EU Funding

 

The new programming EU funding period covering between 2014 and 2020, provides a budget of € 960 billion available for SMEs. In 2014, the EU plans to spend € 142.6 billion to promote and support the 21 million SMEs in the EU. We have teamed up with specialists to offer a tailored service to support your EU funding application. If you are interested please drop us an email on dalli.etienne@gmail.com and we will contact you to discuss your needs. The following are a few hints to guide you.

 

There are different types of funding programmes. You can subscribe to the Cooperation Opportunities Database via the Malta Enterprise website to keep abreast of the latest events occuring during the EU funding period. Once you identify a potential fund, read through the project guidelines to ensure that  your company is eligible to apply for the funding, and that your project concept meets the programme's objectives.  The project must contribute towards the Europe 2020 objectives and certain programmes require a consortium. Contact the Enterprise Europe Network in order to assist you in choosing strong partners. 

 

European funding is unlikely to cover all the costs of your project. The majority of programmes only fund between 50% and 75% of the project costs. Prior to submitting your proposal, make sure that either your company is able to co-finance the project, or there is a co-financing body or another partner to match the rest of the funding. Evidence of co-financing is required to be submitted together with the project proposal. 

 

We provide a complete guide to EU Funding Schemes as well as other National Government Schemes and Incentives. We carry out the preparation and submission of application forms, business plans as well as the necessary feasibility studies. 

 

 

Focus on Erasmus+

 

Erasmus + is the new EU umbrella programme for education, training, youth and sport from 2014 to 2020. With € 14.7 billion to Erasmus+, the EU increases very significantly - by 40% - funds spent on education and training. The objective is to increase by 50% the number of mobilities compared to the previous period.

 

The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme is a mobility initiative co-financed by the EU offering new entrepreneurs (either aspiring entrepreneurs armed with a credible business plan or entrepreneurs who started their own business in the last three years)  to gain valuable skills and experience. This programme is the assistance you are looking for if you have a brilliant business idea but you are not sure how to bring it to life; or  you are a newly established entrepreneur and need a helping hand; or you are already running your own company successfully but would like to expand and would benefit from fresh ideas. The benefits include on the job guidance and training, meeting successful business people, developing international contacts, learning about another European market, and improving your sector-specific skills.

 

Focus on COSME

 

The programme for the Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs (COSME) aims at encouraging the competitiveness of European enterprises. With small and medium-size enterprieses (SMEs), current and potential entrepreneurs and business support organisations as its main targets, the programme will provide better access to finance, deliver business support services and promote entrepreneurship. The Programme will run from 2014 to 2020 with a foreseen budget of € 2.5 billion.  This programme aims at :

 

• Facilitating access to finance for SMEs

• Creating an environment favourable to SME creation and growth

• Encouraging an entrepreneurial culture in Europe

• Strengthening the sustainable competitiveness of EU enterprises

• Supporting the internationalisation of SMes and improving their access to markets 

 

 

​Focus on Horizon 2020

 

Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness. This framework program dedicated to research and innovation, with € 70.2 billion in 2014-2020, is the flagship initiative of the EU for this new programming. It includes the FP, Euratom, actions for innovation from the competitiveness and innovation framework program-CIP and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, EIT.  It should be noted that access to these funds will be facilitated by faster allocation decisions and simplified cost models.

 

Seen as a means to drive economic growth and create jobs, Horizon 2020 has the political backing of Europe’s leaders and the Members of the European Parliament. They agreed that research is an investment in our future and so put it at the heart of the EU’s blueprint for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs.

 

By coupling research and innovation, Horizon 2020 is helping to achieve this with its emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.