IT companies Keel24 and Sentab Estonia are starting the first Horizon 2020 SME second instrument projects in Estonia, which are funded by the European Commission. The consultants of Invent Baltics helped Estonian companies Keel24 and Sentab in preparing project applications for the second phase of Horizon 2020 product development support fund created for small and medium-size companies. So far these are the only Estonian companies to receive funding as project coordinators within the framework of the second phase of the SME round of applications. Both companies applied within the framework of the Information and Communication Technology call for applications of the SME instrument, which is also the area with the highest number of applicants: only 14 projects were chosen for funding out of the 191 applications.

Keel24 OÜ is known for its innovative language learning software Lingvist. Lingvist is a computer-based language learning programme, which uses statistical and mathematical optimisation methods in order to personalise and accelerate the studies. Within the framework of the project, the team of Keel24 will be developing the language learning software in order to achieve higher individual study efficiency, adding new languages and preparing the software for entering larger markets.

Sentab Estonia OÜ is developing a social communication platform for the senior part of the population, which allows them benefiting from entertaining content, communicating with family and peers as well as keeping in touch with service providers. The platform’s advantage is the ability to analyse efficiently behavioural patterns, and thereby improve the quality of life of senior citizens, offer them suitable content and improve services, including prevent accidents and respond adequately, if necessary. Within the framework of the project, the team will be focusing on software development in order to detect the patterns of the emotional condition of seniors and integrate them into the communication and database systems of Sentlab.

The SME instrument is a measure specifically aimed at the small and medium-sized companies within the European Commission research and innovation programme Horizon 2020. The instrument supports near-to-market product development projects. Phase 1 of the SME instrument supports pre-studies of the project, i.e. the technological feasibility study of the idea, market research, patent research and preparation of a business plan. Phase 2 supports product development and initial marketing activities.

Invent Baltics offers consultations for the SME instrument and other Horizon 2020 measures free of charge.

Toci OÜ, which is located in Tartumaa is one of the leading profile and sheet metal products for the machinery industry in the Baltic states offering metal works and laser cutting services. The majority of the produce is products used for maritime navigation and maritime safety. The company is the official supplier for the Danish wind generator manufacturer Vestas and they also cooperate with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norwegian Defence Forces (fastenings for hand firearms in vehicles) and they manufacture different metal products for the Shell stations across the world.

The company participated in the visit to and contact meetings in Sweden of the business delegation organised by the Chamber on 28-29 October 2014 and found a cooperation partner there. An agreement was signed with BSM Wreckers AB on 8 December 2014.

“The cooperation with foreign partners is very important and the hardest part is finding and meeting with the right people from the right companies. This might be the most time-consuming part of the process of reaching an agreement. Enterprise Europe Network did that part for us and thanks to that we found a partner interested in mutual cooperation very quickly.”

Aero Grupp OÜ is a company dedicated to ventilation systems that offers services that include cleaning, maintenance, measuring, project design and building.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry found the profile of the Latvian company Filtri SIA in which they were looking for a distributor of their products in Estonia. The profile was published in the Enterprise Europe Network database as well as in the Teataja magazine of the Chamber and the Chamber’s homepage. Aero Grupp was interested in the profile and contacted the Chamber with the wish to speak to the Latvian company. After exchanging contact data, the two companies reached an agreement that Aero Grupp will be marketing the Latvian company’s products in Estonia.

As a result of the cooperation the Estonian company improved its product portfolio and offering to the clients.

Toci OÜ, which is located in Tartumaa is one of the leading profile and sheet metal products for the machinery industry in the Baltic states offering metal works and laser cutting services. The majority of the produce is products used for maritime navigation and maritime safety. The company is the official supplier for the Danish wind generator manufacturer Vestas and they also cooperate with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norwegian Defence Forces (fastenings for hand firearms in vehicles) and they manufacture different metal products for the Shell stations across the world.

The company participated in the visit to and contact meetings in Sweden of the business delegation organised by the Chamber on 28-29 October 2014 and found a cooperation partner there. An agreement was signed with BSM Wreckers AB on 8 December 2014.

“The cooperation with foreign partners is very important and the hardest part is finding and meeting with the right people from the right companies. This might be the most time-consuming part of the process of reaching an agreement. Enterprise Europe Network did that part for us and thanks to that we found a partner interested in mutual cooperation very quickly.”

Aeroc Jämerä AS is a construction materials industry company manufacturing porous concrete products in Estonia. The factory is located in Andja near Kunda in Lääne-Viru County and all the main raw materials (sand, cement and used in the production are also from the same region. In August 2013, the company contacted EEN with the fish to find resellers or agents in Denmark for their products. The company’s profile was prepared and sent to the EEN partner of the Danish Chamber of Commerce that published the profile at their homepage. The company received five contacts through that channel. Aeroc Jämerä AS held negotiations for finding a potential sales channel at the Danish market with three of these contacts. One of them was selected (A-Supply A/S) and as a result a cooperation agreement was concluded on 4 July 2014. The Danish company also resells the products of various Danish concrete factories.

“The process was time-consuming, but such prior exchange of information was very useful – this was used to make conclusions, which we needed in order to enter the Danish market with our products. To some extent we needed to do some product development and find the optimum transport solution, because partially the high transport price was a hindering factor.