State aid Single Action: Research – Create – Innovate – Selectable Strategic priority areas as a result of the Business Discovery process

Eligible strategic priority areas: During the programming period 2014 – 2020 for the activation of financing from the European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF) and especially for the activation of the financing of Research, Technological Development and Innovation projects from the operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, Innovation” (EPANEK) is required “Existence of a National Smart Specialization Strategy – RIS3”. This requirement is referred to as ‘ex ante conditionality 1.1’.

To satisfy this requirement, the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, as the competent policy-making body, followed a New Design Methodology with the following characteristics:

  • Business Discovery: Identifying new business opportunities by leveraging research results and integrating them into value chains
  • Participatory process for the formation of a common vision: productive fabric, research-academic institutions, national/regional authorities, funding bodies
  • Sectoral dimension: Focus on specific activities, integrated approaches by sector, not horizontal actions without thematic specification
  • Dynamic implementation over time, targeting, monitoring, updating, reforming options

For the implementation and documentation of this methodology, the Innovation Platforms were created, as a tool for open consultation. With the completion of the 1stth Round of Business Discovery (2013-15) the following Strategic Priority Areas of the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, Innovation” emerged (EPANEK), in line with the development directions of the country:

Strategic priority areas

1. Materials – Construction 2. Tourism, Culture & Creative Industries 3.Agriculture & Food Industry 4.Environment & Sustainable Development 5.Health & Medicines 6.Transport & Supply Chain 7.Energy 8.Information & Communication Technologies. Then, especially for the case of the single Action of State Support “RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE”, each thematic area was further specialized in thematic sub-sectors through the 2th Business Discovery Round (2015-16). In this specialization, the following parameters were taken into account:

configuration

  • Promotion through Business Discovery
  • Having a critical mass of businesses
  • Existence of remarkable research potential
  • Significant Economic and Social Impact
  • Technological Upgrading of the sector/sector
  • Exportable product/service character

The thematic sub-headings, as they emerged after the completion of the 2nd Business Discovery Round, which was coordinated and edited by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, are listed in the integrated file “RIS3 – thematic sub-sectors – SINGLE STATE AID ACTION”. It is noted that, when submitting the Application for Funding under the Action “RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE”, potential beneficiaries must pay particular attention to specialization in thematic sub-sectors and decide in which thematic area (and in which thematic sub-area) the proposed project falls. The choice of thematic area and sub-heading shall be assessed during the evaluation. More information about business discovery can be found here. More information on the results of the “Business Discovery” process for the thematic specialization of the action “RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE” can be foundhere.

Add to Preferred Sources

Book a free consultation