13 Amendments of Patrizia TOIA related to 2022/2063(INI)
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is concerned about the announcement in early 2022 of changes to the structure of the Fund compared to the situation under the EIC Pilot, while the companies from the first two cut-offs from 2021 had been already selected for funding;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is deeply concerned about the apparco- investment policy for the EIC Fund never to be the lead investor in an equity round, in particular in combination with the requirement for companies to bring in matching co-investment from external investors; believes this goes against the objectivestrategic objectives and main logic of the EIC;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises that an external lead investor brings added value because this lead investor may have highly specialised knowledge of the market segment relevant for a specific investment, and that the EIC Fund, owing to its size and general nature, may not be able to match this specialised knowledge, however, acknowledges that this should not be an upfront requirement but an objective of the EIC fund during the lifetime of the grant project;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Firmly rejects the notion that the EIC Fund cannot be the sole investor or the lead investor; emphasises that the ability to invest even when the market is not ready to do so is one of the key justifications for the existence of the EIC; concludes that the investment policy of the EIC Fund should reflect this to decisively encourage this kind of operations;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes with concern that evaluators are giving mixedconfusing signals to stakeholders regarding the appropriate risk and bankability of EIC Accelerator proposals, affecting specially to the participation of under-represented regions and woman-led companies; recalls that one of the core principles of the EIC is the ability to take risk; recalls further that point 1.1.2 of Annex I to Council Decision (EU) 2021/764 identifies providing funding to non-bankable projects as a core objective of the EIC Accelerator; is deeply convinced that the EIC Accelerator can only be successful if there is a clear policy and communication on the appropriate risk for and bankability of EIC Accelerator projects;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Notes with concern that data on participation in Horizon Europe/EIC first rounds of calls for proposals show a worrying reduction in SME participation in the program; for this reason, stresses out that the EIC instruments should remain open to all types of innovators and that an appropriate balance should be ensured in the selection of projects and the disbursement of funding; further calls on the Commission to consider, in the context of the midterm evaluation, reintroducing the 20 % 'quota' of resources for SMEs as provided for in Horizon2020 and to include SME participation among the award criteria for project selection;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11 c. Recalls that according to Article 48 of the Regulation establishing Horizon Europe, the EIC Accelerator may also provide, under certain conditions, grant- only supports to SMEs, including start- ups, which are considered as crucial for the development of business projects that do not necessarily imply the sale of share capital; therefore, considers that instruments such as the grant-only support play an important role in supporting new markets creating innovation and must find adequate space in the implementation of the EIC;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Commission to implement the activities of the European Innovation Council in line with the provisions of Articles 9 and 48 of the Regulation establishing Horizon Europe, respecting in particular the provisions relating to project risks and bankability, openness to all types of innovation including incremental innovation, support for all types of innovators, including SMEs and Mid-Caps, and the use of all forms of support provided, including the grant-only support;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Commission to include in the Work Programme targeted measures to improve participation of companies from underrepresented countries and to enhance participation of female innovators and measures to monitor their progress;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Calls on the Commission to include measures to improve the participation of SMEs and to make the EIC accelerator accessible and attractive for innovative SMEs, by the simplification of the application process to decrease barriers for SMEs;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13 c. Calls on the Commission to revise the EIC accelerator current submission process and its time to grant, aligning the EIC platform to the evaluation criteria of the EIC accelerator. Such revision should aim to a fast and simple instrument fit for the needs of European deep-tech start- ups, reaching a target time to grant of 4 to 5 months;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 f (new)
Paragraph 13 f (new)
13 f. Calls on the Commission to improve the synergies and collaboration with the EIT;