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Cascade Funding
With the management of cascading calls for projects, we open up new funding opportunities beyond the traditional calls for proposals.
Cascade funding, or also known as Third Party Financial Support, is a European Commission mechanism that distributes smaller amounts of public funds in a more agile way, supporting specific topics such as the incorporation of new technologies, the promotion of start-ups and sector pioneers, etc.
The main objective of this funding method is to simplify administrative procedures for applicant entities, mostly SMEs and start-ups, thus allowing some EU-funded projects to issue, in turn, open calls for further funding. In other words, cascade funding is a simplified public funding opportunity, designed to facilitate a greater capillarity of EC funds and actions, facilitating the participation of SMEs and start-ups, since for them, participating in a European project means dealing with a large amount of bureaucracy.
How does cascade funding help SMEs and Start Ups?
This mechanism offers funds, ranging from 50,000 to 150,000 euros, to start-ups and micro-SMEs; it offers them the possibility of establishing relationships and working side by side with other companies – many of them from industries of great weight and importance at a European level, technology centres and universities. To participate, no prior guarantee or collateral is required; the evaluation times are shorter, as is the bureaucratic and administrative management itself, and the reporting is simpler, since it is based, in most cases, on work performance.
Cascade funding is grants that are managed and paid by the beneficiaries of the European project that supports them. This means that funding decisions are no longer the responsibility of the European Commission, but of the project leaders or coordinators. They open the calls for proposals to attract potential beneficiaries, more specifically, start-ups and SMEs.
Regarding the sectors that can benefit from this type of funding, the vast majority of cascade grants cover digital areas, such as Industry 4.0, data, embedded systems, but they are also being extended to blockchain or energy saving technologies. However, funding can be allocated to various types of specific activities, from studies, to experiments, pilots, developments, etc.
800 M€
Under Horizon 2020 in Cascade Funding
15
Projects in which we are involved
+1,000
Organisations supported by Zabala Innovation
+35M€
Dissemination through support programmes
Advantages
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1. Calls for proposals
Horizon 2020 has allocated almost €800 million to Cascade Funding calls.
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2. SMEs and Start-ups
Mostly aimed at SMEs and start-ups, these calls provide funding ranging from €50,000 to €200,000 in non-repayable funds.
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3. Simple procedure
Unlike other procedures in European funding programmes, it is easier to participate.
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4. Success
As these calls are less known than regular calls, the proposals' chances of success increase.
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5. European innovation
It is the gateway to the European innovation ecosystem.

“All companies looking for funding and willing to take the next step to launch or consolidate their products and services on the market, can find an opportunity here.”
Sara Mateo
Entrepreunership Knowledge Area Leader