Who can apply for the Test Beds?
All national and international startups and SMEs with the aim of developing innovative products, processes or services, accelerating production, industrialization and commercialization, commonly known as pilot products.
For the company to be eligible for financial support under the national incentive system, it must have a VAT and an establishment in Portugal.
Companies that use the Test Beds are called “adherent companies”.
Can member companies use the Test Bed to develop more than one pilot product?
Yes, each company can use a Test Bed for one or more pilot products. There is no limit on the number of pilot products per company.
What can be considered a pilot product?
Pilot products eligible for the Test Beds are new digital products and/or services that are being tested or experimented with in the Test Bed, that are in a position to achieve a TRL between 5 and 9, with a strong digital component and/or associated virtual or digital simulation.
What is the amount of funding for adherent companies per pilot product?
The maximum amount of services to be provided per pilot product is €40,000.
Can an SME or startup work with more than one Test Bed?
Yes. SMEs or startups can join several Test Beds to experiment with or test different pilot products. In the case of the same pilot product, the Test Beds must work at different TRL levels in order to be eligible. For example, Test Bed A was used to raise the TRL of the pilot product from TRL5 to TRL7 and Test Bed B was used to raise the TRL of the pilot product from 7 to 9.
Can an SME or startup work with more than one Test Bed partner, in the case of Test Beds that are made up of more than one partner?
Yes. Each entity that is part of the Test Bed enables the development of different pilot products, complementing each other towards a final goal. Therefore, depending on the pilot product to be tried out, tested or developed, the process may include the participation of more than one entity.
Can pilot products developed under the Mobilizing Agendas be counted towards the Test Beds?
Yes, pilot products developed within the scope of the Mobilizing Agendas can be counted as long as: (1) they are the target of service provision by the Test Bed; (2) non-duplication of funding is safeguarded; (3) they meet the definition of a pilot product in the Call for Tenders for the National Network of Test Beds.
Is there a deadline for developing pilot products?
Yes. The Test Beds will support SMEs and startups at below market prices until September 2025.
Adapted from fiGroup a 01-02-2024.
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