The Single Market Programme (SMP) covers the single market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, the area of plants, animals, food and feed, and European statistics. Specifically, the programme brings together aspects in order to streamline, exploit synergies and provide a better flexible, transparent, simplified and agile framework to finance activities aiming at a well-functioning sustainable internal market.
The purpose of this call for proposals is to select Intermediary Organisations (IOs) to implement the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme at local level. They will, in particular, be responsible for recruiting Ukrainian new entrepreneurs (NE) and host entrepreneurs (HE) outside of Ukraine and assist them to benefit from the programme. This call for proposals will therefore support actions of organisations enhancing and facilitating the exchanges of Ukrainian new entrepreneurs with host entrepreneurs outside of Ukraine.
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border exchange programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other SMP Participating Countries, while giving experienced entrepreneurs access to innovative ideas and new partners markets.
Proposals must aim at achieving all of the following specific objectives:
New entrepreneurs must have a Ukrainian citizenship to be eligible to participate in the programme under this call. Host entrepreneurs do not need to have Ukrainian citizenship. Entrepreneurs from any economic sector are welcome to participate, a priori. Proposals should also include in their target groups entrepreneurs who propose “sustainable/green” and “digital” business models. Proposals should also consider gender balance of recruited entrepreneurs, both new and hosts.
Projects are expected to last 28 months. Activities should start on 01 October 2023.
The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rate fixed in the Grant Agreement (100% for the costs for providing financial support to third parties, i.e. new entrepreneurs, and 90% for all other costs categories).
Project budgets (maximum grant amount) are expected to be €600 000 per project. At least 50% of the estimated maximum grant amount per project must be reserved for financial support to third parties (FSTP), i.e., Ukrainian new entrepreneurs.
It is expected that 5 projects will be funded.
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must be legal entities (public or private bodies), established in an EU Member State or listed EEA countries and countries associated to the Competitiveness and SMEs part of the Single Market Programme (associated countries) or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature and Ukraine, in territories that are under the effective control of the Ukrainian authorities.
Applicants may be, for instance:
Consortium composition – Proposals must be submitted by a consortium composed of applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities), which complies with the following conditions:
Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry
Industry and Technology Service
1421, Nicosia, Cyprus
Email: sit@meci.gov.cy
Contact Person:
Spyros Triantaphyllidis
Telephone: 22867333
Email: striantafyllides@meci.gov.cy
(Publish Date: 09/03/2023-for internal use only)