EU FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT TIPS

Based around the theme 'New Ways to Grow' the competition aims to support inviduals and organisations with entrepreneurial, game changing ideas for social innovation projects.

he Competition invites Europeans to come up with game changing ideas that can advance Europe’s growth model, for example: 

• Challenge the assumptions upon which economic growth is usually conceived (e.g. the trend for sharing and collaborative economy);
• Question supply chain, production and delivery modes, or use of mainstream products or services (e.g. circular economy);
• Conceive new technologies or propose smarter use of existing technologies for the benefit of society (e.g. internet of things or 3D-printing);
• Generate new solutions and approaches for societal challenges of today and the future.

Deadline:  12:00 noon, Brussels time, on 8th May 2015.

Specific challenge: Public administrations need to address the new challenges posed by the evolution of society. Financial constraints are making this task difficult. At the same time, expectations - in terms of burden reduction and efficiency of public services - are growing.

The take-up of new technologies, such as social media and mobile technologies, leads to increased connectivity.

The availability of open data and open services, in an open government setting support the collaborative forms of service design and delivery and they increase transparency.

Expected impact:

·           Stimulating the creation, delivery and use of new services on a variety of devices, utilising new web technologies, coupled with open public data.

·           More personalised public services that better suit the needs of users.

·           Reducing the administrative burden of citizens and businesses (e.g. collecting information from citizens only once).

·           Increased transparency of and trust in public administrations.

Deadline; 28-05-2015 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND-DP)

Scope:

Doctoral programmes address the development and broadening of the research competencies of early-stage researchers. The training follows the EU Principles on Innovative Doctoral Training (http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/pdf/research_policies/Principles_for_Innovative_Doctoral_Training.pdf). Collaboration with a wider set of partners, including from the non-academic sector, which may provide hosting or secondment opportunities or training in research or transferable skills, as well as innovative elements of the proposed programme, will be positively taken into account during the evaluations. Each researcher must be enrolled in a doctoral programme. Attention is paid to the quality of supervision and mentoring arrangements as well as career guidance.

Limitations regarding the researchers' origin and destination should be avoided. Researchers supported under this scheme should comply with the mobility rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (i.e. compulsory trans-national mobility). Existing programmes can deviate from this rule if duly justified in the proposal by the applicant.

Specific challenge: The history of Europe and over sixty years of European integration have fostered the emergence of cultural heritage at different levels – local, regional, national and, recently, European. In all its forms, cultural heritage, values, institutions and language are crucial for the collective memories and sociability of groups but also for the personal development of citizens, enabling them to find their place in society. They also serve as a source of inspiration for the development of people's personalities and talents. Extending to the very heart of Europe and constituting a basis for EU construction, they play a key role in providing a sense of European belonging and EU citizenship as distinct from, but combined with, national citizenship. Cultural heritage and values are at the heart of our capability of overcoming the current EU crisis which could well provide the stimulus for revising EU policies so as to provide a solid basis for the emergence of a truly European cultural heritage and for passing it to future generations. The challenge is to explore and show how critical reflection on the historical, cultural and normative roots of Europe´s cultural and democratic practices and institutions contribute to an evolving European identity today.

Scope: The multidisciplinary and comparative research will focus on the emergence of a European cultural heritage in a historical perspective and the best way to transmit it. The content and methodology of education and curricula should be taken into account, as well as the role of new technologies and media. It will address how the local, regional, national and European aspects of cultural heritage are interlinked, how they are understood or not by citizens and encouraged or not by various stakeholders and promoters of cultural heritage. It will also analyse how this interplay of cultural heritage at different levels impacts on Europeanisation and the citizens' perceptions on Europe. The research will focus on the place of critical reflection in sustaining this as a cultural resource. This research should include both tangible and intangible cultural heritage as well as less established or popular examples of cultural heritage in the area of the living arts and consider contemporary trends in arts and culture in the shaping of tomorrow's European cultural heritage in order to enrich the study differentiating between commercial and non-commercial aspects. The research will also focus on the multilingual nature of the European heritage, seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the axiological, linguistic, social and cultural aspects of multilingualism and how they ensure the transmission of cultural heritage across generations and borders.

The links between the valorisation of this combined cultural heritage and various forms of formal and non-formal education and training, as well as the development of social, axiological, linguistic, cultural and political memories or imaginaries, should be studied in order to assess potential trends towards various forms of European cultural heritage and its links with Europeanisation. This should also include the assessment of the touristic potential of the EU level cultural heritage.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 1.5 and 2.5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

 Two prizes of €500,000 are on offer for breaking the optical transmission barriers and collaborative spectrum sharing, through the EU's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The aim is to develop and demonstrate solutions to societal or technological challenges that have not yet been met.  Contestants including innovators, SMEs and non-profit organisations acting alone or together with other entities, can formally register for the competition starting from May 2015. The deadlines for submissions are 17 December 2015 for Collaborative spectrum sharing prize and 15 March 2016 for Breaking the optical transmission barriers prize.

The priority of the call will be to combat and prevent violence linked to harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, forced or early marriage or forced sexual relationships, and so-called "honour crimes" committed against women, young people and children.

Funding activities

• promoting an integrated approach, including through the development and rollout of multi-sectorial guides and protocols for child protection system actors and other actors (e.g. health sector, law enforcement, education and childcare, justice,victim support services) in contact with victims or potential victims of harmful practices;
• raising awareness and changing attitudes among relevant communities, including through dialogue, mutual learning and exchange of good practice

Budget under this call for proposals is EUR 4.500.000

The funding under this call is based on the co-financing principle: the grant cannot constitute more than 80% of overall eligible project costs. The beneficiaries should ensure that the outstanding balance is covered from sources other than the EU budget (own resources of beneficiaries, contributions by donors, income generated by the project). The project budget must have revenue and expenditure in balance.

Contributions in kind
Contributions in kind mean the provision of goods or services to a beneficiary(ies) free of charge by a third party. As contributions in kind do not involve any expenditure for a beneficiary(ies) they are not eligible costs.

Deadline for this call for proposals is 3/6/2015 12:00 (noon) CET.

The Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme supports regional cooperation among nine central European countries.

The overall objective of the programme is “to cooperate beyond borders to make central European cities and regions better places to live and work” by implementing smart solutions answering to regional challenges in the fields of innovation, low-carbon economy, environment, culture and transport. The programme runs from 2014 to 2020 and invests EUR 231 million to co-finance transnational cooperation projects promoted by public and private organisations from central European regions.

PROGRAMME AREA

The CENTRAL EUROPE programme area includes all regions from Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as eight Länder from Germany (Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen) and nine regions from Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lombardia, Piemonte, Provincia Autonoma Bolzano, Provincia Autonoma Trento, Valle d’Aosta, and Veneto).

Priority axis 1 - Cooperating on innovation to make CENTRAL EUROPE more competitive

Priority axis 2 – Cooperating on lowcarbon strategies in CENTRAL EUROPE

Priority axis 3 – Cooperating on natural and cultural resources for sustainable growth in CENTRAL EUROPE

Priority axis 4 – Cooperating on transport to better connect CENTRAL EUROPE

BUDGET

ERDF BUDGET AVAILABLE The programme will allocate up to EUR 80 Million ERDF to the first call for proposals.

The recommended financial size of projects to be submitted in the framework of the 1 st call for proposals is in the range of EUR 1 to 5 million total cost. In exceptional cases, smaller or larger projects can be supported.

CO-FINANCING RATES

The following co-financing rates shall apply:

- Up to 85 %for applicants of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia;

-  Up to 80 % for applicants of Austria, Germany, Italy;

- Up to 80 % for applicants located in EU regions outside the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme area

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

Project proposals for step 1 of this call must be submitted through the eMS at the latest by Monday 13 April 2015, 18.00 CET.

The main objective of the action is to intensify cluster and business network collaboration across borders and sectoral boundaries and to support the establishment of European Strategic Cluster Partnership to lead international cluster cooperation in fields of strategic interest – notably in support of the development of emerging industries.

Applicant consortia are free to propose activities they consider relevant. However, it is essential that all activities are clearly related to the objective set out for each strand and duly justify:

• strand 1: supporting preparatory actions for the establishment and shaping of new European Strategic Cluster Partnerships (ESCPs); for which expected results and deliverables are a partnership agreement, an internationalisation strategy plan and an implementation roadmap;
• strand 2: supporting the first implementation, testing and further development of European Strategic Cluster Partnerships; for which the expected results and deliverables are collaboration activities developed and implemented with international partners and a monitoring scoreboard with verifiable indicators.

The main aim of the programme is to reduce socio-economic disparities in Europe and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor states (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the Czech Republic. The Scholarship Programme aims at enhancing human capital and knowledge base in the Czech Republic and supports cooperation between Czech educational institutions and educational institutions in the donor states.

Eligible Activities

Three types of actions are supported under the Scholarship Programme: 1. Mobility projects and placements a. Mobility projects b. Student placements c. Education sector staff placements 2. Institutional cooperation projects 3. Contact Seminars and Preparatory visits

Deadline for application submission for all supported actions within Call 2015 is: March 26, 2015 at 15:00.

The Scholarship and Training Fund (STF) set up within EEA and Norway Grants aims to contribute to the social and economic cohesion within European Economic Area through activities in the field of education between Poland and the Donor States: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

1. Activities eligible for funding within Call

Call is open for applications submitted within Mobility Projects in Higher Education - supporting student and staff exchanges between Polish and Donor States’ higher education institutions. The following categories of activities can be realized within projects:

Student exchange (studies of 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle) - eligible participants are students from Poland and from Donor States:

• mobility of Polish students going to Donor States and mobility of students from Donor States coming to Poland for study period of 3 up to 12 months within the same academic year,
• mobility of Polish students going to Donor States and mobility of students from Donor States coming to Poland for practical placements in cooperating institutions, for period of 3 up to 12 months within the same academic year.
• students taking part in mobility may participate in an intensive language course, which should be realized at the beginning of mobility in the hosting country.

Staff exchange – eligible participants are HEI staff members from Poland and the Donor States:

• mobility of Polish academic teachers going to partner HEIs from Donor – States and mobility of academic teachers from Donor States coming to Poland for teaching assignments;
• mobility of Polish academic teachers and administrative staff going to partner HEIs from Donor – States and mobility of academic teachers and administrative staff from Donor States coming to Poland in order to realize work shadowing, participation in seminars, trainings, workshops and conferences improving skills and widening knowledge in given field.

Amount of funding

Financing received within STF will cover 100% of total eligible project costs. No contribution of the applicant is required.

The Call for proposals lasts from 2nd February 2015 until 2nd April 2015, until 16:00. The deadline refers both to the hard copy (paper) and the electronic version of the application submitted via application form generator.

The European Commission aims to achieve two objectives:

•  a gradual development of co-operation projects with the national Trade Promotion Organisations, as well a strengthening of the European Trade Promotion Organisations network; 
•  a closer collaboration with  EU Member States and their Trade Promotion Organisations in the framework of the Missions for Growth and other internationalisation activities of the European Commission.

This action includes three strands:

1. To enhance cooperation among the trade promotion organisations and with the European Commission (setting up a European agenda);
2. To assist to the organisation of future Missions for Growth and their follow up via the network of national trade promotion organisations; 
3. To develop of a web-based instrument that can be of use to both national trade promotion organisations and the European Commission in order to map the international trade promotion activities inside and outside the EU. 

With references to websites about EU funding opportunities, available for the period 2014-2020, this guide provides basic information, especially:

• how & where to apply
• other general rules (eligibility, etc.).

The guide targets six main categories of potential applicants: small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), young people, researchers, farmers and public bodies. However, it may also be a valuable source of information for applicants from other fields.

Priority will be given to proposals dealing with equal economic
reconciliation of professional and private life and how to share housework and care responsibilities more equally between women and men.

Proposals shall complement the efforts of the EU in the area of equality between women and men. Duplications of already existing initiatives will not be funded. Activities already funded or eligible for funding under other EU funds (e.g. European Social Fund) cannot be funded under this call for proposals.

This call for proposals may provide funding for:

effective national and/or transnational awareness raising activities aiming at:

• supporting, in particular for men, flexible working arrangements (e.g. part time work, job sharing, reduced hours etc.) through campaigns using role models and pioneers. Such campaigns could e.g. highlight particularly successful male politicians, entrepreneurs or other public figures as care-givers who have adapted their working days to accommodate the needs of their families; show men taking care of ill partners or their parents; etc.

• highlighting the benefits of family-friendly measures to encourage companies to implement them; fighting against the adverse consequences affecting parents who make use of their right to family leave, and fighting stereotypes at company level that prevent men from making use of parental leave, paternity leave or part-time;

• counteracting the stereotype that domestic work does not fit the traditional picture of masculinity, by using authentic gender-balanced role models, such as:

- run campaigns showcasing e.g. popular male athletes completing domestic work or blue collar workers bringing home groceries, etc.
- implement at schools special lessons in ‘domestic work’ for both girls and boys. This should allow students to revalue these tasks and to establish the norm that both genders are responsible for this work.
Innovative policy research aiming at:
Providing new evidence on innovative ways of organising work and -time that would enable a better work-life balance and better sharing of domestic tasks and care responsibilities between women and men:
- conduct new research on economic and social benefits for equally shared paid and unpaid working hours;
- experiment (pilot) new working arrangements that allow better sharing of paid and unpaid work

Deadline for this call for proposals is 31/03/2015 12:00 (noon) CET

OPEN CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO SELECT FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES UNDER THE ERASMUS+ MASTER LOAN GUARANTEE FACILITY

Eligible Financial Intermediaries

This Open Call for Expression of Interest is addressed and restricted to Financial Intermediaries that are:

a) in respect of Guarantees provided under the Facility, public or private entities (including credit or financial institutions), if applicable, duly authorised to carry out financing to Final Recipients according to the applicable legislation;

b) in respect of Counter-Guarantees provided under the Facility: public or private guarantee schemes, guarantee institutions or other entities, credit or financial institutions, if applicable, duly authorised to issue guarantees according to the applicable legislation, in each case established and operating in one or more of the Programme Countries

Deadline

Before 30th September 2020. Applications will be assessed by EIF on a “first-come, first-assessed basis”.

Crowdfunding is a way of raising money to finance projects and businesses. It enables fundraisers to collect money from a large number of people via online platforms.

Main types of crowdfunding

Peer-to-peer lending

The crowd lends money to a company with the understanding that the money will be repaid with interest. It is very similar to traditional borrowing from a bank, except that you borrow from lots of investors.

Equity crowdfunding

Sale of a stake in a business to a number of investors in return for investment. The idea is similar to how common stock is bought or sold on a stock exchange, or to a venture capital. Rewards-based crowdfunding

Individuals donate to a project or business with expectations of receiving in return a non-financial reward, such as goods or services, at a later stage in exchange of their contribution.

Donation-based crowdfunding

Individuals donate small amounts to meet the larger funding aim of a specific charitable project while receiving no financial or material return.

Profit-sharing / revenue-sharing

Businesses can share future profits or revenues with the crowd in return for funding now.

Debt-securities crowdfunding

Individuals invest in a debt security issued by the company, such as a bond.

Hybrid models

Offer businesses the opportunity to combine elements of more than one crowdfunding type

Type of projects:

•   Preparatory visits
•   Mobility projects (students, teaching and non-teaching staff)
•   Inter-institutional cooperation projects

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 

 Increasing the number of higher education student and teacher mobilities between Romania and Donor States

 Increasing and strengthening institutional cooperation in higher education between Romania and Donor States.

DEADLINES:

 The filled-in application form has to be sent electronically at the address see-burse@anpcdefp.ro   in English:

- until 31.03.2015 22.00 hours – for Mobility Projects and Inter-institutional cooperation Projects;

- applications for Preparatory Visits will continue to be received under a rolling deadline (but no later than 30.06.2015, 22.00 hours ); they will be sent at least 6 weeks before the date when the visit is due to start

Aims of the call is to achieve :

• a gradual development of co-operation projects with the national Trade Promotion Organisations, as well a strengthening of the European Trade Promotion Organisations network; 
•  a closer collaboration with  EU Member States and their Trade Promotion Organisations in the framework of the Missions for Growth and other internationalisation activities of the European Commission.

This action includes three strands:

1. To enhance cooperation among the trade promotion organisations and with the European Commission (setting up a European agenda);
2. To assist to the organisation of future Missions for Growth and their follow up via the network of national trade promotion organisations; 
3. To develop of a web-based instrument that can be of use to both national trade promotion organisations and the European Commission in order to map the international trade promotion activities inside and outside the EU.     

The deadline for electronic submission is 19 March 2015 at 17:00 hours (Brussels time).