European Commission

Information Meeting on theInformation Meeting on the

Call for proposalsCall for proposals“ERASMUS for young “ERASMUS for young

entrepreneurs”entrepreneurs”European Commission

Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General

Unit E1 – Entrepreneurship

Brussels, 23 June 2008

These slides are for illustration only and do not take precedence over the official call text published on the Commission’s website

Enterprise and Industry Directorate General

2

Part 1

Objectives, applicants,

geographical coverage, activities

3

What is the overall objective?

To set up a European mobility scheme

“to facilitate exchange of experiences, learning

and networking for nascent EU entrepreneurs

through periods spent at companies of

experienced entrepreneurs in other EU Member

States.”

4

What is the specific objective?

Fostering

• entrepreneurship

• internationalisation

• competitiveness of start-up entrepreneurs

and newly established SMEs in the EU

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How does the scheme function?

1 – 6 months stay abroad

Nascent entrepreneurs

Host entrepreneurs in another EU Member State

European Commission in cooperation with a European level Coordination Body (CB) and

intermediary organisations (IOs) at national / regional level

coordinationsupportquality

matching

induction

Exchange of experiences, market access, networking, intercultural learning

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Basic scheme on the relationship between intermediaries, NE and HE

INTERMEDIARY BODY

FOR NASCENTENTREPRENEURS

FOR HOSTENTREPRENEURS

HOSTENTREPRENEUR

NASCENTENTREPRENEUR

Country A Country B

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General model for the process of establishing a relationship

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Who are the main actors involved?

• Nascent entrepreneurs (NE)• Host entrepreneurs (HE)• Intermediary organisations (IO)

• European Partnerships (EP)• Coordinating Body (CP)• European Commission (COM)

9

What are the potential benefits for NEs?

• obtain a broader business experience from an established company;

• develop international connections and knowledge about foreign markets;

• benefit from possible co-venturing opportunities and the development of cross-border markets;

• gain insights into a different cultural and organisational setting/workplace;

• understand the regulatory framework in another EU country.

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What are the potential benefits for HEs?

• Work with a NE who has strong analytical and strategic skills;

• Access new skills and innovative knowledge in the NE that an SME often does not have;

• Work with a possible young ‘business angel’ contributing to the business;

• Gain knowledge and intelligence about the foreign markets and an opportunity to internationalise the business;

• Explore possible succession-planning;• Possibly starting up the business in a new country;• network with the other HEs as part of a dynamic

European network of successful entrepreneurs.

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Which tasks should an Intermediary Organisation fulfill?

a) Providing information to NEs

b) Promotion and searching for HEs

c) Verifying eligibility and quality of applications from NEs and HEs

d) Pro-active matching of the relationships

e) Local induction training

f) Management of contracts and commitments

g) Assistance on the practicalities / logistical support

h) Administering financial assistance

i) Ensuring high standards and evaluation feedback

j) Active networking amongst IOs and “alumni”

k) Reporting

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Which tasks should the Coordinating Body fulfill?

a) Marketing and promotion

b) Guidance and support to EPs/IOs

c) Co-ordination and quality control

d) Central website operation

e) Development of online training material

f) Promoting networking amongst IOs

g) Reporting and monitoring

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The 10 steps of a relationship

1. Application from NE 6. NE, HE and IOs agree

on quality commitment

and tasks

2. Applications are checked

by IO

7. NE completes pre-departure induction

3. HE shows interest in

participating

8. NE‘s IO delivers financial assistance

4. File is checked by IO 9. NE receives support and advice from HE‘s IO

5. Matching of NE and HE by IOs

10. NE and IO submit reports

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Who can participate in the call?

Any public entity or private body competent in business support can participate, in particular

• chambers of commerce and industry, chambers of handicrafts or similar bodies

• business support organisations and start-up centres• business associations and business support networks• public entities offering business support services• education and training providers (public, private,

sectoral etc.) active in the field of business support• training placement organisations

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What is the expected output?

• around 870 mobility activities

• creation of new businesses and spin-off companies

• networking of entrepreneurs and intermediary

organisations

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Which countries can participate?

• applicants must be established in an EU Member State,

• at least one further project partner from another EU country (Lot 1),

• additional project partners in a European Partnership can also come from EFTA/EEA and candidate countries (but are in these cases excluded from receiving an EU grant).

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Which activities will be supported?

• Lot 1: European partnerships enhancing the mobility of nascent entrepreneurs

• Lot 2: coordination, support and networking at European level linked to the action mentioned in lot 1

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Which basic conditions must be fulfilled?

• Lot 1: European partnerships– at least 2 entities from 2 different EU member states– certain regional coverage (NUTS)– cooperation with other partnerships

• Lot 2: coordination, support and networking– no partners– coordination at European level– cooperation with partnerships and Commission

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What is the project duration?

• Lot 1: The maximum duration of projects is 18 months (i.e. until June 2010).

• Lot 2: The maximum duration of the project is 22 months (i.e. until October 2010)

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What are the main deliverables of a European partnership?

• 30-50 successfully matched relationships between

nascent entrepreneurs and host entrepreneurs (of

which 50% with other partnerships)

• services linked to these relationships (promotion,

information, induction, advice, contracts,

logistical support etc.)

• quality control, evaluation, reporting and active

networking

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What are the main deliverables of the Coordinating Body?

• coordination of the European partnerships and

ensuring coherence and consistency

• services to European partnerships (guidance,

assistance, website, publicity, training material

etc.)

• organisation of 3 network meetings in Brussels

• reporting and monitoring progress

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Part 2

Budget, payments, timing

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What is the budget?

• Total budget: EUR 2 850 000

• Lot 1: the max. grant will be EUR 140 000

• Lot 2: the max. grant will be EUR 200 000

• Commission’s max financial assistance:

90% of total eligible costs

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What is the financial framework of European partnerships?

Maximum EU grant per project: €140,000

Maximum amounts that may be paid to third parties

€100,000 in total and €10,000 per each third party

Maximum amount to NE per month of staying with the HE

€1100

Maximum amount to European partnerships for each successfully matched relationship

€900(of which €600 for EP of HE; €300 for EP of NE)

Maximum ratio of eligible expenditure for European partnership’s services to eligible financial assistance paid to NEs

50%

Maximum amount to European partnerships for failed relationships

€560

(of which €280 for each EP involved)

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What are the recommended amounts per month to NEs?

Country where the HE stays Recommended amount per month in €

Denmark 1100

United Kingdom, Ireland 1000

Finland, Sweden 950

Austria, France, Italy, 900

Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain 830

Cyprus, Greece, Portugal 780

Malta, Slovenia 720

Estonia, Hungary 670

Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia 610

Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania 560

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Which payments are foreseen?

European partnerships Coordinating Body

Pre-financing

70% of the grant 50% of the grant

2nd payment

None

30% of the grant on the basis of an approved interim report and financial statement

Payment of the balance

on the basis of approved final report and final financial statement

on the basis of approved final report and final financial statement

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When are the reports due?

European partnerships Coordinating Body

Interim technical report and financial statement

None before 31 October 2009

Final technical report and financial statement

Within 3 months of the closing date of the grant agreement

before 30 November 2010

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Part 3

Eligibility, selection, award

criteria

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How will be the selection process?

Each proposals has to pass the following successive stages:

1. admissibility (date, time, signatures etc.)

2. eligibility (legal status, target group, non-profit etc.)

3. exclusion (declaration on honour, bankruptcy etc.)

4. selection (finances, operational capacity etc.)

5. award (criteria, ranking)

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What are the award criteria?

criteria max. score

relevance (incl. geographical coverage for Lot 1)

35

visibility 15

impact 15

quality 15

Budget and cost-effectiveness 20

Total: 100

Minimum score: 60 points and 50% of the points of each criteria

The evaluation committee will be assisted by external evaluators COM will award grants to best scoring proposals

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What is the overall timing?

• 2007: Preparatory phase

– Eurobarometer survey

– Feasibility Study (with focus group meetings)

• 2008: Implementation phase

– Call for proposals: Put in place the implementation

structure

– Start of projects: December 2008

• 2009: First cycle of mobility activities

Done

Now

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What is the specific timing?

• Deadline for submission of proposals: 20 August• Evaluation and award decision: September /

October• Information and financial commitment:

November • Signing of grant agreements and start of projects:

December• 1st network meeting: January 2009• Mobility activities: April 2009 – June 2010• Submission of final reports: Autumn 2010

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Where can I find more information?

The full text of the call for proposals: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/funding/index.htm

Contact:European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry

Entrepreneurship (Unit E.1), B-1049 Brusselse-mail: entr-entrepreneurship@ec.europa.eu

European CommissionEnterprise and Industry Directorate General