4 Amendments of Salvatore DE MEO related to 2022/2063(INI)
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Highlights that the EIC, as stated in Article 9 of REGULATION (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe "shall focus mainly on breakthrough and disruptive innovation, targeting especially market-creating innovation, while also supporting all types of innovation, including incremental"; notes with concern that incremental innovation is increasingly seen in evaluations as a reason to exclude worthy projects from funding; believes that the EIC should support all types of innovation helping companies to grow, and, in this regard, calls on the Commission to respect the wording of EU Regulation 2021/695;
Amendment 83 #
11 b. Recalls that Article 9 of Regulation 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe states that "the EIC shall be open to all types of innovators including individuals, universities, research organisations and companies (SMEs, including start-ups, and, in exceptional cases, small mid-caps) as well as single beneficiaries and multidisciplinary consortia" and that "at least 70 % of EIC budget shall be dedicated to SMEs, including start-ups". Data on participation in the first rounds of the Horizon Europe/EIC calls for proposals reveal a concerning reduction in SME participation in the programme. The EIC should be a driving force for SME participation in Horizon Europe, a role performed by the SME Instrument of Horizon 2020. This is why it emphasizes the importance of keeping the EIC instruments accessible to all varieties of innovators and ensuring a suitable balance in project selection and funding distribution. Additionally, it asks the Commission to take into account restoring the 20% "quota" of resources for SMEs as outlined in Horizon 2020 and to take SME participation among the award criteria for project selection;
Amendment 86 #
11 c. According to Article 48 of Regulation 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, “the EIC Accelerator may also provide, under certain conditions, grant- only supports to SMEs, including start- ups, carrying out any type of innovation ranging from incremental to breakthrough and disruptive innovation and aiming at subsequently scaling-up”. The initial rounds of requests for proposals have revealed a growing interest from businesses, especially SMEs, in this fundamental type of support. Considers this support, which is unique in the landscape of European funding, as the best form of support for the development of business projects that do not necessarily require the sale of share capital; as a result, believes that instruments like grant-only support play an important role in fostering new markets, creating innovation, and fostering entrepreneurship and therefore must find adequate space in the implementation of the EIC; believes that a broader and more flexible use of the grant-only support can provide an easier implementation of the EIC, especially now that the EC has to catch up on equity financing;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Commission to carry out the activities of the European Innovation Council in accordance with the requirements of Articles 9 and 45 of the Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, specifically respecting the provisions relating to project risks and bankability, openness to all types of innovation, including incremental innovation, support for all types of innovators, including SMEs and Mid-Caps, and the use of all forms of support provided, including the grant-only support.