Third Call for Participation in the

CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project
Consulting Programme
Third Call for Participation in the
CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 Project
(Close of registration acceptance prolongs to 8 May 2012)
The CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project is being implemented within the Consulting
Programme – Priority Axis 6, “Services for Business Development”, which is part of the
Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation (OPEI) for the period 2007-2013.
The project builds on the successful pilot phase, which took place from April 2010 to
March 2011 in Silicon Valley in the United States.
The objective of the project is to support innovative Czech firms in developed foreign
markets through the provision of consulting services focused primarily on the
development of management experience and enhancement of marketing skills. Part of
the provision of consulting services consists in support within the process of obtaining
financing in the form of venture capital and from business angels, easy access to
potential strategic partners and top advisors, and participation in networking events
and seminars with investors.
Interested parties can register for a stay in the following destinations:
East or West Coast of the United States, Singapore, Israel or Switzerland.
Registrants should indicate their preference in the registration form and, at the same
time, state the time period in which they would like to participate in the project in the
selected destination.
Individual destinations are focused primarily on:
USA – West Coast
USA – East Coast
Singapore
Israel
Switzerland
ICT, life sciences and nanotechnology
biotechnology, life sciences, medical technology and
clean technologies
ICT, biotechnology and life sciences
ICT, biotechnology, life sciences and clean
technologies
biotechnology, life sciences, clean technologies and
precision engineering
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CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project
Consulting Programme
Participation timeframe
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One stay with duration of 3-6 months in the period from 1 July 2012 to 31
December 2012. In the application form, the applicant shall specify the time
period of the stay, i.e. indicate the date of entry (between 1 July 2012 and 30
September 2012) and the anticipated date of termination of the stay (no later
than 31 December 2012)
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Two stays within six months during the period from 1 July 2012 to 31
December 2012. The applicant shall specify in the registration form a total of
two periods of stay, of which neither period may shorter than 1 month. There
must be an interval of at least one month between the individual stays. The
total combined duration of both stays must be at least four months.
or
The time periods for participation set forth in the registration form are not
binding for CzechInvest. Upon agreement with the project participant,
CzechInvest can change the date of start and termination of the stay in the
destination, or shorten the overall period of the stay.
In the case of an identical evaluation, CzechInvest will give preference to the
participant which selected a longer period of stay in the destination.
The CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project allows repeated participation.
Participants which have already participated in the project can re-register upon
fulfilling all conditions. However, former participants cannot register for a stay
in a destination where they have already participated in the project.
Conditions of participation
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The applicant must be a business entity – natural person or legal entity
conducting business – with its registered office or operations in the Czech
Republic and fulfilling the definition of a small or medium-sized enterprise as
set forth in Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 800/2008.
The applicant must be the owner of a clearly defined, existing (or
developed) technological product (tangible product or service), which is at
least 51% in the applicant’s ownership.
The applicant must have its own management and product-development teams
which operate in the Czech Republic at least 51% of the time.
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CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project
Consulting Programme
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The applicant must fulfil the following conditions:
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It must have a high degree of potential for successful commercialisation of
the product.
It must have strong interest in and motivation for penetrating international
markets.
It must have strong future growth potential.
It must be focused on development of new and innovative technological
solutions.
The applicant also must fulfil the following criteria:
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The applicant must be authorised to conduct business in the Czech
Republic corresponding to the supported economic activity for the
realisation of which the project is to be implemented.
According to the applicant’s affidavit, such applicant must be registered as
an income-tax payer with the Tax Office pursuant to Section 125(1) of Act
No. 280/2009 Coll., the Tax Code, as amended.
According to the applicant’s affidavit, such applicant shall not have any
outstanding liabilities toward selected institutions (Tax Office, the Czech
Social Security Administration, health-insurance companies, Land Fund,
Ministry of Finance as the legal successor of the State Property Fund,
State Environmental Fund, State Housing Development Fund, Customs
Administration of the Czech Republic, State Cultural Fund, State Fund of
the Czech Republic for Support and Development of Czech
Cinematography, State Agricultural Intervention Fund, regions,
municipalities and associations of municipalities) or toward providers of aid
for projects co-financed from the European Union budget. Deferment of
payment of outstanding liabilities or an agreement on the payment of
outstanding liabilities shall be considered as settled liabilities.
According to the applicant’s affidavit, the applicant shall not have any
outstanding liabilities towards its employees regarding wage claims.
The applicant shall have one of the following legal forms: 101 natural
person (hereinafter referred to as “NP“) conducting business pursuant to
the Trade Licensing Act (hereinafter referred to as the “TLA”), not
registered in the Commercial Register; 102 NP conducting business
pursuant to the TLA, registered in the Commercial Register; 105 NP
conducting business pursuant to acts other than the TLA and the
Agriculture Act, not registered in the Commercial Register; 106 NP
conducting business pursuant to acts other than the TLA and the
Agriculture Act, registered in the Commercial Register; 111 public
company; 112 limited liability company; 113 limited partnership; 121 jointstock company; 205 cooperative; 231 production cooperative; 232
consumer cooperative; 234 other cooperative; 241 cooperative enterprise
(with one founder); 421 foreign entity; 501 affiliated plant or other
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CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project
Consulting Programme
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organisational unit registered in the Commercial Register; 932 European
company; 933 European cooperative enterprise.
The applicant may not conduct business activities in the sector of primary
production of agricultural products, fishing and aquaculture (CZ-NACE A01
and A03) and other sectors exclude pursuant to Commission Regulation
(EC) No. 1998/2006.
An entity cannot be an applicant if as of the date of submission of
the application:
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Pursuant to the Act on Bankruptcy and Settlement, a court has declared
bankruptcy against its assets, granted a settlement or rejected a proposal
for declaration of bankruptcy due to insufficient assets.
A ruling on its insolvency has been issued pursuant to Section 136 of Act
No. 182/2006 Coll., on Insolvency.
A court has issued a ruling on the order of enforcement of a decision on
the given entity’s assets or ordered the execution of its assets.
It is in liquidation.
It is an enterprise in difficulties (Commission Regulation (EC) No.
800/2008).
It has an outstanding liability arising on the basis of an order to return
financial resources issued following the prior ruling of the Commission
declaring that aid is contrary to law and incompatible with the common
market.
It is a recipient of aid for young, innovative enterprises pursuant to Article
35 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 800/2008, provided less than three
years prior to the date of submission of the aid application.
As the CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project is being implemented
within OPEI, the results of the participant’s supported activities must
be realised in the Czech Republic, outside of Prague!
Individual steps necessary for registration
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Complete both the Czech and English versions of the project registration
form. Prepare financial statements for the past two accounting periods (or at
least for the latest accounting period in the case that the applicant has a
history shorter than two accounting periods).
Send both language versions of the registration form in “.doc” format
together with the financial statements and both signed versions of the
registration form in .pdf format (thus a total of five files) to
[email protected] no later than 22 April 2012. (prolongs to 8
May 2012).
Within three business days CzechInvest will send you an e-mail confirming
delivery of the registration form.
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CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project
Consulting Programme
Close of registration acceptance: 8 May 2012
Assessment and selection of registrants
All applications delivered by the deadline and fulfilling the formal requirements
and conditions of the call for participation shall be assessed by an assessment
committee, where the applicant will present its business plan and product.
The committee will assess the potential for commercial utilisation, the
product’s attractiveness from the perspective of the end-customer, the
product’s potential for a technology partner, the manner of introducing the
product to the market, the quality of the applicant’s working team, the
relevance of use in the accelerator, and
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Practical application of the product on the market (quality, practical utility).
Level of technological advancement, attractiveness and level of innovation of
the product (innovation standpoint, potential for future development).
Feasibility of the product (possibility of manufacturing in series production).
Exceptionality and uniqueness of the product (size and extent of competition,
the product’s potential to become established on the market, future demand
for the product).
Aid provided to project participants
Pre-departure preparation (anticipated timeframe: June 2012) –
support in the Czech Republic
CzechInvest will organise a four-day seminar divided into two basic areas:
1. Legal training focused on protection of intellectual-property rights, patent
protection, establishment of branches, labour law, basic aspects and
procedures for formulating contracts and tax consulting in individual
destinations.
2. Marketing and economics consultancy and practical services for successful
operation in the target market (i.e. marketing techniques, strategy, basic
principles of formulating a business plan, effective communication with
potential partners, presentation of basic procedures in negotiating with
venture-capital funds and business angels).
Participation in pre-departure preparation, which will be 100% paid for by
CzechInvest (costs will be incorporated into the utilised de minimis aid), is
mandatory. The participant shall fully pay the costs connected with transportation,
accommodation, etc.
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CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project
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Support at the place of operation (term of operation: July-December
2012)
Services provided to project participants which are ensured and 100% paid for
by CzechInvest (costs will be incorporated into the participant’s de minimis
aid):
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Stay of three to six months in office spaces of the contracting foreign partner.
Access to a network of technology firms, leading venture-capital funds and
potential customers in the destination through networking activities and
services ensured by the contracting foreign partner.
Services which the participant shall ensure and pre-finance in accordance with
instructions from CzechInvest (costs will be incorporated into the participant’s
de minimis aid):
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Participation in professional conferences and seminars. Eligible costs are
primarily registration and participation fees, costs connected with appearances
and presentations, etc. (aid in the amount of 100% of costs, though not
exceeding the maximum amount of CZK 200,000 per firm) (active participation
in trade fairs, i.e. activities connected with the active presentation of the
product, stand rental, etc., shall not be supported).
Services of experts and consultants in the destination, primarily legal,
marketing, business development, HR, etc. (aid in the amount of 50% of costs,
though maximally in the amount of CZK 200,000 per firm).
Training, mentoring and coaching in the destination (aid in the amount of 50%
of costs, though maximally in the amount of CZK 200,000 per firm).
Support for protection of intellectual-property rights, particularly consulting
services leading to the acquisition of patents abroad (aid in the amount of
100% of costs, though maximally in the amount of CZK 200,000 per firm).
Travel costs in the amount stipulated by the project for dispatched employees,
executives, owners, managers participating in management as members of a
statutory body of the enterprise (max. two persons for the period from July to
December 2012).
a) Travel costs, i.e. economy-class air travel from the Czech Republic to the
destination (aid in the amount of 50% of costs, though not exceeding the
maximum amount of CZK 15,000 per one round-trip airline ticket to the United
State or Singapore, or the maximum amount of CZK 8,000 per one round-trip
airline tick to Israel or Switzerland).
b) Contribution for accommodation (aid in the amount of 50% of costs, though
not exceeding the maximum amount of CZK 40,000 for the entire period of
July – December 2012, i.e. CZK 6,666 per month).
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CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project
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Aid for SMEs will be provided to participants pursuant to the de minimis rule.
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Aid is provided in the de minimis regime in accordance with Commission
Regulation (EC) No. 1998/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the application of
Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid. Such aid is provided in
the amount of 50% to 100% of eligible costs.
The total amount of de minimis aid provided to one enterprise may not
exceed the amount of EUR 200,000 in any three-year period (this refers to
the total of de minimis aid obtained in the current tax period and for the two
preceding tax periods).
For conversion of the amount of aid from OPEI pursuant to the de minimis
rule, the currency-conversion rate issued by the European Central Bank on the
date of provision of such aid, i.e. the date of conclusion of the contract, shall
be used.
Other state aid, i.e. state aid pursuant to Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union or aid in the de minimis regime pursuant to
Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1998/2006, cannot be provided for identical –
partially or fully overlapping – eligible costs of the participant supported from the
CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project.
An unsuccessful applicant can re-register in a new call under the condition that such
applicant fulfils the conditions of participation.
Other conditions
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Aid will be provided to the participant on the basis of a Contract on
Cooperation concluded with the aid provider, i.e. CzechInvest.
The participant is obligated to keep separate records and documentation
pertaining to eligible project costs and use of aid intended for financing eligible
costs and to retain such records for a period of ten years from the date of
termination of the project and minimally for a period of three years from the
closure of the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation in
accordance with Article 90 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1083/2006. All aid
recipients will be informed of the closure of the Operational Programme
Enterprise and Innovation.
Aid in the form of services is provided to participants during the duration of the
project; financial support (payment of part of the eligible costs) is provided
retroactively following termination of the project, providing that the conditions
set forth in the Contract have been fulfilled.
Throughout the entire period of project implementation and for a period of
three years from the date of termination of the project, the participant is
obligated to allow direct access by employees of the aid provider and
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CzechAccelerator 2011-2014 project
Consulting Programme
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administrator of OPEI for the purpose of conducting inspections pursuant to
Act No. 552/1991 Coll., on State Inspection. The participant is further obligated
to allow these employees direct access for the purpose of verifying compliance
with the conditions of the project and proper use of resources from the
provided aid, as well as inspections of the financial situation and accounting
and tax records of the aid recipient both at the place of project implementation
and at the aid recipient’s registered office.
For the purpose of inspection, the participant is obligated to retain all outputs
paid for from the project.
Other obligations of the participant are set forth in the Contract on
Cooperation.
Contact:
Lubos Matejka, project manager, CzechAccelerator programme
tel.: +420 296 342 909, [email protected],
Marketa Havlova, project manager, CzechAccelerator programme
tel.: +420 296 342 576, [email protected]
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