COSME Info Day 2018 - European Commission...Executive Agency for SMEs The European Commission's...

ExecutiveAgency for SMEs

COSME Info Day 2018

Opportunities to participate in Calls for proposals


Francesca Tudini

EASMEExecutive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

COSME Info Day 2018


Julien Guerrier Director

EASMEExecutive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

COSME Info Day 2018


Maarit Nyman

DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

COSME Info Day 2018


The European Commission's vision for SMEs

COSME Info Day 2018

Maarit Nyman DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs June 11th 2018


COSMEThe EU programme for the Competitiveness

of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Francesca TudiniExecutive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized EnterprisesJune 11th 2018

COSME Info Day 2018

What is COSME?

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Accessto finance

Accessto markets

Improving framework conditions for enterprises

Encouraging entrepreneurshipand entrepreneurial culture

COSME in practice

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EASMEProgramme ManagementCOSME

Access to financeLoan Guarantee Facility and

Equity Facility for Growth

Calls for tender and calls for proposalsInformation campaigns, events,

peer-to-peer learning and exchange, studies, support networks,

online information sources

All to help SMEs prosper.

EIFManaging Financial

Instruments

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONPolicy Design

COSMEHelping SMEs reach their full potential

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Accessto finance

Accessto markets

Improving business conditions

Entrepreneurship

61% 23% 13% 3%

2014 > 2020 €2.3 BILLION

How to participate Access to Finance

• Loans and venture capital backed by EIF• Direct financing to SMEs• Access2finance.eu

Calls for tender

Procurement of services/studies 100 % financed by COSME

https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/cosme

Calls for proposals

Grants co-financed by COSME

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http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8937

http://www.access2finance.eu/


Participating in COSMECalls for proposals

(Part 1)

COSME Info Day 2018


Writing a proposaltips and tricks

COSME Info Day 2018

Lutgart Spaepen Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Flanders (VLAIO)June 11th 2018


COSME

What’s in it for us? Why should we apply?

COSME Info Day 2018

Lutgart Spaepen Enterprise Europe Network Flanders (Belgium) June 11th 2018

WHY COSME?

• To empower the enterpreneurial capacity of our small businesses

• To leverage the access to finance and the access to markets of ourcompanies

• To enhance the capacity of our SMEs to deal with the big challenges of today: climate, circular economy, digitisation, internationalisation, etc.

• Many actions or directed towards creating a better enterpreneurial climate

• Actions are ADDITIONAL to the enterpreneurial ecosystems in therespective member states and regions

COSME Info Day 2018

WHO should apply?

• First of all, evidently, the SMEs, as they are the main target of COSME and in somecalls they can directly apply as beneficiary

• But also intermediary organisations, that support SMEs can be beneficiaries canparticipate in certain calls.

• Check each individual CALL and see who are the eligible beneficiaries!

COSME Info Day 2018


Tips and Tricks(mini applicant survival kit)

COSME Info Day 2018

Before application

• Read well the Terms of Reference

• Have a real original project idea that can compete at EU level

• Plan well ahead to form your consortium

Who will take the lead? Who has experience in previous calls?

Check language knowledge of your partners = Communication is KEY

Who do you need to form a strong consortium? Type of organisation; SME expertise; geographical balance; sectoral focus; …

Who can help in searching partners: Enterprise Europe Network can help you !

Be sure that you have trusted partners that are committed from start to finish

COSME Info Day 2018

During the application process

• Check well documents and templates

• Keep an eye on the deadlines: do not wait until the last minute

• For SMEs: do the SME check !

• Are there FAQs? = useful information

• Make agreements with your consortium on Work packages, division of tasks and responsibility

Timeline with milestones

Communication & dissemination plan

Budget !!! Co-financing secured?

COSME Info Day 2018

Project approved, contract signed

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• Congratulations! Now the real work starts!

• Secure all documents are completed and signed

• Get acquainted with your project officer in EASME: he/she will be your trustful guide for your whole project journey

• Organise a kick-off meeting Review project proposal and re-confirm partner commitments, re-confirm deadlines for project

input and reporting: make everyone responsible, NOT ONLY the project manager

Along the project journey

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• Secure payments when due, according to agreements

• Keep documents, invoices, etc for further use (report/audit)

• Keep regular contact with partners: ask feedback Problems? Do not wait too long to talk about it!

• In your consortium

• With your project adviser : changes needed? Ammendments?

• Attend meetings and work actively during the sessions, prepare your input accordingto your tasks/responsibilities

• Stick to deadlines for reporting: be realistic and transparent; collect timely allinformation

But most importantly

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• Learn from each other: Set you own benchmarks

• Work together towards a common goal

• Involve your SMEs

• Have fun

• Go for it!

Need help?

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• Ask your EASME project officer for advice

• Go to your local Enterprise Europe Network representative: They have hands-on experience in COSME

#EENCanHelp

COSME Info Day 2018

Thank you!

[email protected]



(Part 1)

COSME Info Day 2018


Financial aspects of COSMEand rules for participants

COSME Info Day 2018

Cedric De RidderExecutive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized EnterprisesJune 11th 2018


OVERVIEW

1. FINANCIAL OVERVIEW OF COSME………………………………………………………….2

2. APPLICATION FOR COSME FUNDING…………………………………………………..…3

3. STRUCTURE OF YOUR GRANT AGREEMENT……………………………………….…10

4. PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS…………………………………………………………….....18

5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES……………………………………………………………...19

6. USEFUL LINKS……………………………………………………………………………………...21

COSME Info Day 2018


FINANCIAL OVERVIEW OF COSME

COSME Info Day 2018

• Total budget Cosme 2014-2020: 759,660,000 EUR

• Nr of Grants signed: 461 (2014-2018)

• Max EU contribution: 60-90% of total eligible costs (please refer to the Call for Proposals)


WHO CAN APPLY FOR A COSMEGRANT?

ALL TYPES LEGAL ENTITIES FORMING A CONSORTIUM:

- PUBLIC OR PRIVATE BODIES;

AND

- NATURAL PERSONS.

COSME Info Day 2018


APPLICANTS MUST HAVE STABLE AND SUFFICIENT SOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THE ACTION.

WE CHECK YOUR FINANCIAL CAPACITY IN CASE THE EU CONTRIBUTION ≥ EUR 60 000 (AMOUNT PER APPLICANT)

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY FINANCIAL CAPACITY IS WEAK?

DIFFERENT MEASURES CAN BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO PROTECT EU INTERESTS AND TO ALLOW YOU THE ACCESS TO EU CONTRIBUTION.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CAN BE DECLARATION ON HONOUR, YEARLY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS, BALANCE SHEETS…

HOW DO WE CHECK YOUR FINANCIAL CAPACITY?

COSME Info Day 2018


A) NON-CUMULATIVE AWARD

B) NON-RETROACTIVITY

C) CO-FINANCING

D) BALANCED BUDGET

E) IMPLEMENTATION CONTRACTS/SUBCONTRACTING

EU FUNDING: GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR GRANTS

COSME Info Day 2018

ExecutiveAgency for SMEs COSME Info Day 2018

PROPOSAL APPLICATION & GRANT SIGNATURE9


Time to Grant (TTG): Max. 9 months

TTI (Time to Inform) –Max. 6 months

Grant preparation: Max. 3 months

THE WORKFLOW

Evaluation of proposals

Grant signature and pre-financingpayment

From the invitation letter we follow and support you step by step until the signature of your grant. We closely follow the grant preparation process

and monitor progress.

COSME Info Day 2018


Terms and Conditions

Annex 1: Description of the Action

Annex 2: Estimated Budget

Annex 3: Accession Forms

•Annex 4: Financial Statements

Annex 5: Certificate on the Financial Statements

STRUCTURE OF YOUR GRANT AGREEMENT

COSME Info Day 2018


TERMS AND CONDITIONS

COSME Info Day 2018

Chapter 1 General

Chapter 2 Action

Chapter 3 Grant

Chapter 4 Rights and obligations of the

parties

Chapter 5 Division of beneficiaries' roles and

responsibilities


TERMS AND CONDITIONS

COSME Info Day 2018

Chapter 6 Rejection of costs -

Reduction of the grant -

Recovery – Penalties – Damages –

Suspension – Termination –

Force majeure

Chapter 7 Final provisions


Article 3: Duration and starting date12-18-24-36… months

BUDGET is an ESTIMATION

CLAIMED COSTS ARE COSTS ACTUALLY INCURRED

COSME Info Day 2018


ANNEX 2

COSME Info Day 2018


• Article 5: Grant amount, form of grant, reimbursement rates and forms of costs

• Maximum grant amount:

Amount stated in the grant agreement is the maximum.

The grant reimburses up to 75% of the action's budgeted eligible costs (according to Art.5.2).

• Final grant amount:

Total accepted eligible costs X EU contribution rate

COSME Info Day 2018


• Article 6 of the GA: Eligible and ineligible costs• Criteria in order to be eligible (actually incurred during the

duration of the action, foreseen in Annex II, identifiable and verifiable in the accountancy, in compliance with applicable national law on taxes and social security, reasonable)

• Eligible costs

• Direct personnel costs (actual costs)

• Cost of SME owners – natural person not receiving a salary (unit costs)

• Direct costs of subcontracting (actual costs)

• Other direct costs (actual costs)

• Indirect costs (flat rate costs): 7% of the eligible direct cost

• Ineligible costs

• Such as deductible VAT, currency exchange losses, …

COSME Info Day 2018


Pre-financing payment of 70% of max grant amount

Within 30 days, either from the entry into force of the grant agreement or from 10 days before the starting date

of the action, whichever is the latest.

Interim payment (often not applicable)

Final payment – 90 days from submission of the cost claim

Payment arrangements

COSME Info Day 2018


Roles and Responsibilities

COORDINATOR's obligations:

(i) monitor that the action is implemented properly;

(ii) act as the intermediary for all communications;

(iii) provide a pre-financing guarantee if requested by the Agency;

(iv) request and review any documents or information required by the Agency;

(v) submit the deliverables and reports to the Agency;

(vi) ensure that all payments are made to the other beneficiaries without unjustified delay;

COSME Info Day 2018


Roles and Responsibilities

Each BENEFICIARY's obligations:

(i) keep information stored in the 'Beneficiary Register' (via the electronic exchange system) up to date;

(ii) inform the coordinator immediately of any events or circumstances likely to affect the action's implementation;

(iii) submit to the coordinator in good time:

- individual financial statements, certificates on the financial statements (if applicable), data needed to draw up the technical reports, any other documents or information required by the Agency or the Commission under the Agreement, …

COSME Info Day 2018


COSME Financial Guidelinesunder revision

Participant Portal: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal

"HOW TO" on the Participant Portal – external wiki- Reporting and payments

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/wikis/display/ECResearchGMS/Periodic+Reporting- How to complete your financial statement

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/wikis/display/ECResearchGMS/How+to+complete+your+financial+statement+-+general

Participant Portal Frequently Asked Questions:https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/support/faq.html

Technical helpdesk of Participant Portal:https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/api//contact/index.html

Useful links

COSME Info Day 2018

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/wikis/display/ECResearchGMS/Periodic+Reporting

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/wikis/display/ECResearchGMS/How+to+complete+your+financial+statement+-+general

https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/support/faq.html

https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/api/contact/index.html



(Part 1)

COSME Info Day 2018


IT tools and systems

COSME Info Day 2018

Claire TombeuxExecutive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized EnterprisesJune 11th 2018


HOW CAN I FIND THE INFORMATIONHOW TO SUBMIT MY PROPOSAL

Electronic submission process

COSME Info Day 2018

Claire TOMBEUXExecutive Agency for Small and Medium-Sized EnterprisesJune 11th 2018


WHERE TO FIND ON PUBLISHED CALLSEASME WEB SITE

PARTICIPANT PORTALSuccess rate in receiving grants in COSME isquite high above 20% in most of the case. This

does not prevent to write very good proposalaiming at big impact.

COSME Info Day 2018

https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/cosme-data-hub

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/cosme/index.html#c,calls=hasForthcomingTopics/t/true/1/1/0/default-group&hasOpenTopics/t/true/1/1/0/default-group&allClosedTopics/t/true/0/1/0/default-group&+PublicationDateLong/asc


PREPARATION OF SUBMISSIONWHAT SHOULD I DO?

REGISTER YOUR ORGANISATION(S) IN PDM

GO TO THE SUMISSION LINK

FILL IN YOUR REFERENCE ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATES

ANNEX I - DESCRIPTION OF WORK

ANNEX II – BUDGET

OTHER ANNEXES IF APPLICABLE

COSME Info Day 2018


SUBMISSIONUPLOAD ALL ANNEXES

VERIFY IF THERE IS NO WARNING RELATED TO SOME ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

NR OF COUNTRIES

NR OF APPLICANTS

TYPE OF ORGANISATION ETC..

VALIDATE ALL INFORMATION AND SUBMIT

COSME Info Day 2018


TIMELINE CHECK THE DEADLINE TIME

DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL AT THE LATEST TIME. THE SYSTEM BLOCKS

SUBMISSION AT THE DEADLINE TIME EXACTLY

(YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE YOUR PROPOSAL UNTIL THE DEADLINE IT WILL REPLACE

THE ONE IN THE SYSTEM) (BUT DO NOT FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR LAST PROPOSAL

BEFORE DE DEADLINE….

COSME Info Day 2018



(Part 1)

COSME Info Day 2018


Sharing perspectives from COSME evaluator

COSME Info Day 2018

Silvia Barbone Expert & experienced COSME evaluatorJlag and Federturismo ConfindustriaJune 11th 2018


How to build a successful proposal

Sharing perspectives from a COSME evaluator

COSME Info Day 2018

Silvia Barbone, Expert & Experienced COSME EvaluatorJlag and Federturismo ConfindustriaJune 11th 2018


A successful and sustainable project to be designed, to be implemented and to generate

long term benefits.

COSME Info Day 2018


Pre-project stages

COSME Info Day 2018Ref: PM4SD


Ref: PM4SD


1. Vision, strategy, policy

2. Partnership

3. Workplan, activities, results

4. Success factors

COSME Info Day 2018


Vision, Strategy, Policy

COSME Info Day 2018

This call for proposals is based on Article 25 of the COSME Regulation. It aims at supporting the development and promotion of transnational thematic tourism products exploiting synergies between tourism and cultural and creative industries (CCIs).

This call is a also vehicle to achieve the the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.


Project Scope definition in line with the policy

COSME Info Day 2018

The call especially targets transnational projects with cooperation between tourism and cultural and creative industry (CCI) related SMEs to create innovative and tangible tourism offers. These offers should use the creative potential of CCIs for new tourism experiences or the enhancement of existing ones.

This call for proposals intends to co-fund projects which put a particular focus on transnational cooperation between tourism and CCIs-related SMEs to develop and promote innovative yet tangible tourism offers. Such tourism offers need to capitalise on the creative potential of CCIs to develop innovative services and products and/or use cultural and creative content to enhance existing or develop new tourism experiences.


Partnership

COSME Info Day 2018


Eligible Partnership

COSME Info Day 2018

The consortium must gather a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 members/partners - different legal entities - covering at least 5 eligible countries - as listed under section 6.1.3;

The consortium must be composed of at least: four SMEs – Small and Medium Sized enterprises: 2 active in the tourism and 2 in the CCIs sector12;

One national or regional or local public authority.


Successful Partnership

COSME Info Day 2018

Strategically selected Active involvedClear definition of roles and responsibilities Common visionEuropean dimension CommitmentCooperation approachMultiplying effect


Workplan, activities, results

COSME Info Day 2018

Clear, coherent, and ambitious work planDivide the project in clear work packagesDefine activities with clear timeline, milestones and deliverables Assign clear tasks to partners Build a logical link between identified needs, specific objectives, proposed actions and expected results Plan practical and innovative activitiesAppropriate the level of effort (hours and budget)?

Entry point: Apply a product planning approach


PROJECT SUCCESS FACTORS

COSME Info Day 2018

Build a Knowledge based and consistent proposalClear ScopeRealistic objectivesProject ManagementCommunication and DisseminationRoles and ResponsibilitiesOwnershipStakeholders engagement


SUSTAINABILITY

COSME Info Day 2018

Sustainable tourism approachBenefits oriented approach Ownership and CommitmentProject Management Communication and DisseminationPost-project phase

Generate a positive change for people and places


COSME Info Day 2018

Thank you!

Silvia [email protected]


COSME Info Day 2018

Coffee break


COSME Info Day 2018

Opportunities to participate in Calls for proposals

Q/A


COSME Info Day 2018

Networking Lunch


COSME Info Day 2018

13:30

Next session: Participating in Calls for proposals

COSME Info Day 2018 - European Commission...Executive Agency for SMEs The European Commission's...

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