SME instrument is a simpler and more easily accessible funding scheme for SMEs. Provided with about € 3 billion in funding over the period 2014-2020, the SME Instrument helps high-potential SMEs to develop groundbreaking innovative ideas for products, services or processes that are ready to face global market competition. It comes in addition to the support provided through the participation of SMEs in collaborative projects continued within Horizon 2020, as well as other measures related to SMEs such as the EU contribution of the Eurostar programme. The aim of the SME Instrument is to fill the gaps in funding for the early stages, Research and Innovation and accelerating the exploitation of innovation. Projects will be selected through a bottom-up approach within a given societal challenge or enabling technology of H2020.
