Hi Andre!
Great question. I spot a few topics to cover:
Requesting a licensed cloud environment
As an ISV partner, you can request a licensed cloud environment by using the provisioning form that was a part of the welcome email.
Linking an application to a licensed cloud node
After deploying your app as a ‘Free app’ to the Mendix Cloud, it’s possible to link the app to a licensed cloud node by following the steps mentioned here.
You mentioned that you have already started importing case data into your free app, and I can imagine that you do not want to lose your progress. I would recommend creating a backup and downloading it before starting the process of linking your app to a licensed cloud node. Additional information on downloading backups can be found here.
Running your app on a licensed cloud node has advantages in comparison to running your app as a ‘Free app’ on the Mendix Cloud. Details on the differences can be found here.
I’m curious to hear if you’re able to continue development with this information.