August 2015

Support Scheme for SMEs to Participate in Selected Trade Fairs

Under the RockEU Coordination Action, a financial & organizational support scheme to bring SMEs to trade fairs will be carried out for the second time.

16 October 2015 - Deadline for Application 
2 November 2015 – Announcement of companies selected to receive support


The first trial was launched and tested at AUTOMATICA Service Robotics 2014. Based on the big success and positive feedback from the participants, a second round of the SME support is now set up.

EUnited Robotics, as a partner of the RockEU Coordination Action, will arrange the support scheme for SMEs to participate at one of the four following selected trade shows.

Trade fairs selected (backed by euRobotics BoD Sub-Task Force AUTOMATICA):

• AGRITECHNICA (Hannover, 10-14 November 2015)
• MEDICA (Düsseldorf, 16 – 19 November 2015)
• LogiMAT (Stuttgart, 8-10 March, 2016)
• AUTOMATICA Service Robotics (Munich, 21-24 June, 2016)

Conditions: 

• Up to 12 SMEs will get supported
• € 3,000 / company (no extra travel support will be granted)
• SMEs can decide to participate in a joint booth (if applicable) with full service, or organize their own booth independently
• All SMEs receiving support will have to show a standardized sign acknowledging the support

Selection Criteria:  

• Participation is open to all European SMEs active in Service Robotics!
• SME definition (according to EC Recommendation 2003/361/EC):
• less than 250 employees
• annual turnover less or equal to € 50 million, and/or balance sheet less or equal to € 43 million
• The company has to be "independent"
  
• Other selection criteria are:
• Product maturity: only companies with marketable products (ready-to sell or advanced prototype) are acceptable.
• SR components are acceptable, however application-oriented products are preferred ("Real" service robots).
• Presentation of exhibits: what products will be presented and how.
• First time participation of a company at a selected trade show will be given priority.
• Support will be given only once to each company, irrespective of how many fairs the company is participating in.

    
Selection procedure:
Selection will be done by euRobotics Sub-Task Force AUTOMATICA, based on: 

• Application
• Eligibility criteria
• First come first served
• Number of participations at the selected trade fair

• Conditions and selection criteria
• Participation Form
• Special offer for AUTOMATICA SR 2016

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Susanne Bieller
EUnited Robotics
Phone: +32 2 706-8222
E-mail: susanne.bieller@eu-nited.net

About RockEU
RockEU (Robotics Coordination Action for Europe) is a FP7 project to support activities related to the planned PPP for robotics in Europe, such as the Strategic Research Agenda 2020 on robotics, the related multi-annual roadmap, as well as networking activities of euRobotics AISBL.