How to get prepared for a proposal?

EXPECTATION

Proposals to SME Instrument are expected to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the technology and market environment, to select and justify the project objectives
• Present a credible and viable methodology to achieve the project objectives
• Deliver innovations with impact
• Demonstrate the ability and capability to deliver, including work Plan, governance, policies, systems, structures, operational processes and risk management.

GATHERING INFO

Focus on delivering results which contribute to the expected impacts :

• What needs (challenges) will be addressed (relevance with the call topic)?
• What benefits (impact) will be delivered (expected by the call topic)?
• Select project objectives to maximise the impacts expected by the call topic.

INFORMATION SOURCES

Academic Sources: publications, conferences, etc.

• Industry sources: Markets reports, industry partners, company websites & annual reports, industry publications, events, conferences…
• Influencers: policy papers, technical and white papers
• External drivers or constraints: standard bodies, patents and other registered IP

STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE

• State of the art: how your project will go beyond it, what new things will be produced?
• Market: What needs will the project address, what benefits are delivered, who is targeted and what is the market structure?
• Competitor intelligence: what will be the key selling points, why will people use your solution rather than your competitors?
• Technologies: why and in which areas will your solution be better than the alternatives by how much?

External influences

• Potential barriers / obstacles /enablers: IPRs (freedom to use), statutory requirements, industry standards, health & safety, ethics, privacy, data security, etc.
• Standards: prescriptive, advisory, best practice (barriers or opportunity) www.iso.org; www.cen.eu; www.etsi.org

Patent related strategic intelligence

Gathering information on:

• State of the Art
• Freedom to use
• PotenNal new technology areas
• Key players – now and who is looking for the future!
• Market Intelligence
• Competitor intelligence
• Technology intelligence
• Finding commercialisation partners

From strategic intelligence to action plans

• Gather information to understand the whole landscape (market, technical, IPR, SotA, competitors, etc.
• Analyse information to obtain strategic intelligence… to allow to
• JUSTIFY the project objectives, which will address the call challenges and maximise the expected impacts
• Plan to deliver – deliver strategies and plans to :
  • create the project results
  • get the results used to maximise impact

NO USE = NO IMPACT!