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Programme for applied research (small projects with support up to 150 000 euros)

The programme for applied research supports the development of innovative products and allows you to grow your company’s income by developing new or significantly enhanced technologies, processes, products or services.

The programme consists of advising companies and supporting applied research.

The support applied for by the projects should be between 100,000 and 150,000 euros.
NB! One economic entity can receive support from the application round once in three years.

In order to be a part of the applied research programme, companies must first attend a mandatory preliminary consultation.

Name
Programme for applied research: small projects
Maximum grant
150 000
Self-financing
20%-75%
Total grant amount
2 000 000
Status
Open
Difficulty level

who is the programme for?

  • This programme is for companies that wish to develop innovative technologies, processes, products or services, test new materials or gather knowledge about technological feasibility.
  • A company will be able to apply independently or in cooperation with other companies, scientific establishments, testing laboratories or intellectual property experts.
  • The programme is open for all companies registered in the Estonian business registry, regardless of their size or years of operation. The company must not be in difficulties.

feedback

Ruth Oltjer
Ruth Oltjer
Manager and owner of Chemi-Pharm

The applied research programme helps entrepreneurs bring their ideas to the market quickly – it’s a real launchpad for Estonian innovation and the Estonian economy!

what kind of projects are we expecting?

artificial intelligence, machine learning, the internet of things, anything cyber-related

personal medicine, e-health

wood, food, coal and nanotechnological approaches to materials technology

efficient means of production, renewable energy solutions, share systems, control systems

what qualifies for a grant?

Proportion of applied research grant depending on the size of the company:

  • 70% (small business)
  • 60% (medium business)
  • 50% (large business)

Proportion of applied research grant depending on the size of the company in the context of effective cooperation:

  • 80% (small)
  • 75% (medium)
  • 65% (large)

Proportion of experimental development grant depending on the size of the company:

  • 45% (small)
  • 35% (medium)
  • 25% (large)

Proportion of experimental development grant depending on the size of the company in the context of effective cooperation:

  • 60% (small)
  • 50% (medium)
  • 40% (large)

We will grant support for conducting feasibility studies as a preliminary step for conducting applied research or developing products. Grants are only given to feasibility studies that precede applied research or experimental development activities.

  • 70% (small)
  • 60% (medium)
  • 50% (large)

Primary protection of intellectual property can be applied for only if the project also contains applied research or experimental development activities.

  • The percentage of support for this grant is 50%

what will change in the company?

An increase in income through scientific activities and product development

An increase in international competitiveness

Increased number of employees involved in R&D

Preliminary consultation

In order to be a part of the applied research programme, companies must first attend a mandatory preliminary consultation. The preliminary consultation provides feedback on the contents of the project and on how well it complies with the technical requirements of the programme. The companies will also receive suggestions on the improvement and development of the project. The preliminary consultation will also reveal whether there is a need for international expertise.

Registration for preliminary consultations: [email protected]

Submitting an application

You can prepare and submit the application after passing the mandatory preliminary counseling in the e-support environment of structural support.

Application documents:

Sample application form (in Estonian)

Project plan(in Estonian)

Budget form (in Estonian)

Finance prognosis form (in Estonian)

Partner information form(in Estonian)

Video instructions for filling in the application (in Estonian)

Group membership scheme (if the applicant is a part of a group and the group’s data is not viewable in the business registry) (in Estonian)

Power of attorney sample (if the signatory of the application is not a representative of the applicant)

Instructions for determining level of technical preparedness:
Determining level of technical preparedness in projects (in Estonian)
Determining level of technical preparedness in IT-projects (in Estonian)

SUBMIT APPLICATION

Evaluation of applications

Submitted applications are evaluated by experts.

All materials will be familiarized with and a substantive evaluation of the project will be carried out. When evaluating the application, both the information contained in the application and other data available from public databases are taken into account.
If necessary, additional information will be requested. You will be notified of the decision in writing.

Familiarize yourself with the application evaluaiton methodology

Project implementation

  • Support recipients must declare their research and development activity in their yearly report collected by Statistics Estonia.
  • If the applying company purchases research and development services, the service providers can only be companies and scientific organisations that have references acknowledged in their field. The service provider can be from Estonia or from a foreign country.

Detailed terms of the grant are provided in the grant regulations:

Reporting

Submit project-related reporting and disbursement requests through the structural funds e-support environment. If you have current questions, we are always there to support you!

submit report

How to apply?

In order to be a part of the applied research programme, companies must first attend a mandatory preliminary consultation. The preliminary consultation provides feedback on the contents of the project and on how well it complies with the technical requirements of the programme. The companies will also receive suggestions on the improvement and development of the project. The preliminary consultation will also reveal whether there is a need for international expertise.

Registration for preliminary consultations: [email protected]

You can prepare and submit the application after passing the mandatory preliminary counseling in the e-support environment of structural support.

Application documents:

Sample application form (in Estonian)

Project plan(in Estonian)

Budget form (in Estonian)

Finance prognosis form (in Estonian)

Partner information form(in Estonian)

Video instructions for filling in the application (in Estonian)

Group membership scheme (if the applicant is a part of a group and the group’s data is not viewable in the business registry) (in Estonian)

Power of attorney sample (if the signatory of the application is not a representative of the applicant)

Instructions for determining level of technical preparedness:
Determining level of technical preparedness in projects (in Estonian)
Determining level of technical preparedness in IT-projects (in Estonian)

SUBMIT APPLICATION

Submitted applications are evaluated by experts.

All materials will be familiarized with and a substantive evaluation of the project will be carried out. When evaluating the application, both the information contained in the application and other data available from public databases are taken into account.
If necessary, additional information will be requested. You will be notified of the decision in writing.

Familiarize yourself with the application evaluaiton methodology

  • Support recipients must declare their research and development activity in their yearly report collected by Statistics Estonia.
  • If the applying company purchases research and development services, the service providers can only be companies and scientific organisations that have references acknowledged in their field. The service provider can be from Estonia or from a foreign country.

Detailed terms of the grant are provided in the grant regulations:

Submit project-related reporting and disbursement requests through the structural funds e-support environment. If you have current questions, we are always there to support you!

submit report

assistance for applicant

Kaupo Reede
Programme development lead for applied research
[email protected]
+372 53304076

Read more about the terms and conditions in the grant regulation:

Grant regulation

Activities will be considered effective cooperation under the General Block Exception Regulations if the project is carried out:

  • between independent entrepreneurs, at least one of whom is an SME (small or medium sized enterprise), or if the project is carried out in at least two European Union Member States or a European Union Member State and a country involved in the European Comprehensive Trade and Economic Agreement and neither entrepreneur carries over 70% of the eligible costs
  • or between an entrepreneur and at least one R&D establishment that bears at least 10% of all eligible costs and who has the right to publish the results of their activities
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