Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)
Secure IPCEI subsidies for your innovation project
Since 2018, the EU Commission has approved eleven IPCEIs, involving 23 member states. Subsidies if about € 37.6bn have been granted to 257 companies. Also for this year, it’s confirmed: there will be new IPCEIs. Good preparation is key to success.
IPCEIs enable above-average subsidy levels and support the transition from research to commercialization (“from Lab to the Fab”).
The application process is complex. Four processes must be managed: the (pre-)notification, the national subsidy application, the development of the chapeau document and the matchmaking, which is becoming increasingly important. This typically requires 500 to 1,200 hours within the company and demands contributions from various departments: Finance, Business Development, Project Management, ESG, Purchasing, Sales, R&D, HR, QM, Legal.
Our multidisciplinary team of lawyers, economists, engineers, and industry experts provides valuable support in creating a convincing IPCEI application, including:
- Project development and definition
- Business and financing plan
- Location analyses or alternative scenario analyses
- Technical classification of the innovation degree
Our Consulting Services
With our consulting services, we optimize the success potential of your IPCEI application.
We identify the IPCEI potential of your projects as well as any potential risks through a detailed analysis of whether the IPCEI requirements are met.
Integrating your project into a consortium early enhances success prospects. We assist in positioning your project with potential partners (“Match-Making”) and IPCEI stakeholders, securing timely Letters of Intent and Letters of Support to emphasize your project’s seriousness and necessity.
We support the preparation of application documents that clearly demonstrate your project’s compliance with IPCEI criteria, highlighting innovations, spill-over effects, partnerships, and contributions to EU objectives.
Taking into account lessons learned from past IPCEI applications, we bring our extensive experience to your application efforts. Many applications fail due to inadequate and misleading technical descriptions. We support presenting your project’s innovative advantages, technical challenges, and hurdles effectively.
The EU Commission demands a credible presentation of funding needs (Funding Gap Analysis), including assumptions on costs and revenues, alongside a comparison to an alternative scenario without aid. This “Credibility-Test” is a pivotal challenge, and our expertise aligns expectations with business realities for a convincing description of a decision making for or against a project.
Our aim is to maximize your application’s prospects and ensure a seamless application process through our profound experience and skills. Let’s collaborate to give your project the optimal start.
Matchmaking – Position your project and establish a consortium
To maximize the positive impacts of IPCEIs, member states conduct needs assessments to identify industry and societal demands. Participating actively as part of a consortium in this so-called design/scoping phase can significantly boost your chances of success. We assist during the matchmaking in connecting you with relevant stakeholders and developing an effective communication strategy.
Define an IPCEI project
We support you in developing an eligible IPCEI project by analyzing success prospects based on IPCEI criteria. We also determine the potential subsidy amount, providing a solid foundation for your decision on IPCEI involvement.
Active support for notification and application procedures
The IPCEI process includes both the notification and national application procedures. Our goal is to streamline these processes by assembling all required information and documents from the start, minimizing effort. We proactively address potential queries from the EU Commission and funding bodies early on, saving time and resources. Comprehensive project management, including timeline and workflow planning and procedural coordination, ensures timely submission of applications.
Economic analysis
We assist in drafting your business plan and identifying relevant costs and revenues as part of the Funding Gap Questionnaire. Together, we identify the next-best alternative scenario and help you persuasively present comparative analyses. To ensure the plausibility of your information, we support you in identifying and compiling relevant company documentation.
Technical project evaluation
Our technicians, engineers, and industry experts assist in identifying and effectively communicating your project’s degree of innovation compared to global standards, detailing all necessary technical descriptions.