The FIT-4-NMP project’s objective is to increase the participation of talented newcomers, promising innovation organisations – especially SMEs – from underrepresented regions in EU-13, EU-15 and Associated Countries in NMP projects in Horizon Europe, as compared to Horizon 2020. The increase in participation of the talented newcomers will be brought about by connecting them with NMP hotspots, where important NMP innovations are demonstrated, as well as networking them with NMP Top Innovators. From a strategic perspective, FIT-4-NMP will survey talented newcomers and experts responsible for regional and national R&I policy, in order to understand the precise reasons for non-participation of newcomers in NMP projects. In turn, best practices will be identified and policy measures formulated and communicated to relevant stakeholders: talented newcomers; regional/national authorities responsible for R&I policy; local innovation and technology transfer nodes; and the EC. From a targeted perspective, the FIT-4-NMP will: (1) organise innovation workshops between talented newcomers and NMBP Top Innovators; (2) provide hands-on support to talented newcomers to prepare NMP proposals for Horizon Europe; (3) facilitate networking for talented newcomers at major European conferences and regional brokerage events; (4) provide training to talented newcomers on technology-transfer, proposal writing, and use of European networking portals.

Technology Partners will lead the Innovation Workshops WP2 where talented newcomers will be invited to develop research cooperation plans with Top Innovators – EU top research organisations leading in terms of participation in H2020 NMP projects. For this purpose Technology Partners will organise and animate dedicated workshops at Fraunhofer, CEA, VTT, TU Delft and TU Dresden with innovative SMEs and research organisations that have not yet participated in NMP H2020 calls. Technology Partners will contribute to the identification of these innovative SMEs and research organisations, provide training on preparing proposals for the EIC Accelerator, EIC Fast Track to Innovation and M-ERA.NET schemes and contribute to analytical work aimed at understanding the precise reasons for non-participation of newcomers in H2020 NMP projects, and at formulating suitable measures to tackle these problems.