Joint projects:Cooperation between companies and research groups

1. Joint projects:
Cooperation between companies and research
groups
Companies and research organisations can carry
out their R&D projects as joint projects.
The preparation of such projects should be
based on business research needs. Tekes
funding is mainly intended for SMEs. SMEs,
large corporations and research organisations
play different roles in projects.
Each partner in a joint project must send a
separate funding application to Tekes.
It is worth contacting a Tekes expert during the
project planning phase.
2016-01

2. Joint projects:
1. Large corporations and research organisations
In the case of large corporations and
research groups, it is worth planning joint
projects in situations where, in its own R&D,
the large corporation needs a research
organisation's assistance.
The researchers engage in basic research
whose results are also widely applicable to
companies uninvolved in the project.
Companies involved in such a project are
seeking some form of far-reaching renewal,
such as an entirely new business model or
position in the value chain.
The large corporation must cover at least
70% of the total costs of the project. Each
project of this kind must fulfil the funding
criteria applying to large corporations.
2016-01

3. Joint projects:
2. SMEs and research organisations
In projects involving SMEs, mid cap
companies and research organisations,
project preparations must be based on
identified business research needs.
Joint projects must involve at least three
(3) SMEs and/or mid cap companies,
which are aiming at greater
internationalisation of their business
operations or R&D.
The business benefits of the project must
be clearly described in the project plan.
SME/mid cap companies must cover at
least 50% of the total project costs.
2016-01

4. Joint projects:
3. Large companies and SMEs
Joint projects for large companies and SMEs
provide large corporations with a means of
engaging partners in long-term R&D projects.
For an SME, a joint project provides a way of
becoming involved in a wider business
development network.
A joint project allows a large company to
demonstrate that it is networking with SMEs.
In the case of large corporations, 40% of
networking must primarily involve industrial
R&D projects (Tekes grant) and 15% other
large-corporation projects (Tekes loan).
Networking percentages can be demonstrated
by comparing the scope of SME projects with
the aggregate size of large-corporation
projects.
2016-01

5. Joint projects:
4. Other cases
If the joint project involves parallel projects
between large corporations, SMEs and
research organisations or universities, the
funding conditions are determined by a
combination of the previous models.
If the joint project involves only large
corporations, each must fulfil the general
funding criteria for individual large
corporations. Networking via subcontracting
is one of these criteria.
In international joint projects, Tekes will
fund Finnish organisations according to the
principles listed here, but based on an
assessment of the Finnish participants only.
2016-01

6. Submitting applications for joint projects
 Each party to a joint project must send a separate
funding application to Tekes.
 The applicants must describe their own contribution
to the overall project, as well as their cost estimate
and financing plan.
 A joint project plan or research plan must be drawn
up, which each participant must submit as an
attachment to its application form.
 The plan must present the partners involved and
their role in the project as a whole.
 A jointly agreed project identifier, such as an
abbreviation of the project name, must be added to
the basic information in the application.
 It is worth contacting a Tekes expert during the
planning phase of the project.
2016-01

7. Reporting on joint projects
The participants must report regularly to
Tekes on their progress and costs,
according to the agreed schedule.
Success in achieving the joint project's
objectives and cooperation will be
monitored through the reports
submitted by each participant.
2016-01