INNOVATION RESEARCH
PK Consulting Group
Research, Technological Development and Innovation Strategy
Investing in research and innovation is a central strategic priority for a new development model, socially, economically and environmentally sustainable, based on and utilising knowledge, through the production of high value-added products and services.
In the 2021-27 Programming Period, the new National Intelligence Strategy (RIS3) is a comprehensive economic transformation agenda that serves Policy Objective 1 of the European Structural Funds: “A smarter Europe through the promotion of innovative and smart economic transformation”.
In particular, Policy Objective 1 includes:
- Strengthening research and innovation capabilities and utilizing advanced technologies
- Exploiting the benefits of digitization for citizens, businesses and governments
- Enhancing the growth and competitiveness of SMEs
- Developing skills for smart specialization, industrial transition and entrepreneurship
For the formulation of the new Strategy, the cooperation of all co-responsible Ministries and services is required. For this purpose, within the responsibilities of the Ministry of Development and Investment, the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation and the General Secretariat for Industry cooperate, with the coordination of the General Secretariat for Public Investment and the NSRF.
Entrepreneurship
-Strengthening innovative entrepreneurship and business innovation by providing incentives for exploitation research results and new ideas from existing and start-up companies and support the development / adoption of a wider views on innovation from all sectors of the economy (eg tourism and culture)
-Strategic investment in the tourism ecosystem based on the national and complementary regional strategies for tourism
Digital Transformation
-Enhancing productive investments with emphasis on digital transformation (Industry 4.0) and environmentally friendly processes and products
– Enhance connectivity with high speed broadband access
-Digital transformation of the public and private sector and expansion of digital services to citizens and businesses by reusing existing EU tools and adopting best practices at all stages of implementation
Business interconnection
– Establish infrastructure and mechanisms to support innovation and entrepreneurship (eg Innovation Agency),
-Measures to increase the average size of Greek companies, promote cooperation between SMEs (eg by creating clusters) and / or with larger companies in order to facilitate their access to global markets and value chains (internationalization)
-Adaptation of human resource skills, industrial transition, support for digital transformation and the circular economy.
Public service support
– Strengthening the research and innovation ecosystem based on the priorities of the Smart Specialization Strategy and mechanisms for disseminating and supporting innovation across the full range of activities required- strengthening partnerships between research organizations and companies.
– Interventions in public services provided in accordance with the once-only principle, accessible, open and transparent, cross-border, interoperable, reliable and secure
For the preparation of the Programming Period 2021-2027, GGEK proceeded to the reactivation of the 8 Innovation Platforms in the respective priority areas of the National Strategic Research and Innovation for the Smart Specialization of the period 2014-2020.
- Life Sciences, Health, Medicines
- Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries
- Sustainable Energy
- Environment and Circular Economy
- Materials, Constructions & Industry
- Transport & Supply Chain
- Agri-food Chain
- Digital Technologies
At the national level, the process of business discovery will aim at highlighting and specializing the priorities of ESEE, which will be funded by the “Competitiveness” Program. At the regional level, the business discovery process will be improved – upgraded in processes and participations and will aim to specialize the regional dimension of ESEE. The priorities highlighted at regional level will be funded by the respective RDP.
PK Consulting Group
Horizon Europe is the European Unions (EU) new research and innovation framework program for the period 2021-2027, with a budget of € 95.5 billion.
Horizon-Europe Special Program consists of three pillars as well as a horizontal section that interacts with the three pillars and supports the whole program.
The aim of Pillar 1 is to strengthen and extend the excellence of the EU science base.
It focuses on cutting-edge research, the acquisition of knowledge and skills of researchers through mobility and training actions, as well as the development and interconnection of world-renowned research infrastructures.
Total funding: EUR 25 billion
Pillar 1 includes three categories of actions:
- European Research Council (ERC)
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
- Research Infrastructures
Pillar 2 supports research and innovation to address societal challenges such as health, climate change, carbon sequestration, sustainable resource management, food security, bioeconomics and smart and green mobility .
This pillar promotes, through research and innovation, the upgrading of economies capacity for green and digital transformation, the strengthening of societies resilience to natural and man-made disasters and the strengthening of the cohesion of European society. Through Pillar 2, EU technological and industrial capital is expected to be strengthened by investing in achieving the EU’s strategic autonomy in raw materials and critical technologies.
Theme Groups (Clusters)
The 6 Clusters are:
- Health
- Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
- Civil Security for Society
- Digital, Industry and Space
- Climate, Energy and Mobility
- Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
The common goal of the new tools (European Partnerships and Missions) is to address global challenges in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in a coordinated manner, integrating policies and enhancing citizen and end-user participation.
Missions
One of the key new features on Horizon Europe is Missions. These are ambitious, high-profile initiatives that will promote concrete solutions to the challenges facing European citizens and society. The Missions will achieve specific, measurable goals within a clearly defined time frame with significant implications for research, technology, society and citizens that could not be achieved through individual actions.
The Missions act as an umbrella framework, combining resources from more Clusters and other parts of the program, while developing synergies with national initiatives. The maximum proposed budget is € 600 million.
5 mission councils were created for the implementation of the Missions
- Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation
- Cancer
- Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters
- Climate-neutral and smart cities
- Soil health and food
Partnerships
European Partnerships are initiatives where the European Union, together with public or private partners, is committed to jointly supporting the development and implementation of a research and innovation program. The partners may represent industry, academia, research institutes, public regional, national or international bodies and civil society organizations, such as non-governmental organizations and institutions. European Partnerships under Horizon Europe can be divided into three categories:
- Co-programmed
- Co-funded
- Institutionalised
This pillar aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to innovate through the harmonization and interconnection of European research and innovation ecosystems. Pillar 3 highlights are groundbreaking innovation throughout its life cycle through the European Innovation Council, the systematic collaboration of national and regional research and innovation ecosystems, and the development of Knowledge Innovation Communities. European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
European Innovation Council
The European Innovation Council (EIC) helps start-ups and research organizations develop highly ambitious high-risk, high-value-added ideas that can create new markets internationally. Supports the development of groundbreaking innovations of low technological maturity (proof of concept) up to the initial stage of commercial development and expansion into the European market. Combined, the EIC contributes equity to companies.
The EIC offers grants and equity, coaching and networking. 70% of the program budget is earmarked for SMEs.
EIC Pathfinder
It finances revolutionary research ideas, which are still in low maturity, with clear prospects for commercialization. Consortia of organizations can receive funding, in the form of grants from the early technology stage to the pre-commercial stage, for the development of innovative ideas, which are characterized by interdisciplinary research, ambitious vision and innovative technological application. 100% of the eligible costs are subsidized. The Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) actions implemented under Horizon 2020 have been transformed into new actions under the EIC and are included in the Pathfinder and transition activities.
EIC Accelerator
The EIC Accelerator is the evolution of the SME Instrument – Phase 2 and offers a grant (grant) and gross financing (combined equity financing) from the pre-market stage to the market and expansion. It supports high-risk and high-yield SMEs, which intend to develop and leverage commercial, high value-added new products, services and even business models, creating new markets in Europe or globally or restructuring existing ones, thus contributing to competitiveness of European industry.
EIC Fund
Established by the European Commission and supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The Fund will provide equity financing from € 500,000 to € 15 million to SMEs developing new, innovative high value-added products, which have been recognized throughout Europe under the EIC Accelerator (blended finance) program. Alternatively, the fund will invest directly in innovative businesses and start-ups, financing the development of mature and highly innovative products on the road to commercialization.
European Innovation Ecosystems
It concerns a package aimed at interconnecting the research and innovation ecosystems of the countries participating in Horizon Europe. The aim is homogeneity in the functioning of the European innovation ecosystem, so that there is common targeting and planning. Expected benefits include joint challenges, the creation of new value chains, the diffusion and transformation of knowledge produced with the participation of all ecosystem actors and finally the development of new skills of human resources.
The strengthening of European innovation ecosystems is expected to be based on: a) smart specialization strategies, b) European Structural Investment Funds and c) other initiatives / programs, such as the Digital Europe Program, the European Innovation Council, the Enterprise Business Support Network Europe Network “, as well as the” Start-up Europe “platform.
European Institute of Innovation and Technology
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is a European initiative launched in 2008 that aims to provide practical support for innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe. It is financed by “Horizon Europe” with a budget of 3 billion. Euro for the period 2021-2027. It operates across the innovation chain and seeks to bring together the educational, research and business community. The purpose of the EIT is to turn innovative ideas into products and services. Through training programs, the EIT aims to create new businesses and jobs. It is not a research funding program nor a substitute for infrastructure funding programs, but it does fund projects with a clear business approach that will contribute to the sustainability of Knowledge Innovation Communities (KICs).
The operation of the EIT is divided into three main pillars: a) business education (with a number of offered postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral programs), b) innovation projects and c) the creation and acceleration of new business development.
Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area
The three pillars of Horizon Europe are supported by a horizontal package of interventions aimed at expanding participation and strengthening the European Research Area by optimizing the benefits and opportunities for a more innovative Europe. These actions will strengthen efforts to bring all parts of the EU to the map of excellence research through the “Enhancing Participation and Extending Excellence” program, as well as promoting reforms of the European Research and Innovation Systems.
Budget: EUR 3.4 billion