1. Objective of the Call

The objective of program is to promote the establishment of Biotechnological Incubator Centres (hereinafter referred to as incubator centres) managed autonomous or detachedly which is capable of incubating small and medium-sized enterprises on the field of biotechnology, through supporting the investment necessary for the establishment of the centres.

The incubator centre to be established with the subsidy shall provide favorable conditions for the R&D activities (development of new products, services and methods) of the settling SME-s and, in addition, the incubator centre shall assist in the economic strengthening of enterprises functioning at the incubator centre.

2. Activities eligible to be supported

Implementation of the special technological infrastructure needed for establishment of the incubator centre.

3. Eligible Applicants

Application for the incubator centre establishment projects can be submitted by autonomous legal corporations, foundations, public companies as well as budget financed organizations or institutes with legal entity, settled in Hungary. The above-mentioned entities may apply independently or within the frame of a consortium composed of up to four members. However, budget financed organizations or institutes with legal entity may be supported as members of a consortium only.

4. Financing

The subsidy is provided by the Research and Technology Innovation Fund (hereinafter, the Fund).

The National Office for Research and Technology (hereinafter referred to as NKTH) provides HUF 1.000 million, in words: one billion Hungarian Forints in order to support the winning projects.

5. Form of project funding, duration of projects

Conditions of the subsidy: grant. without repayment obligation
Duration of the project: 24 months.

6. Evaluation and judgment criteria

The KPI verifies the fulfillment of formal requirements. The proposals that fulfil the formal requirements are evaluated by the Jury composed of representatives of trade organizations as well as independent technical and economic experts. The members of the Jury evaluate the proposals by scoring and words, and make recommendation whether the proposal:

• shall be accepted with unchanged content and conditions or
• it shall be refused.

The Jury shall justify its recommendation. The decision on granting the support falls within the responsibility of the president of NKTH.

When selecting the project proposals, it is a fundamental requirement that the functional and financial model of the incubator centre meets the expectances formulated in clause 1 of the Project Guide and is in conformity with the objectives and priorities of the program.

During the evaluation, the under mentioned projects are preferred:

• the incubator-house function is put to the front (reception and promotion of the beginner enterprises in order to set them on growth path)
• the incubator centre is planned to be established near the professional knowledge-base (e.g. university) or within the area or close to a technological centre,
• enterprises leaving the incubator centre are offered the possibility of settling nearby,
• providing the services of the incubator centre even after leaving it,
• the function is based on a self-financing economic model,
• the incubator centre offers rental allowance to the enterprises moving in for a definite time.

Evaluating criteria of the proposals:

• Do the incubator centre equipment and the planned special technological infrastructure meet the requirements of the biotechnological enterprises working on the wanted specialty? (16 points)
• Feasibility of the planned investment and validity of the costs. (10 points)
• Efficiency of the subsidy utilization. (8 points)
• Eligibility of the applicant or the consortium and the management, respectively, to establish and operate the incubator centre. (8 points)
• Reality of the five-year business plan and its accommodation to the selected operating and financial model. (14 points)
• Integration of the planned incubator centre into professional, entrepreneurial, geographical, and physical environment. (16 points)
• Expected regional impacts of the project. (4 points)
• Supply and charge of the enterprise and innovation supporting services provided by the incubator centre. (8 points)
• Rental- service charge- and other allowances granted to the enterprises which are settled in the incubator centre. (4 points)
• Elements of guarantee needed for the successful implementation of the project (e.g. references, letters of intention, worth and value of the caution offered for the breach points). (4 points)
• Arrangements in order to provide the exchange of enterprises moving in or out. (4 points)
• Ideas relating to the aftercare of enterprises leaving the incubator centre. (4 points)

The total amount of the may be given scores shall be 100. Projects with scores 75 at least may be subsidized provided that either of the criteria is scored at least 50%.

Date of announcement: 22.09.2005
Deadline for submission: 24.10.2005