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Open Call 1 for Social Innovators

Apply until 28 September 2023, 18h CET Closed!

Are you a member of the civil society (individual or an organisation) operating in key industrial value chains of food, water & nutrients, textiles and plastics & packaging? Do you think you have a tech-driven solution to achieve social impact and systemic change across industry that you are craving for?

 

EU-funded project SoTecIn Factory launched its first round of Open Calls for Social Innovators for its 3.3M EUR programme supporting mission-driven social innovation ventures in leading industry towards low-carbon and circular economy transition through sustainable solutions utilising higher R circular strategies.

The Open Call 1 will award 25 European social innovators with up to 15,000 EUR for their ideas as solutions to circular challenges in the context of the specific project Mission (either a concrete problem proposed by the applicant or selected from one of the circular challenges coming directly from industry). From this group, 15 innovators will engage in a pre-market technological demonstration with additional funding support of up to 85,000 EUR. Besides equity-free funding, the beneficiaries will receive additional support in training, mentoring, and peer-to-peer engagement and pilot development, as detailed down below.

The benefits for your sustainable solution

Up to equity-free 100,000 EUR (15K+85K)

Pre-market technological demonstration

Expert guidance for the deployment of solutions in the market, including fundraising and IP strategy development support. 

Capacity-building & circular business support

Workshops, 1-to-1 sessions and individual mentoring from the SoTecIn Factory partner consortia and other circularity experts, focused on improving knowledge, skills and expertise of entrepreneurs in topics spanning business model innovation, circular economy, impact strategy building, novel governance models and alike. 

Programme 1 timeline

Who can apply

Social Innovators complying with following criteria:

Individuals as part of a legal entity 

Single organisations 

Consortium (Individual/Single organisation + Challenge (owner) that is not listed in Annex B) are eligible for this call.

Entities legally established/resident in the European Union or Horizon Europe Associated Countries (see the list here).

Target Value Chains

How to apply - Present us your challenge

 Are you ready for a real-life industry quest? As an innovator, you will have the chance to select at least one out of 21 previously selected, Mission-based challenges specific for each targeted value chain.

 

Detailed description of each challenge can also be found in the button above or in Annex 1 – Open Call Guidelines.

Do you have a particular social innovation concept with capacity to be adopted by industry players but does not fit a specific value chain challenges defined in SoTecIn Factory?

 

Propose a challenge to address aligned with one of our Missions, as general value chain-based circular challenges and objectives across 7 economic regions, (but you can choose one regardless of your regional affiliation).

Do you know an organisation (public or private) which is facing a challenge in tune with one of our Missions?

 

Apply as a consortium with your own value chain challenge proponent proposing a joint solution that follows a specific market need.

 

NOTE: The grant is 100% dedicated to the tech-savvy innovator to develop and deploy its demonstrator.

Have your challenge ready? Submit your application

Access the F6S platform and fill in the corresponding application form. Your proposal (submitted in the form of SoTecIn Factory proposal template) will be reviewed by external evaluators and should demonstrate your solution based on higher “R” circular strategies ((ie. Refuse,  Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair,  Refurbish and Remanufacture techniques) according to evaluation criteria listed in the Annex 1: Guidelines for Applicants.

Links to relevant documents

Annex 1 – Guideline for Applicants (click here)

Annex 2 – Proposal Template (click here)

 

For consultation only!

Annex 3 – Online Application Form (click here)

Annex 4 – Declaration of Honour (click here)

Annex 5 – SME Declaration (click here)

Annex 6 – Sub-Grant Agreement Template (click here)

Need more help?

Join SoTecIn Factory Open Call Info Webinars

 

These online events, addressed to tech-savvy innovators interested in applying to the programme, will provide detailed information about the call and will be useful to solve questions and help you to submit a better proposal.   

 

Info Webinar (V2): 20 Sept 2023, 11pm CET (closed)

Regional Mission Info Sessions (closed)

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