closed call

Call: Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments

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Programme	COSME
Acronym	COSME
Type of Fund	Action programme
Description of programme "COSME"	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.
Link	Link to Programme
Call	Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments
Description of call "Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments"	The objective of this measure is to pilot the implementation of European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments in the context of the Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation and Investment. It aims to bring together cluster organisations, other business networks, technology centres and science parks in European Strategic Cluster Partnerships, that are expected to be formed around common industrial thematic areas, which also correspond to the smart specialisation priorities of their regions. The focus of the measure is placed on industrial modernisation, such as through Key Enabling Technologies, ICT, service innovation and resource efficiency. The possible industrial thematic areas of the Partnerships therefore include advanced manufacturing, digital transformation/industry 4.0, digital platforms, big data analytics, space data services, advanced material and disruptive business models and service concepts including in creative industries, textiles and tourism.
Link	Link to Call
Thematic Focus	SME, Capacity Building, Industry, Technologies
Funding area	EU Member States Potential Candidate Countries Candidate Countries Neighbouring Countries Iceland / Ísland Liechtenstein Norway / Norge
Origin of Applicant	EU Member States Albania / Shqipëria Bosnia and Herzegovina Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia / поранешна југословенска Република Македонија Iceland / Ísland Moldova Montenegro / Crna Gora/Црна Гора Serbia / Сpбија Turkey / Türkiye Ukraine / Україна Oukraïna Others
Eligible applicants	Research Institution, Lobby Group / Professional Association / Trade Union, Public Services, Association
Applicant details	Consortia composed of at least three different legal entities and established in a minimum of three different EU Member States or countries participating in the COSME programme one partner representing a cluster organisation or business network organisation one organisation being established in a region classified as "less developed" or "in transition"
Project Partner	Yes
Project duration min	12 months
Project duration max	24 months
Type of Funding	Grant
Financial details	total budget: 2,8 Mio. € max. grant: 350 000 € EU-Cofinancing rate: 75%
Submission	Electronic Submission Service-Participant Portal
Contact Details	The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) manages COSME on behalf of the European Commission.