applicant need to execute other costs it would have to finance them with costs not coming from the S3FOOD voucher.
Minimum 2 SMEs OR minimum 1 SME with mandatory involvement of engaging RTOs, living labs, universities, bigger companies etc.
t is not forbidden to submit a new application, unless the company has already been funded by S3FOOD with 60,000.00 € (which is the maximum amount a SME can receive).
t is not forbidden to submit a new application, unless the company has already been funded by S3FOOD with 60,000.00 € (which is the maximum amount a SME can receive).
Only costs generated during the lifetime of the project can be eligible. Period of costs’ eligibility is from the sub-grant agreement signature date until the end of the project. So, project expenses cannot be incurred before the official project starting date.
No. Only costs generated during the lifetime of the project can be eligible. Period of costs’ eligibility is from the sub-grant agreement signature date until the end of the project. So, project expenses cannot be incurred before the official project starting date.
Please refer to the respective section of the Model Grant Agreement for H2020 funded projects (page 47 here).
No, the voucher does not cover VAT.
Yes, it is possible but in case of equal scoring during the evaluation, the project addressing cross- border collaboration will be ranked higher.
No, it is not mandatory. Yet in case of same scores for different applications, the cross-border collaboration will be considered an added-value.
No, there will be no consortium agreement template, beneficiaries are allowed to choose the consortium agreement that they wish.
Applications have to comply with rules set out in the Terms & Conditions Guide of Applicants. This includes a clear relation to the challenges of food sector & thematic priorities.
I have a question about the”Depreciation cost” signification about equipment in the voucher schemes.
My understanding: The voucher scheme is funding only the depreciation value of new or existing equipment during the project duration only (12 months max for validation and application voucher). It means that it is not possible for a SME to fund new equipment at 100% for this project, is it correct?
Regarding depreciation costs, rules under the Chapter 1-Specific cases (equipment costs (D.2)) of the AGA – Annotated Model Grant Agreement should apply. More specifically:
Low-value assets — The full cost of a low value asset may be eligible in the year when it is purchased if: − the full cost is recorded in the accounts of the entity as expenditure of that year (i.e. NOT recorded as an asset subject to depreciation) and
- the cost of the asset is below the low-value ceiling as defined under national law (e.g. national tax legislation) or other objective reference compatible with the materiality principle and
- the item is used exclusively for the action in the year of purchase. If the item is not used exclusively for the action in the year of purchase, only the portion used on the action may be charged.
It is difficult to plan the physical starting date of our project if this is a condition. This is a condition that the applicants can have little influence on.
Only costs generated during the lifetime of the project can be eligible. Project expenses cannot be incurred before the official project starting date; that will be explicitly indicated within the Sub-Grant Agreement. The Sub-Grant Agreement shall enter into force after its signature by the Contractor and the sub-grantee authorised representatives, on the day of the last signature.
The sub-grant agreement will be signed by the contractor (S3FOOD coordinator) and the SME that is being awarded a voucher. In case of a consortium, each SME will sign a sub-grant agreement.
Yes, it is eligible to fund digital consulting for food companies.
Added as other involved party in the application form and defined role in activities. How this is organised is irrelevant (subcontracting, or other).
If both will receive funds directly then both need to be eligible. In kind contribution of a third party is not possible within the S3FOOD framework.
This is not an evaluation criterion.
No. However, adding more members will not lead to more funding, but will surely make a project more difficult to execute. And executability of a project is an evaluation criterion. So be wise and choose the consortium you need.
No, we don’t provide a template. This is a responsibility of the partners.
If there is not a maximum mentioned in the document then there is none.