We support the creation of innovative solutions

Information Day

TAIE focus areas – Kadri Mats (MKM) and Julia Rosend (HM) Slides
Innovation and Development Grant – Kristiina Niilits (EIS) Slides
Product Development Support – Erki Varbola (EIS) Slides

Recording of the information day – HERE

Defining a development obstacle

The entrepreneur needs to define a development obstacle or a research question or problem for which expert advice, testing of technologies or materials, studies from an intellectual property database, or similar support is required.

Reviewing the conditions

Before you start preparing the application, please review the conditions of the Development Grant.

Finding a cooperation partner

The range of potential service provider partners is limited. The entrepreneur must identify a suitable partner(s).

Practical guide for beneficiaries – how to request quotations and conclude contracts? Golden rules of the procurement procedure. READ HERE.

Preparing a project plan

Prepare a project plan

A suitable project plan must be developed together with the cooperation partner for the provision of the service. In addition, the cooperation partner must prepare a quotation, which is an integral part of the application form when applying for the EIS Innovation Voucher. The quotation must include a clear description of the activities of the purchased service and unit prices to ensure transparency in how the total amount is formed.

NB! If the cost of the purchased service without VAT is EUR 20,000 or more, two independent quotations must be submitted. A relevant justification must be provided if it is not possible to submit quotations or if the cheapest offer is not selected. Guidelines for requesting quotations.

NB! If the cost of the purchased service is EUR 60,000 or more, a procurement procedure must be carried out in the Public Procurement Register. More information.

It is important to remember that a contract with the service provider may not be concluded before the application is submitted to EIS!

Submitting an application

Completing and submitting the application

After receiving the quotation(s) and finalising the project activities, the application must be completed and submitted via the E-support environment.

We are happy to advise you in preparing the application to ensure the project is of high quality and meets all requirements.

In addition to the application, the following documents must be submitted:

• Sample application form
• Project plan form
• Quotations from the service provider(s) including a brief description of the activities to be carried out
• Terms of reference and, based on that, two comparable quotations including a brief description of the activities to be carried out, if the service costs EUR 20,000 or more

Guidelines – For requesting quotations.

• CVs of the service provider(s)
• CVs of team members
• Balance sheet and income statement as of the last quarter
• Annual report (must be available on time in the register)
• Group member scheme must be submitted if the applicant has subsidiaries or holds a majority of votes in another company
• Power of attorney

Application evaluation

Applications are evaluated by an EIS business consultant, who may involve independent experts if necessary. The processing time, including evaluation, is up to 20 working days.

The evaluation criteria for the Development Grant application and their weightings in the overall score are as follows:

Evaluation methodology

Project implementation

The entrepreneur and the cooperation partner shall implement the project in accordance with the agreed conditions. If the cooperation partner requires an advance payment, the entrepreneur must initially cover this cost themselves (as is the case with all other state support schemes).

The use of the Development Grant must be communicated to the public.

The beneficiary is required to distinguish project-related expenses from other costs. Depending on the accounting software used in the company, this can be organised either by opening a separate cost account for the project or by marking the project costs with specific codes (e.g. object, project, etc.).

Submitting reports

After the completion of the project, the entrepreneur must submit a final report and other required documents to EIS regarding the work carried out. In order for the grant to be disbursed, the activities must be fully implemented.

If everything has been carried out as agreed at the start of the project, EIS will reimburse the full value of the voucher to the entrepreneur.

At the end of the project, a final project report must be submitted, including:

• A list of expenses (to be submitted in the E-support environment)
• A description of the activities carried out during the project and/or a technical description of the project results in free format, or the completed deliverable
• A general ledger extract to verify the separation of expenses (to be attached to the payment request)

Submit the report