Access to EU Funds Alexander Foidl

1. Phare Business Support Programme III of the European Union UEAPME - SME FIT II Access to EU FundsAlexander Foidl This project is funded by the European Union under the Phare Business Support Programme and implemented by UEAPME and its partners. The content of this document does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Commission.

2. Frequent Misunderstandings • “My company is exporting to Croatia...” • “I have made an invention with European impact...” • “My firm wants to set up a Joint Venture in China...”

3. EU Funding in General • Nearly all funding within programmes – few opportunities to create “own projects” • Majority of funds managed at decentralised level • Competitive selection • In general not for profit • Strict rules and procedures apply • European Added Value needed

4. 3 Basic Types of EU Funding • Structural Funds • Only for EU Member States • Thematic/Action/Community Programmes • For EU Member States and Canidate Countries • External Aid Programmes • For Candidate Countries and Non-Member States

5. 2 Basic Types of Implementation • Grants – Calls for Proposals • Own ideas • Co-Financing necessary • Selection criteria: contribution to EU goals • Publication: DG websites, Official Journal C • Tenders / Public Procurement – Calls for Tenders • Specific Requirements for Supplies/Services/Works • No Co-Financing needed • Selection criteria: Price vs. Quality • Publication: Tenders Electronic Daily, Europeaid-Website

6. Structural Funds • Implementation decentralised in Member States (co-financing needed) • National Calls for Proposals or on-going submission and national or international Tenders • Beneficiaries: typically enterprises, public bodies • Projects do not need to be transnational

7. Thematic Programmes (1) • Implementation centralised by Directorate General (DG) or Agency of the European Commission • EU-wide calls for proposals • Beneficiaries: typically public institutions, universities, research institutes, associations, NGOs, chambers (as INTERMEDIARIES) • Projects need to be transnational

8. Thematic Programmes (2) - Research Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) • Budget 2007-2013: 50.5 bn Euro • 4 Supported Activities: • Cooperation (ICT, Aeronautics etc.) • Ideas (SME research) • People • Capacities

9. Thematic Programmes (3) - Competitiveness Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) • Budget 2007-2013: 3.6 bn Euro • 3 operational programmes: • Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP) • Access to Finance for SMEs • Business and Innovation Service Centers • Entrepreneurship • Ecoinnovation • Support for Policymaking • ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) • Intelligent Energy Europe Programme (IEE)

10. Thematic Programmes (4) – Other Examples • SMEs and Internationalisation: • Gateway and Excecutive Training Programme (Japan, Korea) • Asia Invest /AL-Invest • Education: Leonardo da Vinci • Transport: Marco Polo II • Environment: LIFE + • ICT: eContent+ • Media: MEDIA 2007

11. External Aid Programmes (1) • Implementation decentralised in Beneficiary countries with supervision of the EU Delegation • EU-wide Calls for Tender for Supplies, Works and Service Contracts or Twinning • Beneficiaries: typically public institutions of Candidate Countries or Third Countries • Projects not transnational

12. External Aid Programmes (2) Examples • IPA – Instrument for Pre-Accession • Budget 2007-2013: 11.5 bn • Countries: Candidate Countries, potential Candidate Countries • 5 Components: • Institution Building • Territorial Cooperation • Regional Development • Human Ressources • Agriculture • ENPI – European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument

13. How to find Partners • Enterprise Europe Network • Programme project database, CORDIS partner service • National Contact Points for programmes • European Associations, Chamber platforms • TED award notice: Successful Tenderers and short-listed candidates • “Sector Seminars” in Brussels • Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels

14. How to be successful (1) • Gather information early and act early • Build up permanent partnerships • Keep standard documents, CVs etc. up-to-date and on file • Pay attention to all formal requirements, deadlines etc. • Study work programme/tender dossier and award criteria very carefully

15. How to be successful (2) • Stress the European dimension and the EU policy development • Be innovative and sustainable • Be consistent in your proposal and budget • Proof-reading by “outsiders”is useful • Put yourself into the position of an evaluator – make it easy for him/her!

16. Information Sources (1) • Structural Funds – Managing Authorities http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/fiche_index_en.htm • EU Grants http://ec.europa.eu/grants/index_en.htm • Europen Portal for SMEs – EU Funding (DG Enterprise) http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sme/funding_en.htm • Calls for Proposals (Thematic Programmes) or the Directorate Generals (DGs) of the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/dgs_en.htm • Official Journal C Series http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm

17. Information Sources (2) • FP7 – CORDIS http://cordis.europa.eu/en/home.html • EU Tenders – Official Journal Supplement - TED http://ted.europa.eu/ • External Aid Tenders and Grants (including Pre-Accession Programmes) http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl • Microsoft EU Grants Advisor http://www.microsoft.com/emea/euga/

18. Phare Business Support Programme III of the European Union UEAPME - SME FIT II Thank you! Alexander Foidl Austrian Federal Economic Chamber E alexander.foidl@wko.at W http://eufoerderguide.wko.at