Ministry of Transport and Communications Sandbox initiative gaining momentum: EUR 24.5 million in support secured for promoting 5G-based innovation
The Ministry of Transport and Communications is implementing the Sandbox innovation tool. After approval of the funding conditions for this initiative, an open call was published to apply for EUR 23.5 million in support. The second call, which is for start-ups, provides for another EUR 1 million in support. Both tools were presented to the public and potential applicants over the past two months.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications is implementing the Sandbox tool in an effort to promote the creation, testing and development of digital technology solutions that require 5G connectivity.
“Foreign practice shows that not only financial support, but also integration into the emerging multi-faceted Sandbox community in general, is a strong accelerator,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis.
With this tool, the Ministry of Transport and Communications wants to encourage innovative solutions in areas such as autonomous transportation, UAVs, the Internet of Things, virtual reality and 5G-based robotisation. The use of advanced technological solutions in the development of sustainable mobility data management, unified ticketing systems, digitisation of transport concessions and so on will be promoted.
The digital solutions planned by the applicants can be designed not only for the transport sector, but also to increase digitisation in health, industry, energy, agriculture, environment, education, social security, and other fields.
The first Sandbox initiative, for which EUR 23.5 million in support has been allocated, is designed for consortia made up of private and public legal entities engaged in economic activities and higher education and research institutions. The maximum amount of support for one project is EUR 3 million. Applications can be submitted until 30 June.
The second Sandbox initiative is for start-ups – micro and small enterprises that have been registered with the Register of Legal Entities for no more than five years. The maximum amount of funding for one project is EUR 50,000. Applications can be submitted until 31 July.
In total, EUR 24.5 million are planned to be allocated to the Sandbox tool in Lithuania from the Recovery and Resilience Facility by 2025.
The detailed conditions of the call can be found on the esinvesticijos.lt website, in the “Calls” section. You can find more information about the open call and the funding conditions applicable to it here. The link to the description of the progress measure for start-ups can be found here.
Current information about the Sandbox tool:
Open call | Call for start-ups | |
Funded activities | The creation, testing and development of digital technology solutions that require 5G connectivity. The digital solutions can be aimed at increasing the digitisation of various sectors (transport and communication, industry, health, agriculture, energy, environment, education, social security, etc.) through the practical application of solutions such as: (a) autonomous transportation; (b) UAVs (drones); (c) the Internet of Things; (d) virtual reality; or (e) 5G-based robotisation or automation; or through the implementation of advanced technological solutions such as: (f) transport consignment notes and sustainable mobility data management; (g) unified ticketing systems, digitisation of transport concessions and so on. | |
Funding for the call | EUR 23.5 million | EUR 1 million |
Funding per project | From EUR 200,000 to EUR 3 million | Max. EUR 50,000 |
Eligible applicants | Consortia made up of private and public legal entities engaged in economic activities and higher education and research institutions. The main partner must carry out its activities in Lithuania. | Micro and small enterprises that have been registered with the Register of Legal Entities for no more than five years (start-ups). |
Eligible partners | Private legal entities; higher education and research institutions; budgetary institutions, municipal administrations and other public sector institutions (funding is not allocated to these legal entities because they do not carry out economic activities). | Micro or small enterprises; higher education and research institutions; the mobile operator ensuring the 5G connection necessary for the project activities. Other legal entities may also be partners that would not receive funding. |
Funding intensity determined | According to the provisions of the General Exemption Regulation, depending on the size of the enterprise and the R&D activities being carried out | According to the provisions of the de minimis Regulation (up to 100% of eligible costs) |
Application deadline | 30-June-2023 | 31-Jul-2023 |
Priority project selection criteria for which projects are awarded points | Benefits for the transport sector (20 points); A later TRL planned at the beginning of the project than required in the PFD (20 points); A later TRL planned at the end of the project than required in the PFD (10 points); Additional share of own funds (15 points); Experience of the applicant or partner(s) in implementing R&D activities and participating in international R&D projects for cooperation between business and science (15 points); Participation in the consortium of a higher education and research institution included in the AIKOS register (10 points); Participation in the consortium of a small or medium-sized enterprise (10 points). The minimum amount of points to be collected by a project planned to be funded is 25. | Benefits for the transport sector (20 points); A later TRL planned at the beginning of the project than required in the PFD (20 points); A later TRL planned at the end of the project than required in the PFD (10 points); Additional share of own funds (15 points); Experience of the applicant or partner(s) in implementing R&D activities and participating in international R&D projects for cooperation between business and science (20 points); Cooperation with higher education and research institutions, researchers (15 points). The minimum amount of points to be collected by a project planned to be funded is 25. |
Project implementation deadline | 31-Dec-2025 | |
| Other conditions | The same legal entity cannot submit more than three applications as an applicant or partner, with the exception of network operators acting as partners providing the 5G connection for the project, and higher education and research institutions. Foreign partners can receive funding for equipment, facilities and other assets necessary for project implementation. When activities are carried out outside Lithuania, 15% is financed from eligible project costs. | Foreign companies can receive 50% of the project value. When activities are carried out outside Lithuania, 15% is financed from eligible project costs. |