What truly sets a strong industrial partner apart in Horizon Europe?

One key thing is shared goals – the business actually deals with your issue, better if it’s on their radar already. Another piece? Real resources from partners – like tools, data, rules expertise, or customer channels, nothing vague. Then there’s tech readiness – labs handle early science stuff, companies take it further into real-world testing and use. When these match up, everything else falls into place naturally.

Who actually gets the help? That’s the beneficiary. Someone lending support without leading – that role fits an associated partner. A third party stands apart entirely, neither involved nor directly impacted.

A beneficiary puts pen to paper on the Grant Agreement, then gets EU cash – they handle duties and hit targets. While one steps in without funding, that’s an associated partner – their strength lies in opening doors like sites, user groups, pilot runs, plus trust. Others chip in now and then – these third parties give resources or help, guided by someone already in. Need hands-on tech work tied to spending? Go for a beneficiary. Want real-world labs, data piles, or medical spots instead? A linked ally might fit just right – with less hassle getting them started.

Where do powerful industry contacts actually come from?

Warm contacts work better than cold messages. Try this: look at the thank-you sections of your recent joint papers – suppliers pop up there sometimes. Check out active standards groups in your field – they’re full of connected folks. Peek into old Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe project teams; those people talk. Also, reach out to gear makers who’ve helped your lab before – their reps remember you. Instead of blasting vague emails, send a tight two-page note with clear points. It goes way farther.

What should your initial message include?

A single page, split into five bits: (1) spell out the issue fast; (2) toss in a real-world example that affects cash flow or plans; (3) keep it light – just need half an hour on Zoom or a quick letter by Friday; (4) here’s what I’ve got ready – tools, checklists, data files, reference points; (5) timing matters – the grant closes next week, funds could hit $50K, odds look decent.

What’s the quickest way to check if a company is legit – without making them nervous?

Hit up a 60-min chat using a checklist – spot the key person making calls, check if they’ve done EU work before, get clear on who owns what IP, see how many engineers are free and when they can start, confirm test locations or users, note any legal hurdles, watch for warning signs like big claims with no proof, unnamed team members, or dodgy answers about ownership. After that, send a short role summary and push for a written yes within three days.

Who owns what – ideas, secrets, past work, new stuff – how do you keep it fair?

First, swap basic NDAs between both sides. When drafting the plan, spell out past inventions clearly – include names, who owns them, and how they’re accessed. Decide new project rights using standard rules, only change if really necessary. Focus on the outcomes required to make it work: which person needs what info, when, under what setup. Limit extra notes; the sample funding contract covers most common concerns anyway.

What’s the real role of an industrial partner in the project tasks?

Doing well means both acting and choosing – like guiding interns or tech staff, taking in visiting researchers, sharing actual tools or info. Try shaping models or testing early versions instead. Run small trials with clear goals – say, users signed up, time used, precision scores. Share ownership on follow-up plans, whether it’s patents, shared designs, or setting norms. Hand out checkpoints that feel worth reaching, something solid to show off.

When’s the best time to finalize a Letter of Intent (LoI), also known as LoI? What key points should go into it instead?

Aim to finish 6-8 weeks ahead of the due date. A solid letter includes: the call ID or name, whether the firm is a main participant or a supporting partner, the exact work they’ll do, how many months people will spend, the locations they’ll use, plus someone you can reach out to and their job role. You don’t need complex legal terms; clear details matter way more. When the business is directly involved, match the letter to Part A’s funding plan and give them a task or work package – keeps everything making sense.

What role do pricing setups plus financial backing play in driving industry interest?

Most research projects receive full coverage of actual costs, plus a flat 25% overhead. When it comes to innovation efforts, businesses usually take home 70%, while nonprofits may claim everything. With lump sums, cash flows follow delivered results – like a working model, shared data, or trial findings – not billable hours. Smaller steps make risky tech tasks easier to manage and fund.

What are the red flags that suggest a partner will under-deliver?

No specific team members introduced – just someone from business development appears at meetings. Won’t hand over basic info, not even rough outlines. Talks about entering markets but won’t line up test runs or real users. Hard to reach when shaping the pitch. Résumés missing the job’s real duties. When you spot a couple, just move on.

Our focus is on microfluidic systems – so what grabs industry experts’ attention?

Numbers tell what’s actually working. Chip designs like droplet makers using flow focus, systems that sort by inertia, and tools that measure cell signals through resistance – this shapes how things run. Build layers matter too: glass on silicon, SU-8 with PDMS, or basic thermoplastic sheets. Aim for 1 to 5 thousand drops per second. Keep variation under 5%. Know the lowest signal you can catch. Set clear steps to calibrate every time. Match trial setups to real gear – like pressure boxes from known brands, fast video rigs, impedance readers. Tests should pass or fail within a few hours, something a single tech can handle.

How long does it take to go from first call to a credible partnership package?

A solid two-page intro plus a test WP means you’ll likely take 2-4 weeks to pick candidates and lock in letters. Then add another 4-6 weeks to tweak job details, funding numbers, or ownership terms. Got less than four weeks overall? Focus the request – like seeking a pilot ally right away instead of full involvement – and keep standards high.

What does the Microfluidics Innovation Center concretely bring as an industrial SME?

Execution plus trust. MIC builds full lab systems – like chips, fluid controls, sensors, automated tools – not just ideas on paper. Devices are made to order, with working prototypes delivered quickly, turning plans into tangible results rather than vague goals. Team-up writing for impact and use cases happens together. Shared testing across labs gets organized, and colleagues can visit for training stays. In EU project groups, having us onboard often doubles chances of getting funded versus average hit rates – for similar grants – since assessors spot actual hardware, practical timelines, clear paths to real-world application.

Got a quick way we could find partners? Maybe something simple that’s worked before?

Week 1: sketch out a short role summary across two pages while tossing together a single slide that shows what’s in it for them.

Week 2: reach out to ten solid leads – set up five deep-dive chats.

Week 3: pick 2 or 3 options instead; hand out role summaries along with NDAs; collect existing IP details at the same time.

Week 4-5: secure letters of intent first, then link up tasks with spending plans – next, sketch out trial approval checks.

Set limits: no more than two results promised to any partner in each work package. Back up every statement with a clear number or measure. Only assign secondments when there’s a specific tool involved, mention the data source, plus state the goal in just one sentence.