Cascade Funding

Frequently asked questions

• What is cascade funding?

  The funding is a mechanism of the European Commission that provides an opportunity for start-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises to quickly access European funds ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 euros. In addition, fewer applicants for these grants increase their success rate, making them an attractive source of funding. It also represents a valuable opportunity for these entities to strengthen their collaboration networks at the European level and to consolidate both their position and that of their products in the European market.

• Who is the target group for this type of aid?

  Although most of them are aimed at entrepreneurs and SMEs, it is important to check in detail the conditions in each case as some are open to universities, centres, large companies or individuals not necessarily linked to a legal entit

• Will cascade funding replace the SME Instrument?

  No. Cascade funding opportunities are a completely separate and unrelated funding mechanism to SME Instrument calls.

• Why cascade funding?

  Being an innovative start-up, SME or mid-cap company often means facing a number of budgetary challenges that will have to be addressed. Seeking funding under European calls for proposals is the next step, but the process of finding partners and submitting a proposal, in the hope that it will be approved, is a long road that many companies cannot travel.

  This is where cascade funding comes in. Horizon 2020 allocated almost €800 million in cascade funding calls. In practice this means that instead of going directly to the source, which in this case is Horizon 2020, start-ups and SME owners can seek funding as a third party through an open call for an ongoing project.