Call for proposals

COSME programme – “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” – COS-EYE-2017-4-01

 

Objectives and description

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border mobility programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other Participating Countries.

 

The general objective of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme is to enhance entrepreneurship, develop the international outlook and competitiveness of European SMEs and foster potential start-up entrepreneurs and newly-established micro and small enterprises in the Participating Countries.

 

The purpose of the call is to select Intermediary Organisations (IOs) to implement the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme at local level. They will, in particular, recruit the entrepreneurs and assist them to benefit from the programme. This call for proposals will therefore support actions of organisations enhancing and facilitating the mobility of new entrepreneurs, and is not intended for entrepreneurs willing to participate in an exchange in this programme.

 

The Intermediary Organisations (IOs) will be required to cooperate with all other organisations and authorities involved in the mobility programme. They will receive support from the existing Support Office (SO), which helps with the coordination and management of the programme across Participating Countries.

 

Eligible activities

As a minimum requirement, the IOs' proposals are expected to describe the following activities in detail:

·         Promotion of the programme

·         Enrolment of entrepreneurs

·         Assessing applications from NEs and HEs

·         Building relationships

·         Management of grant agreements, commitments and financial assistance

·         Preparation of the exchange

·         Follow up of the exchange

·         Management, quality control and evaluation

·         Active networking

·         Reporting

 

Under this call for proposals, each proposal must provide for the following key outcome:

·         Match successfully at least 100 entrepreneurs, either as new or as host entrepreneurs.

·         Offering assistance and support to NEs who are visiting a HE covered by the Intermediary Organisation, including the financial assistance

·         Participating in meetings in Brussels or other locations in the COSME Participating Countries.

 

Eligible participants - Minimum conditions

Applicants must be legal entities forming a consortium established in an EU member state countries participating in the COSME programme pursuant to Article 6 of the COSME Regulation.

 

Applying entities may for instance include:

·         Public entities responsible for or active in the fields of economic affairs, enterprise, business support or related issues

·         Chambers of commerce and industry, chambers of (handi)crafts or similar bodies, - Business support organisations, start-up centres, incubators, technology parks etc.

·         Business associations and business support networks

·         Public and private entities offering business support services,

·         Institutes of (higher) education such as universities or institutes for vocational education and training.

 

Only applications from legal entities established in the following countries are eligible:

·         EU Member States;

·         countries participating in the COSME programme pursuant to Article 6 of the COSME Regulation.

 

Applicant consortia are encouraged to include legal entities from countries/regions that are not yet covered by the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme.

 

This call aims at selecting consortia to implement the programme:

·         Consortia must be composed of at least 5 independent legal entities from at least 4 different COSME Participating Countries and include no more than 10 partners.

·         It is not allowed that a partner participates in more than one proposal.

 

Budget and duration

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is estimated at EUR 4,895,442.00.

 

The maximum grant amount per project will be EUR 500,000.00.

 

This amount could be increased if additional budgetary appropriations are made available.

 

EASME expects to fund approximately 10 proposals.

EASME reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.

 

The project duration is  24 months.

 

Deadline of proposals' submission

The deadline for submission is 7 June 2017, at 17.00 (Brussels time).

 

Further information

Please find attached the call documents.

 

More information:

https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/cosme/topics/cos-eye-2017-4-01.html

 

Kind regards,

Flora

 

Flora Stavropoulou
Intern

European Office of Cyprus

Rue du Luxembourg 3, 2nd floor

B-1000, Brussels

Tel/Fax: +32 (0) 2 280 22 85

E-mail: eoc.brussels2@ucy.ac.cy

 

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