Eureka Clusters call for proposals in sustainable industry: green ICT and space-earth-ocean integrated systems

Eureka Clusters CELTIC‑NEXT, Eurogia, ITEA4, SMART and XECS have launched a call for proposals for joint research and development (R&D) projects focussed on sustainable industry with the sub‑topics green information and communications technology (ICT) and space‑earth‑ocean integrated systems.

Participating countries include Austria, Belgium (Brussels and Flanders), Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

1. Open to

• small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs)
• large enterprises and industries
• universities
• research organizations
• others

Project funding through NRC IRAP is only available to eligible Canadian SMEs. Other organizations will need to secure funding from other sources or self‑fund.

2. Sectors of focus

Sustainable industry with sub‑topics green ICT and space‑earth‑ocean integrated systems for better observation and data exploitation.

Technology application areas could include, but are not limited to:

Green ICT:

• Power electronics and power management / high‑performance manufacturing systems
• Digital twins for sustainable manufacturing simulation and real‑time interaction
• ICT architectures, platforms and standards for industry and logistics 4.0 / management systems for lifecycle monitoring and operations
• Artificial intelligence (AI)‑assisted training and assistance systems for optimal factory operation
• Cyber‑physical production and logistics systems
• ICT for balancing sustainable energy generation, consumption and storage
• Sustainable smart factories through future connectivity
• Components, systems and architectures for distributed intelligence and low‑power data transmission

Space‑earth‑ocean integrated systems:

• Integrated sensor and secure communication systems – ocean/earth to space (forest fire management, natural resources management, precision agriculture and aquaculture, etc.)
• Utilization and integration of various observation systems (in‑situ sensors, marine robotics, drones, high‑altitude platforms and satellites)
• Environmental monitoring and disaster management / environmental protection and measurement
• Marine and agricultural robotics
• Autonomous shipping

3. Key dates

4. How to apply

To apply, applicants must first register through the Eureka Clusters Portal

5. Related tools and event

A brokerage tool is available for interested applicants to share project ideas and find potential partners. In addition, an online Eureka Clusters brokerage event will be held on March 23, 2022. This partnering event will enable participants to:

• present and learn more about project ideas in a poster session and during project idea pitch sessions
• discuss project ideas in working group sessions
• meet companies and potential partners from Europe and beyond
• learn from existing project consortia, learn about the project process, best practices, and how organizations can participate

To access the online partnering tool or to register, please visit the Eureka Clusters call for proposals or contact  Eric Holdrinet.

Note: there is no funding support available for participation in the online event.

6. Project funding

Participants in projects selected through this call for proposals may receive funding from their respective national funding body, if they and their project activities are deemed eligible for such funding. Funds will be provided in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, rules and procedures established by the relevant national funding body, country, jurisdiction and/or program.

Project participants ineligible for such funding (e.g. Canadian universities, research institutes, large firms, non‑profits, etc.) are welcome to participate on a self‑funded basis or as sub‑contractors to funded participants, according to each country's funding regulations.

7. Canadian funding eligibility

In Canada this call for proposals is offered through the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

Funding by NRC IRAP is available only for eligible Canadian small or medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs). Project participants who are not eligible for funding are welcome to participate on a self‑funded basis.

To be eligible for funding a Canadian SME applicant must:

• be an incorporated, profit‑oriented small or medium‑sized enterprise (SME) in Canada
• have 500 or fewer full‑time equivalent employees
• pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology‑driven new or improved products, services or processes in Canada
• have a differentiated and protectable technology that could become competitive in global markets
• have sufficient working capital and resources to undertake a multi‑year R&D collaboration and commercialize the results
• be committed to significant growth through international market expansion

Preference may be given to Canadian SME applicants who:

• have a minimum of 15 full‑time equivalent employees
• have commercialized 1 or more products domestically or internationally
• have greater than $500,000 CAD in annual revenue

Canadian SME applicants must be eligible for funding as National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) clients before they can be considered for funding through this call for proposals. For more information on NRC IRAP eligibility and becoming an NRC IRAP client, please contact NRC IRAP at 1-877-994-4727.

Canadian SME applicants may apply to more than 1 NRC IRAP funded call for proposals simultaneously. However, NRC IRAP may limit the number of funded projects per applicant. Canadian SME applicants who are applying to more than 1 opportunity or who have ongoing NRC IRAP projects should speak to their NRC IRAP representative for more information.

8. Additional information

To learn more about this opportunity, including Eureka eligibility criteria, please visit the Eureka Clusters call for proposals or contact Canada's National Project Coordinator Eric Holdrinet.

Information on the participating Eureka Clusters can be found through their respective websites:

• CELTIC‑NEXT
• Eurogia
• ITEA4
• SMART
• XECS