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Call #2
TEF-Health consortium
Open 270 discounted services EU/EEA SMEs · TRL ≥ 6
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Apply to access novel TEF-Health validation and experimentation services for AI and robotics-based healthcare solutions at discounted prices, under EU de-minimis state aid.

Context

Under the Digital Europe Programme, the European Commission, in collaboration with several Member States, is co-financing a 5-year project that started in January 2023 under the name Testing and Experimentation Facility for Health AI and Robotics (TEF-Health; Project: 101100700 — TEF-Health — DIGITAL-2022-CLOUD-AI-02).

TEF-Health is coordinated by Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany and comprises 52 partners from 9 European Union countries — each forming a so-called Node. The project is co-financed by national funding provided by Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden.

TEF-Health establishes a network of testing facilities offering access to physical and digital infrastructure, consulting, data and computational resources, living labs, laboratory testing facilities and real-world testing environments. They provide healthcare innovators with the opportunity to conduct extensive tests and experiments on their AI and robotics solutions within real or realistic environments and to obtain expert support for making their solutions compliant with the EU AI Act and other regulations.

Objectives

Via this call SMEs gain access to novel validation and experimentation services that are not yet established in the market — at discounted prices.

TEF-Health connects SMEs to the best research centers and laboratories, universities and hospitals, and certification bodies within Europe that can help test AI and robotics solutions with high-quality data and access to patients, clinicians and medical staff — so the products become ready for market access.

Who can apply

SMEs from EU and EEA member states may receive discounted services, if the applicable conditions are met (see Eligibility & Evaluation Process).

After the eligibility check and evaluation process, all eligible companies enter a matchmaking process to determine which TEF-Health service is best suited to the company's requirements.

Timeline

  • The call is regularly updated and republished with a new version number to include newly available services.
  • The call stays open until the capacity of the service providers is reached, and closes at the latest at the end of the TEF-Health project funding period on 31 December 2027.
  • Evaluation is expected to take 45 working days after submission. Applications meeting the eligibility criteria are then opened to selected service providers for matchmaking.

Contact

info@tefhealth.eu

For questions related to the application process, please use the chatter function in the TEF-Health Platform after registration. For all other questions, please contact info@tefhealth.eu.

Eligibility criteria

  • SME is legally incorporated and established in one of the EU or EEA member states. The ownership or shares of the SME must not be held by individuals or entities outside the EU/EEA. The fulfilment shall be confirmed through an official declaration issued by the legal representative of the SME.
  • Company is an SME according to the EU definition (Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC). The fulfilment shall be confirmed by an official declaration issued by the legal representative of the SME.
  • According to EU Regulation 2023/2831 (de-minimis) of the European Commission, the company must present evidence — in the form of a formal declaration by the legal representative of the SME — that it has not received over €300,000 in state aid support during the previous 3 fiscal years.
  • AI and robotics solutions must be at a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 (self-declared by the SME).

Application & evaluation process

To initiate the application, register on the TEF-Health Platform: https://tef.charite.de/register.

The application process is divided into four phases:

  1. Phase 1 — Application to TEF-Health.
  2. Phase 2 — Eligibility Assessment (see Eligibility).
  3. Phase 3 — Evaluation (see Evaluation schema) resulting in scores.
  4. Phase 4 — Matchmaking. All applications passing the eligibility check are presented, together with their achieved evaluation scores, to the selected TEF-Health Service Providers. Based on this information, providers select applicants for matchmaking, which includes:
    • Access to service quotations from TEF-Health service providers.
    • Signature of a service agreement (only if the provider has the implementation capacity; first-come-first-served otherwise).
    • TEF-Health service provision with discounts / state aid under De Minimis (EU Regulation 2023/2831), not exceeding €300,000 per company over a period of 3 financial years.

Evaluation schema

Expert evaluators assess each application using the criteria below:

Criteria Weight
Solution 40 / 100
(1) The applicant presents a novel solution that is innovative and promotes clear advancement beyond the state of the art. The applicant presents a clear and feasible timeline. 15 / 100
(2) The solution addresses a significant unmet medical need. 10 / 100
(3) Soundness and consistency of the AI or robotics system and core technology used. 15 / 100
Fit to TEF-Health 45 / 100
(4) The applicant's needs may be supported by the service offerings in the current TEF-Health Service Catalogue. 25 / 100
(5) The solution can increase TRL after implementation of TEF-Health services. 20 / 100
Funding 15 / 100
(6) The applicant provides a budget that aligns with TEF-Health Service Catalogue prices and demonstrates a solid financial track record. 15 / 100

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 7 (1 — Very Poor, 2 — Poor, 3 — Below expectations, 5 — Above expectations, 6 — Good, 7 — Very Good). Level 4 is not used.

Final score:

Evaluation = Weight(1)·Score(1) + … + Weight(6)·Score(6)

The number of eligible applicants that will receive state aid in the form of discounts is determined by the capacity of the service providers.

Click any service to view its details on the TEF-Health portal.

What is a solution in TEF-Health?

Solutions are digital products or services developed using AI and/or robotic technologies, subject to testing, experimentation and consulting services provided by TEF-Health.

Can SMEs apply for multiple solutions in the same call?

Yes. SMEs may benefit from TEF-Health services for one or multiple solutions. Each solution requires an individual application.

If I am not an EU/EEA-based SME, can I still apply?

No — only SMEs legally incorporated and established in EU/EEA member states are eligible to apply and receive discounts under EU state aid regulations. SMEs from outside the EU may, however, receive services at full price; see tefhealth.eu.

Does IP remain with the SME?

The contract between the TEF-Health service provider and the SME is governed by private law and reflects the terms decided between the parties, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

How do EU state aid rules apply across member states?

Uniformly. If the SME is registered in a different EU member state from the service provider, the rules still apply. Please check the eligibility requirements.

Is there a minimum evaluation score for matchmaking?

There is no minimum 'pass' score. All applications that pass the eligibility check are passed — together with the achieved score — to selected TEF-Health service providers, who decide whether to open the matchmaking process.

Where can I find the complete list of services and prices?

All services are discoverable at tefhealth.eu.

What is the required Technology Readiness Level (TRL)?

Your solution must have a minimum entry TRL of 6.

What are the benefits for SMEs applying to this call?
  • Access to AI and robotics experts from best-in-class organizations in Europe, with validation of AI and robotics-based innovation through qualified service offerings.
  • State aid as discounts for the services under De Minimis (EU Regulation 2023/2831), not exceeding €300,000 per SME over 3 financial years.
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