Equivalence for the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label
Are you an awardee of the European Commission EIC Accelerator Phase II program (former SME Instrument Phase II) ?
The Solar Impulse Foundation recently launched a collaboration with the European Commission (EC) with the aim of creating an equivalence between the EC selection process and the criteria assessed for the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label.
The aim of the equivalence is to recognize the projects selected by the EC as a part of the Solar Impulse Foundations 1000 Solutions portfolio, to provide visibility, credibility, and to further help them connect with potential stakeholders such as investors, clients, companies, and cities.
To this end, we invite you to apply for the Solar Impulse Label.
Introduction
About the Solar Impulse Label
The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label seeks to identify those solutions that bring together the protection of the environment and financial viability, demonstrating that such solutions are not expensive costs but rather opportunities for clean economic growth.
More about the Label
Label Process
How to leverage your EIC Accelerator Phase II program award to obtain the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label?
If your project was funded or awarded the Seal of Excellence in the scope of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator pilot Phase-2 / SME Instrument Phase-2 programme (see details of the requirements in the section below), you are only a few steps away from potentially obtaining the Solar Impulse Efficient solutions Label !
Indeed, the information you have previously used in your EIC Accelerator Pilot Phase-2 proposal can be used to speed up the application process for the Label. As only additional step, you will be required to respond to two question regarding the Environmental Impact of your Solution (approx. 30-45 min).
How does it works in practice?
Awardee of the EIC Accelerator Phase II program can easily apply for the Solar Impulse Label.
Create an account and complete your Member profile
Step 1
Sign the agreement and request validation to join the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions
Step 3
Upload your 3 documents (Seal of Excellence, Proposal Submission Form, and Evaluation Summary Report) from EIC Accel. Phase II (this will let you skip several questions)
Step 5
Be prepared to respond to potential additional questions, at this stage your application is assigned to three independent Expert for the evaluation of the third criterion
Step 7
If successful (your Solutions is awarded The Solar Impulse Label) start taking advantage of being part of the 1000 Solutions portfolio!
Step 9
Step 2
Complete your company profile (5min)
Step 4
From your dashboard, click on submit a Solution
Step 6
Complete the section regarding the Environmental Impact - third criterion (approx. 30-45 min)
Step 8
Receive a final outcome (labelled/rejected) based on the assessment of the three independent Experts
Requirements
Check if your project (Solution) is eligible for the equivalence
1. EC Programme
The Solution was granted funding or a Seal of Excellence in the scope of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator pilot Phase-2 / SME Instrument Phase-2 programme within the past 5 years;
2. Eligibility scope
The Solution fits in the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label eligibility scope (section 2).
3. Minimum scoring
The Solution obtained an overall rating of 3,5/5 minimum to the seven sub-criteria given by the EC evaluators.
4. Validation of environmental criterion
The Solution successfully validates the Solar Impulse Label Environmental Benefits criterion after assessment by three independent Solar Impulse voluntary Experts.
Not part of European Commission EIC Accelerator Phase II program (former SME Instrument Phase II) but still part of H2020 programme?
If your project belongs to other H2020 programmes (e.g. H2020/LCE; H2020/FCH JTI; H2020 SC5; H2020/EIT Climate KIC and many others…) you can still apply for the Label following our regular submission process. In addition, we are happy to support you and verify whether the information you have previously used in your H2020 proposal could potentially be used to speed up the application process.
FAQs
We advise you to contact us directly (solution@solarimpulse.com) so that we can review your files and give you advice on how to proceed. It is likely that most of the information/documents you have provided to the EC for the H2020 funding can be used for the Solar Impulse’s application and save you significant amount of time.
No, while both EIC-SME Phase 1 and Phase 2 instruments are specifically designed to promote innovation activities, they are intended to support different phases of innovation development. In particular, only SME Phase 2 projects are eligible for the SIF/EC equivalence, as they are devised to support the implementation of an innovation-driven business plan and thus to move from proof of concept/clinical studies to successful commercialization. Indeed, the notion of profitability, for both Client(s) and Seller, is a fundamental aspect assessed for the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label. As a result, projects belonging to SME Phase 1 scheme can still apply for the Label following our regular submission process (depending on their level of maturity) but they are not eligible for the SIF/EC equivalence.
No. Only SME Phase 2 projects are eligible for the SIF/EC equivalence. You should apply for the Label following our regular submission process.
We ask that you prepare the following documents (provided by the EIC Accelerator Phase II/SMEII program): 1) Seal of Excellence or Grant Agreement; 2) Proposal Submission Form; 3) Evaluation Summary Report; and 4) Proposal Submission Form - SUMMARY (a shorter version of the original Proposal Submission Form, to be edited/cut by the applicant). Should you require assistance on identifying these documents, we advise you to look at Chapter 6 of our Standards or contact us directly (solution@solarimpulse.com)
Want to know more?
Here are just a few of the things people frequently ask about the Equivalence for the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label. If you don't see your question here, get in touch with us
