Innovation through Uses
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region covers 50% of the cost of the external service excluding VAT, with a grant of between €2,000 and €8,000. The provider must support a user-centred innovation approach. The scheme targets regional very small businesses and SMEs with fewer than 50 employees and turnover below €10 million.
Before investing in developing or marketing a product, a start-up or small business may need to check that the solution really meets customers’ uses and expectations. The Innover par les usages aid funds an external service that involves users in the design: observation, tests, ergonomic audit or activity analysis. It turns product assumptions into concrete lessons before the project goes further.
Funded by Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
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Who can apply
Very small businesses and SMEs in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes with fewer than 50 employees and turnover below €10 million. Individuals, liberal professions, research/consultancy/technology transfer organisations and businesses in difficulty within the meaning of EU regulations are excluded according to the published criteria.
Eligibility conditions
The project must be innovative, require user involvement and aim to validate the fit between the product or service and users’ needs and values. The service must be carried out by an external provider and may include observing uses, user tests, an ergonomic audit or activity analysis. Awards remain subject to the available budget.
What the scheme covers
Funding of an external diagnostic or support service centred on uses, involving users in the design. Examples: test sessions, observation in real situations, ergonomic audit, analysis of user journeys and activity. Internal development costs are not the main subject of this aid.
Amount and funding terms
Grant equal to 50% of the external service amount excluding VAT, between €2,000 and €8,000. The €8,000 cap corresponds to an eligible service of €16,000 excluding VAT. Coverage applies to the use-centred support and diagnostic service, not to all product development costs.
How to apply
1. Define the product assumption to test and the decisions that will depend on the results. 2. Choose the user profiles and the test protocol. 3. Ask an external provider for a detailed quote, separating tasks and deliverables. 4. Check eligibility and application conditions on the regional portal. 5. Apply before treating the service as secured, then follow the funder’s instructions.
Timeline
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis within the available budget; the regional source indicates a committee decision within about 15 days. Check that the scheme is actually open and the application procedures before contracting the service.
Key facts
- Funder
- Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Type of funding
- Grant
- Status
- Ongoing
- Maximum amount
- €8,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Minimum amount
- €2,000
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Funding rate
- 50%
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Geographic scope
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Frequently asked questions
How much can the aid fund?
50% of the external service excluding VAT, with a grant of €2,000 to €8,000.
Which tests are covered?
User tests, observation of uses, ergonomic audit and activity analysis.
Who can apply?
Regional very small businesses and SMEs with fewer than 50 employees and turnover below €10 million, subject to the published exclusions.
Official source
No official URL is available in our data for this grant.
Other grants of type “grant”
Other grants from Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
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