PoCIDIF — Action 2.1 – Grants for IT SMEs developing digital innovations
Up to €3,000,000 non-refundable funding for IT companies developing innovative digital products using AI, IoT, XR, blockchain, robotics or microelectronics.
- Max grant
- 3.000.000 €
- Min
- 200.000 €
- Funding rate
- variable, depending on aid type, company size and region
- Own contribution
- variable
- Budget
- €48.8 million
- Authority
- MIPE through OIPSI-ADR
Executive summary
Up to €3,000,000 non-refundable funding for IT companies developing innovative digital products using AI, IoT, XR, blockchain, robotics or microelectronics.
Programme details
Action 2.1 under the Smart Growth, Digitalisation and Financial Instruments Programme (PoCIDIF), Priority 2, ERDF, supports SMEs in the IT sector that develop innovative digital products, applications or services based on key technologies: artificial intelligence, IoT, extended reality (XR), blockchain, robotics and microelectronics.
Competitive call through the MySMIS2021 system, managed by MIPE through OIPSI-ADR.
Values and budget
- project value: between €200,000 and €3,000,000
- total call budget: €48.8 million
- aid intensity varies depending on the type of aid (regional aid, de minimis, research and development aid, state aid for innovative SMEs), company size and implementation region
- implementation period: 24 months
- sustainability period: 3 years
Eligible smart specialisation subdomains
The targeted areas are the smart specialisation domains defined by the national strategy, with emphasis on advanced digitalisation, automation, intelligent systems, cybersecurity, IoT solutions and applied AI.
Eligible NACE codes
2611, 2612, 2630, 5821, 5829, 6210, 6220, 6290, 6310
Eligibility conditions
- SME with registered office or workplace in Romania
- at least one closed financial year
- operating profit in the previous fiscal year
- no undertaking-in-difficulty status
- demonstrated technical and operational capacity
- secured own contribution
Eligible expenditure
- industrial research and experimental development
- acquisition of IT equipment, software and licences
- technical consultancy services for innovation
- intellectual property protection
- market launch of the innovative product
- specific professional training
- communication and visibility
Innovation requirement
The project must result in at least one innovative product, service or application, with clear evidence of subsequent commercialisation.
Indicators
- at least one innovative product, service or application launched
- evidence of commercialisation
- IP indicator (intellectual property) ≥ 0.5
Frequently asked questions
- Can I apply without an already developed product? Yes, the project may target product development.
- Are technical team salaries eligible? Yes, within the limits for research and development personnel costs.
- Is collaboration with a university required? It is not mandatory, but it may improve the score.
Interim operational support for implementation
In many funded projects, the real difficulty does not appear only at submission stage, but after approval: procurement, suppliers, documents, deadlines, cash flow, justifications, changes and reporting. Noventia Services can act as interim operational support to help the company turn the funding into a correctly implemented project, not only an approved application.