“Digitization of Agriculture”

Agricultural technologies can include a wide range of agricultural products, services or applications: drones, satellite imagery and sensors, IoT-based sensor networks, weather forecast monitoring, automatic irrigation, light and heat control, intelligent analysis of software for prediction of pests and diseases in plants, biotechnology, management of agricultural machinery, soil management as well as solutions based on applications with which farmers through their smartphones can get information about the prices of crops, sowing season, implementation of agro-technical measures, harvesting techniques, when and where to sell their products and so on.

Additionally, the proposed innovative solutions may relate to the digitization of post-harvest activities and the process of processing agricultural products, which may include digital products, services or applications used to enhance and monitor processes of harvesting, transport, sorting, storage, packaging, labelling, processing, and market delivery in order to add value to products, while increasing process efficiency, reducing losses and waste and increasing environmental protection.

Based on this, within the challenge“Digitization of Agriculture”each Competitor has the opportunity to submit a proposal solution in one of the following categories:

• SMART FARMING

Smart farming has a holistic approach to agricultural innovation and is the adoption and combination of smart technologies such as sensors, Internet of Things (IoT), automation and cloud-based platforms that enhance every aspect of crop management and transform agricultural production.

• PRECISE AGRICULTURE

Precision agriculture or Site-specific Crop Management (SSCM) means using probes to measure certain parameters, satellite imagery or drones to create strategies for best efficiency and use advanced farming practices to monitor, cultivate and manage crops.

• ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION

Advanced robotics, automated machinery and drones are key to increase the efficiency of agricultural production in the future. Automated large-scale mechanization can take on many aspects of large-scale agriculture. The new generation of precision robotic manipulators can locate and identify the product, select and harvest it based on its size and degree of maturity.

In addition, automatic irrigation systems optimize crop growth and water use.

• BIOTECH

Recent advances in biotechnology have greatly contributed to the improvement of agricultural production. Genetic engineering helps to create seeds and seedlings that are adapted to different environments and climate changes. In addition, biotechnology helps identify better methods to control pests.

• DATABASES AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Databases and Artificial Intelligence optimize almost all aspects of crop management through the use of probes and sensors that record weather conditions, as well as record changes in soil composition and structure and crop production efficiency. These two technologies bring improvements in business and operational processes based on information already received.

• DIGITALIZATION OF POST-HARVEST ACTIVITIES AND PROCESSING

Digital solutions can be applicable in post-harvest activities such as controlled ripening and drying operations, transport to the packaging center, sorting, cleaning, selection, storage at controlled temperature and atmospheric conditions, carbon dioxide emission reduction systems, reducing product waste, inspection of used protective means (pesticides, insecticides), fumigation, and additional quality control and improvement systems. The proposal for advanced digital technology can refer to sustainable ways and materials for packaging, re-designing and monitoring the process of data reprocessing and processing in every part of the chain down to retail.

• DRONES AND SATELLITES

Drones and satellites measure and monitor fields, create field maps, control the quality of field work and provide large amounts of phyto-geomorphological data for optimal agricultural management. For example, multispectral and hyperspectral cameras mounted on drones show the use of water and fertilizer, then crop yields and, also indicate the emergence of diseases and pests, which ultimately contribute to solving these problems at an early stage and provide higher yields.

• INTERNET OF THINGS – IoT

The Internet of Things integrates sensor technologies and monitoring solutions into the existing agricultural process (mechanization) to generate the precise data needed in the day-to-day decision-making of farmers and agricultural businesses. Real-time data processing contributes to activating and monitoring the effectiveness of automation systems and their future improvement.

• The implementation of the project can be up to 12 (twelve) months.

  The Fund may, based on justified circumstances, approve extensions of the project implementation for up to 6 (six) months.

A total budget of 6.000.000 (six million) denars has been provided for financing projects within this call.

For an individual project proposal, the Fund provides financing up to 90% (ninety percent) of the total project budget, in a maximum amount of 1,500,000 (one million and five hundred thousand) denarsA minimum of 10% (ten percent) ) of the total project budget must be provided by the Competitor.

Funds received from the Fund on any other basis or any other state aid, shall not be considered eligible funds for co-financing by the Competitor – beneficiary of funds from the Fund.

If there are not enough quality project proposals or the conditions for financing are not met, the Fund reserves the right not to award funds.

“The “Market Employability Enhancement Program”(NAME), funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, shall provide two types of support for applicants and prospective beneficiaries: mentoring and support regarding the commercialization of innovations

• Mentoring::
• Individual mentoring meetings with the selected applicants – beneficiaries of the Fund in order to detect the functionalities of the proposed solution, present the benefits of the solution, provide feedback from the sector to improve the solution and initial interest in commercial use.
• Support in the commercialization of innovations:
• Presentation to stakeholders in the sector
• Connecting with companies or farmers who would be potential users of the developed digital solutions/services (depending on the results achieved during the development of the solution)

The support shall be directed to the beneficiaries of the Fund selected for this challenge who shall develop digital solutions that are applicable in the agricultural sector in the areas of fresh fruits and vegetables, processed fruits and vegetables, viticulture and winemaking. The conclusion of award granting contracts of the users with NAME shall follow after the conclusion of the contracts with the Fund.

The public call is intended for start-ups that can offer innovative and/or technologically advanced solution on their own, or in cooperation with an institution that performs higher education, i.e. scientific and research activity or another enterprise.

The Competitor (Lead Competitor) shall be a legal entity that meets the following requirements:

• To be a trade enterprise established in accordance with the Law on Trade Companies and registered in the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia;
• To not have been past more than 6 years from the day of establishment of the company, at the time of application;
• To be predominantly owned by Macedonian citizens (with 50.1% or more);
• The annual revenues of the enterprise should not exceed 10,000,000.00 (ten million) EUR in the last two fiscal years, in accordance with the financial statements;
• To be an enterprise with a maximum of 250 employees;
• To not be affiliated (in accordance with the Law on Trade Companies) with another enterprise whose annual revenues exceed 10,000,000.00 (ten million) EUR and the average number of employees does not exceed 250 in the last two fiscal years, except in the case of capital connection with a higher education, i.e. scientific and research institution;
• To have no bankruptcy procedure or liquidation procedure initiated against it;
• To have settled due liabilities on the basis of public duties and contributions;
• To have no enforcement procedures for collection of due monetary claims initiated against it;
• To meet the requirements of the Law on State Aid Control and the Decree on the conditions and procedure for granting aid of minor importance ( (de minimis), ie:
• To have not accumulated more than 200,000.00 (two hundred thousand) euros state aid of minor importance for a period of three fiscal years, including the requested amount of funds from the Fund in accordance with the Law on State Aid Control and the Regulation on the conditions and procedure for granting aid of minor importance (de minimis);
• To have not accumulated more than 100,000.00 (one hundred thousand) euros state aid of minor importance for a period of three fiscal years, including the requested amount of funds from the Fund, if the enterprise is active in the road traffic sector, in accordance with the Law on Control of state aid and the Decree on the conditions and procedure for granting aid of minor importance (de minimis);
• To not be in difficulty (an enterprise in difficulty is an enterprise that is unable to meet its obligations from its own resources or funds that it can obtain from its owner/shareholders or creditors, to stop losses that without external intervention by the aid providers will certainly lead to short-term and long-term cessation of operations), and
• Not to be engaged in production of coal

If the project proposal involves the Competitor’s cooperation with another enterprise, conditions for the partner shall be the same as for the Lead Competitor.

When applying in a partnership or consortium, the main project holder is the Lead Competitor.

The activities provided in the project proposal should correspond to the phases of research and development, i.e. the advancement of technology from prototype to product/service confirmed in a real environment and ready for the market – Technology Readiness Level (TRL5-TRL9)

Activities may include::

• Testing activities;
• Design;
• Research and development activities;
• Activities related to intellectual property protection;
• Procurement or development of specific equipment, ICT tools and consumables related to project implementation, and
• Marketing and sales activities (aimed at bringing the solution to investment readiness and maturity for market introduction).

The abovementioned list of activities is not limiting.

The costs estimated in the project budget should correspond to the activities provided in the project application.

Eligible costs for financing:

• Gross salaries (only for the employees of the Lead Competitor). The amount of gross salaries of the employees engaged in the project should correspond to the established practices of the Beneficiary before the start of the project, reduced for the amount of potential state subsidy received on the basis of salary;
• Purchase and / or rental of equipment and consumables for research and development;
• Subcontracted research and development services (for instance, testing, laboratory services, and alike);
• Hiring research and development experts/advisors;
• Engaging consultants for other needs directly related to the expected results of the project (expertise related to innovation management, financial management, mobilization of funds and capital, business development, marketing, legal affairs, intellectual property protection, etc.);
• Preparation and submission of a patent application, trademark protection and industrial design, quality assurance, etc;
• Office and business support (lease of office premises, overhead costs, bank commissions, accounting services, hosting and other types of administrative expenses) up to a maximum of 15% (fifteen percent) of the total project budget.

Only costs incurred during the project in accordance with the approved Project budget and realized by the end of the project are eligible for funding.

Costs that are not eligible for financing:

• Salary supplements;
• Costs for procurement of goods, services and works from domestic public enterprises;
• Interest or debt costs on either side;
• Expenses and provisions for past and possible future losses or debts;
• Coverage of losses on currency exchange and penalties;
• Expenses for food and catering;
• Staff recruitment costs (cost for announcements of job posting, commissions from employment agencies, costs related to candidate selection, etc.) and relocation costs;
• Cash payments from the special purpose bank account for the project;
• Costs for consulting services provided by the owner / s to the Beneficiary;
• Costs for consulting services provided by persons employed by the Beneficiary;
• Renting of business premises from a lessor who participates in the project activities or is a person related to the Beneficiary;
• Costs for realization of activities that were previously financed from other sources;
• Purchase of second-hand equipment, and
• Value added tax (VAT) in case the awarded entity is entitled to a VAT refund.

Only the costs incurred for activities carried out for the duration of the project, which are in accordance with the approved Project Budget and the Rules for organizing and conducting competitions and challenges to encourage innovation in the priority areas of science and technologyshall be considered eligible costs.

The Fund reserves the right to negotiate with the winners on defining the project activities and budget based on the recommendations received from the Evaluation and Selection Committee (hereinafter: the Committee), prior to the signing of the Award Granting Contract.

In case the project is based on existing intellectual property rights, the Competitor shall be obliged, before signing the Award Granting Contract, to submit proof of the right to use the intellectual property in the form of a licensing agreement, in-kind contribution agreements, or other type of agreement confirming that the Competitor has the right to use the intellectual property on which the project results are based.

The Fund is not liable for intellectual property rights disputes between the Beneficiary and third parties.

All intellectual property rights and know-how that will be created during the implementation of the Project and / or as a result of the implementation of the Project belong to the Beneficiary and if applicable, the Beneficiary should protect the intellectual property rights.

The process, from the receipt of the received applications to the selection and making the final decision for selection and allocation of funds to the beneficiary/ies, consists of several steps:

• Administrative verification of applications (whether the application is complete and in accordance with the eligibility requirements stated in the public call);
• First evaluation of the project proposal (pre-selection)
• Pitching or presentation of the pre-selected project proposals before the Commission for evaluation and selection (optional);
• Selection of the best project proposals 
• Signing of contracts

Each project proposal shall be evaluated by the Evaluation and Selection Committee, consisting of:

• One (1) external expert in the field of challenge
• One (1) expert in the field of business development and/or marketing and sales
• Two (2) representatives from the partner institutions
• One (1) representative of the Fund

The Committee operates on the basis of a Rules of Procedure of the Evaluation and Selection Committee that is adopted at the first meeting of the Committee.

NOTE: Upon request of the members of the Committee, the Fund shall have the right to hire experts who shall give an expert opinion on certain applications, appropriate to the area of their expertise. In such a case, the expert opinion shall be taken into account by the members of the Committee when evaluating the application.

The main criteria for evaluating project proposals shall be:

• Degree of innovation
• Project team capacity
• Project quality
• Market potential
• Impact

The main criteria and sub-criteria for project evaluation are given in the Evaluation Table form.

When applying, the following documents must be submitted:

Project documentation (signed and stamped by an authorized representative of the Competitor, and available through the Fund’s website):

• duly completed form for project application;
• duly completed project budget form;
• statement by the Competitor for acceptance of the Fund’s terms and conditions;
• notarized statement of ownership – founding structure of the Competitor;

CV’s of the key persons engaged in the project (for a maximum of five persons)

The overall documentation should be submitted in Macedonian language. The project documentation must be submitted on the forms prepared by the Fund.

The project documentation together with the CVs should be attached to the application form available at the following link: https://fitr.mk/agrodigital/ by clicking the “Apply” button.

The deadline for applying for the public call is until 16.04.2021, until 14:00.

Only those project proposals that have been submitted in the above manner and within the given deadline shall be considered for funding.

The rules and procedures for implementation, monitoring and supervision of the project are defined in the document Rules for organizing and conducting competitions and challenges to encourage innovation in the priority areas of science and technology from 20.01.2020 and Rules for supplementing the Rules for organizing and conducting competitions and challenges to encourage innovation in the priority areas of science and technology from 16.03.2020 and 01.06.2020 година.

For all additional information you can:

• contact us on the e-mail address agrodigital@fitr.mk
• call us: 02 3145 258

In order to help you prepare the project proposals, the Fund will organize info-events; free technical assistance from experts; and mentoring workshops during the call.

Information on these activities will be published in a timely manner on the Fund’s website as well as on the Fund’s official profiles and NAME on social networks (Facebook and Instagram).

1. о оглед на тоа дека кофинансираните средства не се враќаат во рок од 5 години (како што е случај за други повици), до кога траат обврските кон Фондот? Дали траат додека трае проектот и кофинансирањето (на пример 6 месеци)?

Во рамките на овој повик, обврските траат се до завршувањето на имплементацијата на проектот.

2. Дали може да се користи постоечката сметка на стартап компанијата која ке аплицира на повикот, со оглед на тоа дека на таа сметка нема друг промет? Едиствен промет на таа сметка би биле евентуалното финасирање на проектот и трошоците за истиот.

Сметката може и претходно да биде отворена, но истата треба да е чиста и преку неа да не се спроведуваат никакви плаќања ниту да има приливи за времетраење на проектот.

3. Дали може да конкурираме со дигитализација на инкубатор за пилиња и примена на обновливи извори на енергија во овој сектор? Гранката живинарство не е спомната, но таа спаѓа под земјоделие.

Сточарството како дел од земјоделството секако е во рамките на овој предизвик. Проектот ќе ги исполни условите на повикот доколку влезе во некоја од следните области на дигитализација:Паметно земјоделство, Прецизно земјоделство, Роботика и автоматизација, Биотехнологија, Бази на податоци и вештачка интелигенција, Дигитализација на пост-бербени активности и преработка, Дронови и сателити и Интернет на нештата.

4. Дали можат да аплицираат трговските фирми кои имаат повеќе од 6 години од основањето? Какво решение имате за нив?

Овој јавен повик е наменет за новоосновани трговски друштва (стратапи) кај кои не се поминати повеќе од 6 години од основањето. Доколку има поминато повеќе од 6 години од основањето на трговското друштво постојат 2 можности:

• да биде основано ново претпријатие стартап кој ќе го развива предложениот производ или
• да ја разгледате можноста за аплицирање на друг јавен повик на ФИТР во иднина

5. Дали партнерот/ член на конзорциумот треба да биде исклучиво правно лице или е возможно тоа да биде и физичко лице ангажиран како надворешен консултант/советник за потребите на проектот.

Доколку предлог-проектот вклучува соработка на натпреварувачот со друго претпријатие, условите за партнерот се исти како и за водечкиот натпреварувач. Тоа значи дека партнерот треба да биде правно лице кои ги исполнува истите услови како и водечкиот натпреварувач. Партнерството истовремено може да означува и директно учество во буџетот односно во кофинансирањето на проектот. Доколку нема партнер во проектот, податоците за натпреварувачот се внесуваат само во првиот, воведен дел на апликацијата, во Точка 1. Основни податоци за натпреварувачот. Соработката со трети страни може да биде остварена и преку договори со правни или физички лица за вршење на одредени работи поврзани со проектот, што се евидентира во проектната апликација како и во буџетот на проектот: ставка III Трошоци за техничка поддршка.

6. Доколку вкупниот буџет на проектот изнесува 1 500 000ден, а кофинансираниот грант од ФИТР изнесува 1 350 000 т.е. 90% од вкупниот буџет на проектот, односно % од страна на апликантот е 10% т.е 150 000ден. Доколку вкупниот буџет на проектот се рапредели сразмерно по квартали односно за секој квартал доколу има кофинансирање од 15% од страна на апликантот се добива сума од 56 250 ден по квартал или 225 000ден за цела година што преставува 15% од вкупната вредност на инвестицијата. Прашањето е дали кофинансирањето од страна на апликантот треба да биде не помалку од 15% или не помалку од 10% ?

За поединечен предлог проект, Фондот обезбедува финансирање до 90% (деведесет проценти) од вкупниот буџет за проектот, во максимален износ од 1.500.000 (еден милион и петстотини илјади) денари. Од страна на натпреварувачот треба да бидат обезбедени минимум 10% (десет проценти) од вкупниот буџет на проектот.

     7.Дали Земјоделските задруги се прифатливи за аплицирање на проектот за Дигитализација на земјоделството?Посебно поради условот: „Да е трговско друштво основано согласно Законот за трговски друштва и регистрирано во Централниот регистар на Република Северна Македонија“?

Согласно Јавниот повик – Дигитализација на земјоделството, како апликанти можат да се јават правни субјекти кои ги исполнуваат условите. Еден од тие услови е:  Да е трговско друштво основано согласно Законот за трговски друштва и регистрирано во Централниот регистар на Република Северна Македонија.