Regione Lombardia, in collaboration with Fondazione Cariplo and Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, has approved a call for proposals aimed at incentivising the development of collaborations for the identification of therapies and diagnostic, protection and analysis systems to combat the Coronavirus emergency and other future viral emergencies.

Call opening: 6 April 2020 at 14:00

Call closing: 20 April 2020 at 17:00

Total financial allocation: €7,500,000

The development of projects is divided into two strands:

STRAND 1: Fundamental research - Public and private non-profit research organisations including universities, ASSTs (Local Socio-Health Authorities) and IRCCSs (Scientific Research, Hospitalisation and Healthcare Institutes) - both public and private, established in partnerships consisting of a minimum of two entities; such partnerships may also include, solely as partners, entities located outside the Lombardy region, whether national and/or international. Each entity may participate as a lead partner in only one project per area of intervention.

The grant will be provided as a non-repayable contribution and awarded up to a maximum of 100% of eligible costs. For each project, the minimum grant that can be requested is €150,000 and the maximum grant that can be requested is €250,000.00.

STRAND 2: Industrial research and Experimental development - partnerships consisting of at least one company (large, medium or small) and one public or private research organisation including universities, ASSTs (Local Socio-Health Authorities) and IRCCSs (Scientific Research, Hospitalisation and Healthcare Institutes) - both public and private; each entity may participate in only one project per area of intervention.

Projects under Strand 2 must be completed by 30/10/2020 at the latest. No extensions will be granted except in cases of force majeure. Those falling under Strand 1 must be completed within 18 months, subject to the possibility of granting a reasoned extension of up to an additional six months.

The grant will be provided as a non-repayable contribution, up to a maximum of €1 million per project, awarded up to a maximum of 60% of eligible costs.

Please note that expenses incurred from the project start date are eligible, provided this date is not prior to the date of submission of the application. In any case, the project must be completed within a maximum of 18 months from that date, subject to the possibility of granting a reasoned extension of up to 6 additional months.

For further information on the call for entries, click here.