The North-West Regional Development Agency, as the Managing Authority for the North-West Regional Program 2021-2027 (REGIO North-West), publishes today, July 27, 2023, the Applicant's Guide for the call for projects 112 – Support for innovative start-ups.

The call for projects is competitive, and funding applications can be submitted through the MySMIS 2021/2021+ computer system during:  August 27, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – February 26, 2024, 10:00 a.m.

Download – Applicant's Guide PRNV/2023/112/1 Support for innovative start-ups.

A. Mandatory Eligible Activities

The eligible activities proposed in the funding applications represent contractual obligations that will be monitored during the implementation of the project.

I. Research-development activities (industrial research and/or experimental development) [mandatory]

I.1. Purchase of services/Performance of research and development activities (industrial research and/or experimental development):

• within the industrial research activities (service), the following activities can be carried out, for example: development, realization, experimentation of the new model or solution for the product/ method/ system/ technology/ service, etc.;
• within the framework of the experimental development activities or the experimental development service, the following activities can be carried out, for example: design, realization, testing/experimentation, certification of the prototype, pilot plant, service, etc. (based on the model or solution obtained in the industrial research activity);

I.2. Procurement of innovation consulting services related to: technological assistance; technological transfer; acquisition, protection and commercialization of intellectual property rights; use of standards;

I.3 Acquisition of support services for innovation related to: trials and testing in specialized laboratories; quality marking, testing and certification; market studies;

I.4 Construction/Modernization of research/innovation spaces related to activities financed by the project;

I.5 Acquisition of intangible fixed assets (computer applications, licenses) necessary for carrying out research activities;

I.6 Purchase of machinery and equipment necessary for the research activity;

I.7 Procurement activities of raw materials and materials necessary for the realization of the project (exclusively for research and development activities).

II. Activities for the introduction into production and realization of the product/ process/ technology/ service, which may include, for example, the following activities (obligatory)

II.1 Acquisition of intangible fixed assets (computer applications, licenses) necessary for the introduction of research results into the productive cycle

II.2 The purchase of machinery and equipment necessary for the introduction of research results into the productive cycle, sized to the actual volume of production;

II.3 Construction of production spaces/services related to the activities financed by the project;

II.4 Elaboration of the documentation for introduction into manufacturing/ commissioning/ operation/ application;

II.5 Manufacturing/commissioning/operating preparation (experiments, tests, tests, analyses);

II.6 Review of the technical documentation for introduction into manufacturing/commissioning/operation/application;

II.7 Realization of the product/ process/ technology/ service and commissioning/ function/ operation/ application for the product/ process/ technology/ service (execution of the "zero" series of the product or the pilot plant/ realization of the new process/ technology/ service significantly improved for customers, as a result of the application of the innovative model/procedure/process/method);

II.8 Activities of "realization of the product/ process/ technology/ service and putting into production/ function/ operation/ application for the product/ process/ technology/ service (execution of the "zero" series of the product or the pilot plant/ realization of the process/ technology / of the new service significantly improved for customers, as a result of the application of the model/ process/ process/ method).

III. Information and advertising activities

It is mandatory to carry out the information and publicity activities related to the project in accordance with the Visual Identity Guide developed by MIPE and with the contractual provisions.

IV. The financial audit activity of the project

The financial audit activity of the project is not eligible, but it is mandatory for the project and the expenses for it will be borne from the beneficiary's own resources.

A project cannot include as eligible activities only research-development activities/acquisition of services for research-development, or only activities for putting into production or providing services to the market resulting from CDI activity.

B. Eligible Related Activities

V. Consulting activities for project management and/or writing the funding request

The eligible activities listed above are not limiting, other activities of the above type can be considered eligible if they fall within the limits of the activities supported by PR NV 2021-2027 and if the applicant justifies the need for them to be carried out for the purpose of implementing the project.

The North-West Regional Program 2021-2027 proposes interventions for the development of research, development, innovation and digitization capacity, increasing the energy performance of the existing public and residential building fund, capitalizing on degraded spaces at the city level, sustainable urban mobility, investments in the network of county roads and in the educational infrastructure, as well as actions to capitalize on the cultural, touristic and spa potential.

In the financial year 2021-2027, public authorities and institutions, the business environment, the academic and research environment and NGOs can obtain funding.

The Northwest Regional Program benefits from a total allocation of 1,437,252,471 euros.

• Priority 1: A competitive region through innovation, digitization and dynamic enterprises - total value: 327,904,956 euros
• Priority 2: A region with smart localities - total value: 60,332,872 euros
• Priority 3: A region with environmentally friendly localities - total value: 210,666,112 euros
• Priority 4: A region with sustainable multimodal urban mobility – total value: 305,155,751 euros
• Priority 5: An accessible region - total value: 184,978,708 euros
• Priority 6: An educated region - total value: 77,386,100 euros
• Priority 7: An attractive region - total value: 210,363,134 euros
• Technical assistance – total value: 60,464,838 euros

More information about the Northwest Regional Program for 2021-2027 is available here, and the program can be consulted here.