PRIA_I4.0 is CIM4.0’s call for projects with a high level of technology maturity with a budget exceeding 3 million euros. The targets are large industrial players, SMEs and innovative startups, preferably in partnership with each other.

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Below is the answer to some questions that were asked at the Competence Center:

A Research Organization (ROD) turns out not to be able to be a project partner, but a subcontractor of a partner (or even more than one?). Can the ROD in turn use a supplier/subcontractor?
Yes correct. In addition, as a subcontractor of a partner it can in turn subcontract.

In a project, is it possible to use market products, and in the project itself test their applicability in an industrial context, thus focusing on the evolution of TRL on the online application, rather than the actual product?
Yes the application of a product or technology in different contexts can be funded.

In Appendix VI of the call, the definition of “background” is provided and the background discipline is given. Suppose the case where a background was from an ROD, which will possibly be a subcontractor of one of the project partners: in order to submit a proposal to the call in which it is planned to work and develop such a background, would the partner necessarily have to make such a background its own before submitting the proposal, or will it simply be enough to state that it will make a contract to the ROD that owns the backgound?
The correct answer is the second one so it is sufficient for the partner to state that he/she will make an agreement with the OdR who owns the background.

Is it possible to submit proposals prepared by ATIs composed of Italian SMEs and/or Large Industries with group headquarters outside Europe and production or development/research sites in Italy?
Yes the important thing is that the company has its production center and/or R&D center on Italian soil.

How will the Project Evaluation Committee be composed?
The committee will be defined after receiving all proposals so as to cover technological issues and avoid potential conflicts of interest; we will then select the professionals considered in our roster of evaluators (an expression of Academy and Industry). If necessary we will also supplement with external professionals.

What types of services, in the form of consulting, can CIM4.0 offer?
CIM4.0 will be able to support proposing companies with strategic and operational consulting services in the fields of Industry 4.0. It will provide not only resources and expertise but also infrastructure (pilot lines and laboratories)

Good morning, I have a question regarding the eligible costs of tangible assets. If within the project I purchase an asset with a depreciation of 5 years, only the portion of depreciation related to the project (max. 18 months) will be reimbursed, correct?
Yes, only the part related to the use you make of the asset relative to the project and only for the maximum duration of the project (18 months).

Is the submission of projects on a one-stop basis or will the projects all be evaluated at the end?
They will all be evaluated after May 8.

How much does the selection favor specific CIM 4.0 supply chains (eg Additive Manufacturing and Digital Twin/factory) over other possible eg IIOT, Worker Safety, Tracking assets etc?
There will be no preference for CIM 4.0 supply chains or specializations.

How useful/favorable is it to have CIM4.0 member companies in the consortium?
There is no premium to have CIM4.0 consortium member companies

Is the bonus there only for innovative startups or also for innovative PMs?
The important thing is that it is not an IM so the premium applies to innovative startups and MPMIs.

Good morning, Is the submission the responsibility of the lead partner or does it have to be done by all project partners? Thank you
Submission is the responsibility of the Lead Partner who must ensure that the attachments to be completed by the partners are also uploaded.

How many projects can each individual company submit (as a partner or group leader)?
We have not provided any limits.

Good morning, with regard to the development of advanced software or systems (e.g. pertaining to energy monitoring and energy management) how are the different stages of technological maturity evaluated? i.e., to what stage of development (of the sw/system) does TRL 5 correspond and to what stage might TRL 9 correspond?
We can also apply the same TRL definitions to SW development or production processes in general. So we will distinguish SW development at the PoC stage from SW development consistent with the Prototype concept. Available with the CIM4.0 team to go into and support in writing the project.

Can you summarize for me the minimum and maximum contribution limits for each project? Many thanks
For contributions from CIM, there is no minimum ceiling, while the maximum ceiling is 200kEuro per project.

Is the extension of rewards to 10 points in the case of clustering only for innovative MPMIs or all MPMIs with costs above 30 percent?
To be considered a partnership with MPMI the latter’s total activities must be at least 30 percent of the project cost.

One more question: can multiple applications (related to multiple projects) be submitted by the same beneficiary? Thank you
Yes

What economic/financial requirements must be passed to be eligible to participate in the call? if one passes the ebitda criterion but not the debt sustainability criterion, can one participate as a partner?
Both requirements must be met.

Good morning, I would like to have an insight related to territoriality. How can projects involving a larger partnership (with e.g. foreign start-up) be considered, but not funded but rather considered as a subcontractor on par with a research center?
It is valid if the foreign partner is a subcontractor and the specific skills cannot be found in the Italian ecosystem. In addition, it is important that the skills growth involves the company that is based in Italy.

Is the date of submission of the application a preference criterion for the disbursement of the grant?
The date of submission is considered in the case of a tie in the evaluation score as stipulated in Article 9 of the notice. It has weight in case there is an unresolved tie after the evaluation of the following parameters: possession of the legality rating, highest score in the spillover expected impacts in terms of know-how, highest score in the quality and consistency parameter of the proposal.

Good morning, are cloud server expenses with pay-per-service mode eligible?
Yes, as long as they can be traced back to the project.

If several companies get the same score, how are they ranked?
See Article 9 of the text of the notice.

Good morning, I have always read that the “maximum” contribution is 50% of expenses. Does it mean that the committee can also approve a contribution in a lower percentage? (e.g. 30%?) Thank you.
Yes as moreover stated in Art. 7 of the notice.
“The grants provided in this Notice are awarded according to the provisions of the Directorial Decree of January 29, 2018 adapted according to EU Regulation No. 651 of 17/06/2014 […]”

Can a company that has already been admitted to the previous call for applications participate in this one as well? Thank you in advance
Yes

Are the contributions under de minimis?
No

How is the reporting of expenses toward the CIM for the use of the 50% contribution? Does a plan have to be made that is then audited or is it done on an actual basis?
When submitting the application, it is necessary to specify the activities that the competence center will carry out. Then the plan of activities must be made explicit.

If I use an asset (e.g., leased machinery) that is not newly acquired, but that I already have on hand, can I account for its usage costs related to the project?
Yes

Is there any additional premium if you involve companies that are not part of CIM 4.0?
No, the award is linked to the formation of a grouping indiscriminately whether they are CIM companies or not.

Is a lab-validated prototype whose final layout (developing industrialization requirements as well) is to be prototyped in order to test it in an operational environment eligible?
Yes is eligible as activities considered in the TRL7 to TRL9 stages of technological maturity.

Who can I contact for financial/financial requirements?
The requirements are given in Appendix 2 of the announcement. In case of further information please write to info@cim40.com.

Is it also okay to have a proposal WITHOUT the testing/piloting partner in the field? That is, is it okay to express proposal only from solution development partner e.g. from an existing base/patent.
The discriminating element is always the determination of the TRL achieved so it depends on the proposed solution. As mentioned, projects from TRL 5 to TRL6,7 and 8 can be submitted.

Good morning. In case of partnership project submission, should the application on PICA platform be submitted only by the lead partner or also by the partners?
Submission is the responsibility of the Lead Partner who must ensure that the attachments to be completed by the partners are also uploaded.

Obviously the reasoning about ex-fair only counts on the last ranked…if not tied if they are not last they both pass.
The reasoning is general to determine proper ranking, certainly it is relevant if it can determine funding or not.

The conditions for deeming the verification passed are the following: EBITDA 1> 0, DEBT SUSTAINABILITY 2> 0.
Do they also apply to small innovative companies?
Yes they do. As per the text of the announcement only innovative start-ups are excluded.
These will be required to self-certify.

Questions? Write to info@cim40.com