FRACTALS · Future Internet Enabled Agricultural Applications

The purpose of FRACTALS is to support the community of innovative ICT SMEs and Web Entrepreneurs to harvest the benefits of Future Internet Public Private Partnership initiative, by developing applications with high market potential, addressing the needs of the agricultural sector. This support is going to be multi-dimensional in the sense that it aims to span beyond grant assistance to also include: (1) the technical capacity building of ICT SMEs and Web entrepreneurs with respect to developing applications based on FI-PPP infrastructures (2) the testing and validation of applications in an open innovation context (by involving end-users in the testing/validation assignment through a Living Labs environment) and (3) clustering and mentoring services related to entrepreneurship and venture capital finance. FRACTALS Call will be open to all European SMEs and web entrepreneurs but will additionally focus on areas which are considered as white spots" with respect to FI-PPP Phase 1 and 2 (Balkans, South East Europe). The Open Call will employ an innovative evaluation method that eliminates personal bias of evaluators, ensuring transparency, equal treatment of all applicants and short time-to-project, tailor-made to the needs of ICT SMEs. FRACTALS is a community-driven project, bringing together 4 ICT SME Associations and linking them with industrial and research partners with leading roles in previous FI-PPP projects. Thus, both participation of SMEs in the Open Call and know-how regarding existing FI-PPP infrastructure (GEs and SEs) are ensured. Last but not least, FRACTALS is coordinated by a funding agency with vast experience in managing Open Calls and monitoring co-funded projects."