The Business Innovation Agency of the Republic of Croatia (BICRO) announced on June 13, 2013, the fifth Public Call for co-financing the initial phase of innovative scientific and entrepreneurial projects through the Proof of Concept (PoC) Program.
A total of 362 pre-applications were received, of which 54 competitors did not meet the criteria of the preliminary evaluation. Currently, 308 competitors are in the process of preparing project applications with a total value of over 113 million kuna. Competitors whose pre-applications were positively evaluated by Recognized Centers have until July 21, 2013, to prepare and submit complete applications. BICRO will evaluate the submitted project applications in the fifth round of the Proof of Concept Program and will inform the Competitors of the outcome through the Recognized Centers for the implementation of the Proof of Concept Program.
The Proof of Concept Program (PoC): The key objective of the Proof of Concept Program for entrepreneurs (PoC Private) is to provide innovative companies with the opportunity to verify and confirm the commercial application of research results and to establish an appropriate strategy for the continuation of commercialization. BICRO, in collaboration with Recognized Centers, allocates grants on a competitive basis to the best-rated projects up to 70% of the total project costs. The purpose of the Proof of Concept Program for scientists and researchers (PoC Public) is to enable the creation of new knowledge-based companies based in the Republic of Croatia with the potential and capacity for growth and development (so-called ‘spin-offs’ from universities and research institutes). The program supports the pre-commercialization of leading emerging technologies from Croatian universities, research institutes, and other higher education and scientific research institutions. The program helps scientists and researchers bring their ideas and inventions from the laboratory to the market.
