Frequently asked questions

How to apply - in 3 steps

1. Choose one Knowledge provider.
2. Arrange details of your project and get the Knowledge offer (Template).
3. Submit your application.

Detailed description is available in the Project Manual (PDF).

Who is funding JIC|Innovation vouchers?
The city of Brno provides finances. There is available 4 million CZK in the call 2012. The project is part of the Regional Innovation Strategy of the South Moravian Region 3.

What is the value of one voucher?
It depends on the price of purchased knowledge. Voucher recipient will obtain a subsidy worth
75 % of the total price (maximally 100.000 CZK, i.e. approx. 4.000 EUR).

Who can apply for a voucher?
An innovation voucher can be awarded to a legal person established for business purposes seated in any country in the world.

How to find an appropriate researcher?
If you don´t know appropriate researcher for your project, please contact one of the contact persons.

What has to be done before applying?
Company discusses its project with a researcher, who provides the company with a Knowledge Offer. This offer has to be scanned and attached to the Application (Knowledge offer template, PDF). More information in the Project Manual (PDF).

How to apply for a voucher?
Use the application form. The application can be edited even after handing-in, but not later than at the end of the call for applications.

What can you buy for a voucher?
Innovation voucher is intended for purchase of a research service that is for the company new and is not commonly available. Purchased knowledge must, at the same time, lead to strengthening of company’s competitiveness. The eligible activities are for example:

•    Product / process / service development
•    Testing and measurements
•    Feasibility studies
•    Prototyping
•    Product design
•    Business plan for an innovative product
•    Economic impact assessment
•    Market analysis / Marketing strategy
•    Innovation / technological audit
•    New business model development

Ineligible activities / costs
The bellow mentioned activities / costs are ineligible. Applications that include these items will be excluded from the selection procedure:
•    standard training courses;
•    software purchases;
•    advertising materials - design and production (including website development);
•    standard services (e.g. auditing, accounting, sales activities, etc.);
•    legal services;
•    grant consulting;
•    internships for students
•    aid that would promote/subsidise the cost of exports
•    material purchases (excl. Material necessary for delivery of the service).
Activities that are not listed above are considered as eligible.

How are recipients of vouchers selected?
Applications are reviewed by a committee of experts that can exclude formally and contentually ineligible applications. Committee follows solely the data provided by applicants.  If the number of eligible applications outnumbers the count of available vouchers, voucher recipients will be selected by a lottery. The purpose is to minimize the administrative burden and to accelerate the distribution of vouchers to companies.

How is the exclusion of conflict of interest ensured?
By a declaration provided by the applicant in the application form. Any of representatives of the applicant mustn’t be, at the same time, an employee of the knowledge provider in a position to be able to influence conditions of the cooperation supported by a voucher.

What if the company asks for a voucher but doesn´t obtain it?
There are three options:
1.    Voucher will be offered to the company as substitute in case some of the recipients will not use their vouchers.
2.    Company realizes the project without a voucher.
3.    Company will take part of the next call.

Is it possible to ask for more vouchers within one call?
No, one company may, within a one call, submit only one application.

Does a voucher represent a cheque which replaces money?
No, voucher is a guarantee to the recipient to obtain a subsidy in case of fulfilling project conditions.

What is public support „de minimis“?
„De minimis“ support means that the overall public support to one company mustn’t, together with other de minimis aids provided to this company during the previous three years, exceed an amount of 200 000 euro. "De minimis" rule applies on the voucher recipients from the European Economic Area.

How to handle VAT?
VAT can be covered only in case the voucher recipient is not a VAT payer.

Who will provide further information about the project?
You can contact the project manager or one of the contact persons.