Systematic Paris-Region has outlined a standardised, multi-stage labelling process for collaborative R&D projects seeking public funding, such as those submitted under the AID4SME Open Call #2. Project consortia must first submit their required documents by email at least one month before the targeted funding call’s deadline. Once the consortium is assembled, the core evaluation unfolds in three steps.
The first stage is an audition before the relevant thematic group’s steering committee, a panel of domain experts from large enterprises, SMEs, and academia. Its purpose is to assess the project’s scientific quality. Depending on the call timeline, one or two auditions are held, with experts providing case-by-case feedback to help refine the proposal. These sessions are typically spaced a month apart to allow teams to incorporate requested changes.
The steering committee then decides whether the project advances to the next level: a presentation to the Executive Bureau of Systematic. Here, the project is defended not by the consortium but by the president of the associated thematic group, who has supported the team throughout the earlier auditions. This hearing evaluates the project’s market relevance and overall eligibility.
If successful, the thematic group leaders issue a Systematic labelling letter. This document must be included in the final application when the project is submitted on the BPI platform. Such labelling is a common procedure across France’s competitiveness clusters, and Systematic can also co-label projects with other clusters if desired. Importantly, should the project secure funding, the partners commit to joining at least one of the clusters that granted the label.
Throughout the process, Systematic Paris-Region’s Innovation and Europe teams remain available to support project submissions and consortium building.