The project has just launched a call for project proposals directed towards SMEs working in raw material and mining, ICT, advanced manufacturing, resource efficiency, and circular economy. It will be open until 14 March 2022.
SMEs can receive funding in form of a lump sum of max. 50,000 EUR in total. They can participate in one or more projects funded under MINE.THE.GAP.
These two vouchers are available to SMEs:
• MINE-PoC (max. 25,000 EUR per SME): projects for the design and implementation of a prototype/proof-of-concept to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed solution
• MINE-Demo (max. 50,000 EUR per SME): projects for developing and testing in a production environment of a simple functional demo/pilot with all the major features of the product/service/solution

Details about the call: https://h2020-minethegap.eu/open-calls/

How can SMEs participate?
MINE.THE.GAP funds collaborative activities between two or three for-profit and/or public SMEs. Therefore, SMEs need to create a project consortium of two or three partners. They need to come from at least two of the MINE.THE.GAP consortium countries or from a country of the Mining Industry Smart Specialisation Platform, which are: Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Spain, or Sweden.
At least of the project partners needs to be an “adopter” of the product/service/solution, while at least one partner needs to be a “provider” of the proposed product/service/solution.

Objectives of MINE.THE.GAP
The raw materials and mining sectors must undergo deep changes to adapt to current trends and technologies. Industrial modernisation and digitisation are not only keywords for big companies, but also for SMEs. However, in day to day business, small and medium enterprises might find it more difficult to invest in a greener and more digital future. Therefore, MINE.THE.GAP aims to bring together technology providers and businesses in the mining industry to create new and improved value chains. Through MINE.THE.GAP, European SMEs can enter new collaborations to develop products, technologies, solutions, and services for the raw materials and mining sectors.
MINE.THE.GAP provides direct financial support to SMEs through innovation vouchers as well as business support services for the selected projects to enhance innovation capacities, promote technology transfer and commercialisation, and boost internationalisation.

Project website: https://h2020-minethegap.eu/