From the last SME instrument phase 1 call, with cut-off date November 2015, 185 companies have been selected out of the 2057 proposals submitted. The projects come from 22 different countries, Spain with a participation of 22%, which means 39 projects, is the country where more projects have been selected. These companies will receive €50,000 in funding.
Regional R&D funding programmes
Andalucía ya ha abierto las ayudas «incentivos a pymes para el desarrollo industrial y la creación de empleo en andalucía» aprovechando que ya han salido las primeras, hemos querido hacer un repaso de las ayudas regionales a la innovación que se prevé que saldrán este año.
Inveready bets on biotechnology, invests in Cuantum and AB-biotics in less than a month
Inveready has started the year with a strong commitment to biotechnology. A few weeks ago we announced that it had invested in Oncostellae, and recently we have learned that it has invested in two more companies, in Ab-BIOTICS through its debt fund and in Cuantum through its Inveready Biotech II fund.
Success stories AEESD 2015 programme
The AEESD is a programme within the Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013-2016, to finance industrial research or experimental development projects in the field of ICTs. Last year's novelty was the increase of the % grant, which can reach 50% for SMEs depending on the qualification. Below are some of the projects from last year's call that received the highest scores.
European Celtic-Plus call for innovative projects to be launched soon
Celtic Plus is an industry-led Eureka cluster promoting European R&D projects in the areas of telecommunications, media, Future Internet and ICT applications and services. This year's winter call will be open from 26 February to 25 May. The conditions for this call are expected to be improved, companies will be able to get up to 50% of grant funding, without the need for a loan part.
The Oesia Group is restructured, giving less weight to banking and more to management.
In July 2015, the Oesía Network group restructured its shareholding, giving more prominence to its managers, who have been left with 44% and have carried out a new business plan in which more weight has been given to the engineering and security division.
Manunet call for participation in international manufacturing research projects open
Manunet is one of the European Commission's network of 15 partners and 8 associates from different countries and regions to promote transnational R&D projects in the field of advanced manufacturing. The call for proposals opened this month of...
Investors lose their fear of investing in biotechnology
In the last few months, three financing rounds totalling almost €70M have taken place in Spain, those of Sanifit, Minoryx and Aelix Therapeutics, and one IPO, that of Oryzon. These figures confirm the boom in the sector, not only for domestic investors but also for foreign investors. This January we have already seen investments such as Inveready's investment in Oncostellae and that of Aelix Therapeutics.
Torres Quevedo' and 'Industrial Doctorates' next call for the recruitment of PhDs and PhD students
The aid, to which the State Secretariat for R&D&I has earmarked €18M, is aimed at hiring PhDs in companies and stimulating demand in the private sector for qualified personnel to carry out R&D projects, as well as helping to consolidate newly-created technology companies.
TECNOQUARK goes public on the MAB to finance growth
At the end of 2015, 9 companies in the expansion phase have debuted this year on the MAB, with a revenue of close to €100M. This represents an increase in the number of MAB companies of 30% compared to the end of 2014 and shows signs of optimism for 2016, in which companies such as BestPrice have already shown their interest in listing on the MAB.
The new call for R&D projects will soon be open for the 2017 Collaboration Challenges
The aim of Retos-Colaboración is to promote experimental development projects in collaboration between companies and research organisations. Last year, this aid has been novel in that SMEs in the autonomous communities of Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Castile-La Mancha, Ceuta, Extremadura, Galicia, Melilla, Asturias and Murcia received grants to finance their actions in 2016.
Industrial innovation in the Basque Country attracts investors: Ikor and Laulagun Bearings
Investors, both venture capitalists and corporations, see the industrial innovation being developed in the Basque Country as a source of opportunities. This week we have learned that a German group has bought the 50% of the Basque company Ikor with the aim of incorporating its innovation into its products. Portebello Capital has also bought a stake in Laulagun Bearings.