For startups and SMEs NEX-LABS Innovation Vouchers are offered.

September 20, 2023

For business owners and SMEs based in Cyprus, Italy, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Spain, and Tunisia, the NEX-LABS programme is providing innovation vouchers.

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These vouchers are primarily intended for startups and SMEs to hire the services of outside specialists to obtain access to specialised knowledge and skills.

Objectives for NEX-LABS

  • To aid in the development of a resilient and sustainable agro-food business based on the NEXUS-driven Open Living Labs (NDOLL) model, thereby enhancing knowledge transfer, industry-academic collaboration, expanding commercialization options, and stimulating innovation-driven growth.

Who will gain?

  • 21 Public institutions, including national organisations and ministries

  • 35 institutions of higher learning

  • 60 SMEs

  • 35 organisations that make up the ecosystem of entrepreneurship, including businesses, technology transfer organisations, technological parks, venture capitalists, and business angels

  • 35 organisations working together to promote public discourse, including think tanks and communication multipliers.

Expected successes

  • There are now 2 NEXUS-Driven Open Living Labs.

  • Four company concepts are benefited by incentives for acceleration.

  • Allocation of 16 testing and 42 acceleration vouchers

  • The involvement of 50 entrepreneurs at a summer school

  • 6 spin-offs were created, and 6 co-patents were filed.

  • creation of a job bank; signing of eight joint research contracts

Benefits

  • With the use of these vouchers, SMEs and entrepreneurs will have access to possible external expertise in:

  • Commercial modelling

  • Technology

  • IPR Policy

  • Linked industries in marketing

  • Regulations for Exporting

  • What not covered by this voucher?

  • maintaining employees or directors

  • R&D expenses

  • Software development or licencing

  • Duration

  • The order of awarding shall be first come, first served.

  • Start: September 3, 2020

  • Ending on December 2, 2023

Countries

  • Target Market Cyprus: All business owners and SMEs operating there are eligible.

  • Italy: Businesses and SMEs working in Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Liguria, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, and Toscana are eligible. Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, and Umbria are neighbouring regions.

  • Egypt: The following regions in Egypt are eligible: Marsa Matruh, Al Iskandanyah, Al Buhayrah, Kafr ash Shaykh, Ad Daqahliyah, Dumyat, Ash Sharquiyah, Al Isma’iliyah, Bur Sa’id, and Shamal Sina.

  • Jordan: The following areas qualify as businesses and SMEs in Jordan:

  • Irbid, Madaba, Al-Aqaba, Al-Balga, Al-Karak, and Al-TafilahAjlun, Al-Mafraq, Amman, Az Zarqa’ Jarash, and Ma’an are nearby regions.

  • Lebanon: The entire country’s business owners and SMEs are eligible.

  • Spain: Businesspeople and SMEs operating in the following areas are eligible: Andaluca, Catalua, Ceuta, Comunidad Valenciana, Islas Baleares, Melilla, and Murcia. Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura are neighbouring regions.

  • Ariana, Béja, Ben Arous, Bizerte, Gabès, Jendouba, Mahdia, Médenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sousse, and Tunis are among the qualifying regions in Tunisia for entrepreneurs and SMEs.

  • Gafsa, Kairouan, Kebili, Le Kef, Manouba, Sidi Bouzid, Siliana, Tataouine, and Zaghouan are adjacent regions.

eligibility

  • You’re in a qualifying area.

  • You represent a startup, small to medium-sized enterprise, or an early-stage project that will likely spin off in the future.

  • If granted, the voucher is in line with NEX-LABS goals.

  • You offer goods or services related to food, energy, or water.

  • Your product or service is an obvious or possible NEXUS strategy.

  • In the WEF-NEXUS framework, your product or service responds to a critical economic, environmental, or social need (e.g., resource efficiency, gender empowerment, resource allocation, community engagement, yield improvement, etc.).

  • Your company seems trustworthy and has room for expansion.

  • Your good or service provides value that is extra.

  • Your product/service is a representation of an actual good or service that is currently on the market or about to be released.

  • The suggested consulting service seems achievable within the allotted budget.

  • The suggested consulting service can be obtained by the implementing partner by using the appropriate procurement procedures.

  • By encouraging expansion, exports, partnership creation, financial infusion, academic engagement, or commercialization, implementing the consulting service is likely to have an impact on the company.

Go to NEX-LABS for further details.