Valtavalo Oy was one of the six Finnish companies selected for the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme phase 1 in October 2018. The objective for Valtavalo was to use the grant to develop ‘WIISAS’ wireless lighting control system that is easy to install and maintain. Between 1st November 2018 and 28th February 2019, Valtavalo undertook a Phase 1 feasibility study under the SME Instrument to determine the technical and economic viability of their WIISAS system.
The WIISAS system developed by Valtavalo can optimise itself as well as record information about the habits and behaviours in the use of lighting, savings potetial, light pollution and, for example, the activation of motion sensors. Solution can save energy up to 90 procent compared to traditional light sources.
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding over 7 years (2014 to 2020). The goal is to increase economic growth and create new jobs in Europe by strengthening scientific expertise, supporting development of new technologies and innovations as well as finding new solutions to big social challenges in Europe.
The goal of the first phase of the Horizon 2020 programme, EIC Pilot funding, was to help companies get their innovations faster out to the market. For this each of the companies was granted 50 000 € for creating a business plan. Also, business coaching and support were offered to them to accelerate business growth.
After the first phase is completed, the companies can apply for the second phase, which aims to demonstration, testing, piloting and scaling of the products and solutions developed during the first phase. The grant size in the second phase is 0,5-2,5 million.
Over two thousand companies accross the Europe applied for the first phase. A grant of €50.000 was awarded to in total 246 innovative projects.