Where can I find the application form ?
The application form is available on the website dedicated to the call for expressions of interest (CEI) on the Greentech Innovation website and must be submitted on the Démarches Simplifiées platform along with all the required documents.
Can I modify my application after it has been submitted?
You can modify your application until the deadline, that is the 13.01.2025 16:00 (CET). To ensure that all applicants are treated equally, no additional information submitted after the closing date will be taken into account.
What arrangements are made to ensure the confidentiality of applications?
Application files are only consulted by Ecolab, the ministry’s directorates-general and the members of the audition panel. External experts will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement before consulting the applications.
Are all European companies eligible?
All companies that are domiciled in the European Union are eligible for the CEI, as long as they fulfil all other requirements. However, there are two separate application tracks for French companies and European companies (excluding France).
French companies can apply via this link: https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/ami-greentech-fr
European companies can apply via this link: https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/call-for-expressions-of-interest-greentech-innovation-eu-2024-2025
In what format should I submit my application? Can it be submitted as multiple files? Are there any file size limits?
The application is composed of several documents, including the application form, the MVP form, the business plan, etc. All these documents must be submitted via the Démarches Simplifées platform, as explained in the application form.
There are no file size or file number limits. However, in the interests of simplicity, and a fortiori of responsible digital use, we invite you to minimise the size of your files (compress files that are too large, reduce the quality of images where possible, etc.).
What are the selection criteria?
The main criteria for being selected for the Greentech Innovation programme are as follows: you must be an SME or start-up proposing an innovative project that has an impact and is in line with public policy on the ecological transition. For details of project eligibility and selection, please refer to the rules and the application form.
How can I be sure that my project is in line with public policies of the ecological transition? Is there a list available with all relevant topics? How can I find out about the various public policies? Are there official links?
Your project must fall within one of the following sectors:
- Sustainable food and farming
- Sustainable buildings and cities
- Decarbonising industry
- Water, biodiversity and biomimicry
- Circular economy
- Renewable and low-carbon energy
- Maritime innovation and marine ecosystems
- Sustainable mobility
- Risk prevention
- Environmental health – One health
- Green IT (Reduced environmental foot of IT)
- Sustainable finance & CSR
With regard to the public policy priorities of the ecological transition, you can find a list in the rules of the CEI However, this list is not exhaustive and projects that fall within one of the twelve sectors but are not linked to one of these priorities are eligible.
Can I get help to identify the relevant sector before submitting my application? Can I choose several sectors? What happens if I make a selection error? Does Ecolab reassign projects to the correct sector?
Applicants are expected to choose a single sector to link their project to, even if the project may appear to cut across several sectors. There are different juries for different sectors, so the right choice is important. We therefore ask applicants to pay particular attention to this, although we may reassign your project after the first selection stage if necessary.
What are the expectations regarding the description of environmental potential? Do I need supporting figures to apply?
In the application file, a table is provided to guide the applicant company to clearly and rigorously justify its environmental impact. The provision of substantiated or evidenced figures obviously lends credibility to this justification and will carry particular weight when the applications are examined. If the project is selected for an interview, the experts will question the applicant on the justification put forward in their application.
Is the legal status a criterion? Is a non-trading company eligible? Can an association apply?
Yes, as the AMI is aimed solely at companies, the legal status of the structure concerned is a criterion. Only companies that are registered in a commercial register are eligible. We therefore ask companies to submit their number in the national commercial registers as well as their intra-community VAT number.
Non-trading companies or associations are not suitable structures for economic activities that involve risk-taking. In the event of non-payment, the members of the association would have to repay the debts incurred out of their personal funds. Furthermore, there would be no access to commercial courts in order to deal with payment defaults and limit the risk for the people involved in the project.
What are the requirements in terms of share ownership? Can an SME be owned by an SME? Is an independent subsidiary that is part of a company with more than 250 employees eligible?
The European definition of an SME is as follows: a company with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover not exceeding €50 million. Companies are considered independent if no more than 25% of their capital or voting rights are held by one company or jointly by several companies that do not meet the definition of an SME.
Can a group of SMEs respond?
No, only single SMEs can apply to the CEI.
Do I have to be “made in Europe”?
Applicant companies must be domiciled in a member country of the European Union. Production can take place outside of the EU. However, the location of all or part of the production in the EU is taken into account when examining the applications.
Can I be selected if my project is similar to that of an SME already labelled by the Greentech Innovation programme?
We want to ensure a diverse range of Greentech solutions, so we favour variety over duplication. However, companies in the same sector might be complimentary or share common traits. The challenge for you will be to demonstrate the innovative nature of the proposed project and to argue what you can bring to the table that is different.
Are there any examples of projects that could be selected?
The projects that have so far been selected are available on a dedicated page on our website.
However, these projects are all unique in their way in no way guarantee the eligibility of your application.
Can I only apply with already existing projects? Are projects eligible before launch? What degree of maturity is expected?
The project submitted must already exist. Projects ideas cannot be selected. We ask that a minimum viable, delivered and functional product be presented.
Can a company that has just been created apply? Is there a turnover requirement?
Newly-created companies can apply if they are registered in the commercial register and have a minimum viable product.
Turnover must not exceed €50 million to meet the definition of an SME, but there are no minimum turnover requirements.
What is an MVP? Is a TRL 5/6 demonstrator appropriate? Can the MVP be a mock-up?
An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is a minimalist yet functional version of a product or service. This prototype of the product (or service) must at least partially meet the initial mission of the project and the theoretical objective of the finished product. It must demonstrate technical stability and must be capable of being tested in a real-life situation. Furthermore, we expect ideas for a next version that will close current loopholes and add new functionalities.
In TRL (Technology Readiness Level) terms, this would correspond to TRL 6, but Greentech Innovation does not apply strict TRL criteria. As the boundaries of development can be blurred and the constraints differ depending on the sector, we will carry out a case-by-case analysis to determine whether the project is sufficiently mature. Even if this turns out to not be the case, we invite promising projects that are not yet sufficiently developed to contact Greentech Innovation’s partner incubators and/or to reapply for the CEI the following year.
We expect applicant companies to justify their MVP by filling out the MVP form and attaching to their application all relevant information (links to videos, presentations, proofs of concept, results of the presentation of innovative solutions to target audiences). In the case of a digital platform, even a high-fidelity mock-up is not enough to meet the MVP prerequisites; a coded basic version that has been put into practice is required. The results of the first presentations to certain ‘beta testers’ are appreciated.
Do we have to be at the MVP stage or can the products already be on the market?
The MVP is the minimum level required to be eligible, so the products can of course be commercialised.
How many applications are retained each year?
Each year, we select up to 25 companies from France and Europe to be labelled Greentech Innovation.
When will the interviews take place?
The interviews are scheduled to take place in April 2025.
How many companies are invited for interviews?
We invite up to 8 French and European companies per sector, depending on the number of applicants.
Will you provide a reason for the rejection of an application?
We will only provide an explanation for the rejection for companies that have been invited to an interview but have not been selected.
How many applications do you receive each year? How many companies can be selected?
In 2024, we selected 22 winners from 159 applications. In order to provide high-quality support to the selected start-ups, we limit the number of winners to a maximum of 25 for the new intake.
What support will be given to selected companies?
The support package is structured around four axes: visibility, sales and networking, digital support, and public procurement. You can find more information at our website.
How often does the Greentech Innovation call for expressions of interest take place?
The call for expressions of interest is published once a year, generally opening at the end of the year and closing at the beginning of the following year.