5th Innovation workshop call for proposals: time for applications!

The Basque Country Urban Authority is launching, along with ESTIA, the 5^th “Innovation workshop” call for proposals. The bonus: a grant of 60,000 euros, personalised support from Estia and great visibility. With this year the special prize for “Sustainable construction and development”. Businesses can register until 18September.

In 2017, the Basque Country Agglomeration is continuing its initiative to support innovative businesses instigated by the Basque-Adour Agglomeration in 2013. For this 5^th edition, the territory of the five communes of Bayonne, Anglet, Biarritz, Bidart and Boucau has been maintained, before a change in the boundaries in 2018.

This call for proposals initiated with the support of ESTIA supports innovative economic projects. In 2016, Wikicampers, HUPI and the Laboratoires de Biarritz shared the grant of 60,000 euros. For this 5^th edition, the same overall grant will be awarded to innovative businesses with fewer than 20 employees developing an innovative product (goods or services). With this new addition: a special prize “Sustainable construction and development”.

The Innovation Workshop, instructions for use

To participate: businesses can apply from 21 July to 18 September. Applications will be analysed by a committee on the basis of criteria defined in the regulations of the Call for proposals, namely:

• the level of innovation of the project presented,

• the level of response to a market demand,

• the ability to market and potentially to export the project presented,

• the potential impact of the innovative product on the development of the local region (jobs, image, etc.),

• the resources allocated to R&D (partnerships with laboratories or technology resource centres, employment of interns studying for master’s degrees or CIFRE[1] doctoral students, Intellectual Property policy developed, etc…)

This year once again, winning businesses will benefit from:

•  a maximum subsidy of 25,000 euros exclusively intended to fund the project presented,

• personalised support adapted for their project and provided by ESTIA for a maximum period of 12 months.

Applications can be submitted until 18 September 2017 at midnight. The procedures for responding to the call for proposals are available on the website: www.communaute-paysbasque.fr