Call: European Network for Early Warning and for Support to Enterprises and Second Starters

COSME is the EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) running from 2014 to 2020 with a planned budget of 2.3 bn. €.

Accessing finance

COSME aims to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access finance in all phases of their lifecycle – creation, expansion, or business transfer. Thanks to EU support, businesses have easier access to guarantees, loans and equity capital. EU ‘financial instruments’ are channelled through local financial institutions in EU countries. To find a financial institution in your country, visit the Access to Finance portal.

Opening markets

COSME helps businesses to access markets in the EU and beyond. It funds the Enterprise Europe Network that helps SMEs find business and technology partners, and understand EU legislation; the Your Europe Business portal that provides practical information on doing business within Europe; and the SME Internationalisation Portal for companies who want to develop their activities outside Europe. It also finances a number of IPR (intellectual property rights) SME Helpdesks.

Supporting entrepreneurs

COSME supports entrepreneurs by strengthening entrepreneurship education, mentoring, guidance and other support services. Actions support specific groups who may find it difficult to reach their full potential, such as young people, women and senior entrepreneurs. The programme also aims to help businesses access opportunities offered by digital technologies.

Improving business conditions

COSME aims to reduce the administrative and regulatory burden on SMEs by creating a business-friendly environment. COSME also supports businesses to be competitive by encouraging them to adopt new business models and innovative practices. This complements actions in areas with high growth potential such as the tourism sector.  

The objective of this Call for Proposals is to create and fund a "European Network for Early Warning and for Support to Enterprises and Second Starters" (hereinafter the "European Network") in charge of conceptualising, organising the development and implementing support services for companies and company-owners in difficulties and honest bankrupt entrepreneurs vying for a second start.

Applicants must set up a consortium with a designated coordinator.

It must be composed of public or private entities that ensure a diverse expertise and knowledge sharing, involving insolvency and second chance issues. Such entities may include:

• public entities responsible for or active in the fields of economic affairs, enterprise, business support or related issues, e.g. national/regional authorities, governmental agencies
• chambers of commerce and industry, chambers of handicrafts or similar bodies,
• business support organisations/support providers,
• business associations and business support networks,
• education and training providers.

Applicants must set up a consortium with a designated coordinator. It must be composed of at least 7 eligible entities from at least 7 different COSME Participating Countries.

The duration of projects is 36 months. Applications for projects scheduled to run for a longer period than that specified in this call for proposal cannot be accepted. They will therefore be considered ineligible.

The maximum EU co-financing is 75 % of the eligible project costs.

The project budget shall be: 3 800 000 €. Only one proposal will be selected.

Electronic submission 

http://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/cosme-eu-programmecompetitiveness-enterprises-and-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-smes 

The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) manages COSME on behalf of the European Commission.