From Innovation to Creation

The “From Innovation to Creation” regional grant is an initiative designed to support startups in the growth or scaling-up phase across Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Tunisia. The programme aims to provide financial assistance to businesses with a strong potential for employment creation and innovation. The focus is on businesses active in innovative sectors such as green energy, digitalisation, agrifood, and creative industries. By offering grants ranging from €15,000 to €35,000, the programme seeks to boost business growth, enhance competitiveness, and facilitate access to new markets. A total budget of nearly €1,000,000 is available to support approximately 35 businesses across the targeted countries.

To be eligible, a business must:

• Be officially registered as a legal entity.
• Be established in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, or Tunisia.
• Have been operational for over 1 year but less than 10 years.
• Be connected to an incubator or innovation hub.
• Operate in an innovative sector, such as green energy, digitalisation, agrifood, sustainable mobility, or creative industries.
• Not be listed on the EU restrictive measures list.
• Demonstrate the capacity to scale.

Grants will range from €15,000 to €35,000 per business, depending on the project’s scope and the needs identified in the application.

Approximately 8 businesses will be supported in each country (Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Tunisia). However, the final number may vary depending on the strength of applications in each country.

Applications must be submitted via the SPARK website. The Open Call will be advertised through social media, entrepreneur networks, tech associations, and other platforms. The application period will be open for 4 weeks, starting on September 15, and the process involves completing a detailed form and providing the necessary documentation.

Start-ups must submit the following:

• Pitch deck (including a 3-5 minute video presentation).
• Business plan.
• Registration document (as per country requirements).
• Financial statement from the previous year (approved by the fiscal administration).
• List of items to be acquired with the grant.

Yes, businesses that have been supported by SPARK’s partners under the “From Innovation to Creation” programme are encouraged to apply. Additionally, other promising businesses from the project countries can apply through the Open Call.

After submission, SPARK country teams will review applications to confirm eligibility. Only eligible and complete applications will be forwarded to an evaluation committee, which includes representatives from project partners, innovation support organisations, and external experts. Evaluation criteria cover the entrepreneur, the start-up, the team, and the proposed use of funds.

Applications will be assessed based on:

• The entrepreneur’s background and experience.
• The scalability and potential of the start-up.
• The competence of the start-up team.
• The clarity and impact of the proposed use of the funds.

Successful applicants will be notified via the contact information provided during the application process. Final selection and further due diligence checks, including Lexis Nexis reviews and financial health assessments, will be conducted before funds are disbursed.

Yes, but operational costs can only constitute up to 25% of the total grant amount.