Who can participate?

This call is addressed to Clusters, Business Network Organisations and SMEs that are interested in engaging in collaboration activities with South MED counterparts in fields related to:

• Agriculture and Food Industry
• Creative Industries and Tourism
• Digital Solutions
• Sustainable Energy and Greentech
• Transport and Mobility

The event is open to Clusters, Business Network Organisations and SMEs from the EU and non-EU COSME countries. Therefore, cluster and business network organisations whose SME members are interested in developing business collaborations with South MED organisations are highly encouraged to respond to this call.

Participation of cluster organisations involved in ESCP-4i (European Strategic Cluster Partnership –Going International) is strongly encouraged.

Opportunities for SMEs:

Opportunities for SMEs[1]: The ECCP encourages European cluster and business network organisations to disseminate this opportunity among their SME members and contacts, who, if interested, should apply independently.

Selection criteria

To be selected:

• The cluster, business network organisation or SME must be a legal entity established in a European Union Member State or in a country eligible for participating in the COSME programme. See list of non-EU participants in the COSME programme here: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/...
• The cluster or business network organisation has to be involved in offering or channelling cluster or network support services to SMEs;
  
• The cluster organisations should comply with the definition given in: https://clustercollaboration.e..
  
• The cluster organisations shall be registered in the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (www.clustercollaboration.eu) with a complete profile (the complete cluster profile of each applicant registered on the ECCP should be provided together with their application)
• The SME must comply with the definition given in the European Commission recommendation 2003/361: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal...

Applications will be selected according to the following qualitative criteria:

• Clusters, Business Network Organisation or SME’s activity in the target sectors (Agriculture and Food Industry; Creative Industries and Tourism; Digital Solutions; Sustainable Energy and Greentech; and Transport and Mobility).
• On the Clusters, Business Network Organisation or SME’s potential to maximise matchmaking opportunities, through the participation to this event, based on a clear description of the type of partnership the applicant is looking for, and on the potential for establishing tangible cooperation as an outcome of the Event. This expression of interest for collaboration shall be clearly articulated as responses to the questionnaire to be submitted with the application.
• On the willingness to engage in closer cooperation with other cluster and business network organisations from South-MED countries to better support SMEs in global competition through joint efforts.

The decision on the selection of applicants will be based both on the requirements above and qualitative merit of each application; the balanced geographical coverage of the COSME participating countries will, in case of equal merit, be taken into consideration.

Expression of interest

Expressions of interest should be submitted electronically via the following link (also available on the ECCP website) by the 11th of October 2021 (23h59 CEST).

The expression of interest should encompass:

• A questionnaire on the cluster or business network organisation profile – available on the link above;
• Evidence of the legal entity of the cluster or business network organisation – to be uploaded when submitting the questionnaire (if not registered on the ECCP);
• For clusters, evidence of the completed cluster profile registered in the ECCP (e.g. print screen) – to be uploaded when submitting the questionnaire.

Please make sure to provide complete, accurate information and contact details.

Visit ECCP for further information on cluster collaboration and support: www.clustercollaboration.eu

If you have any questions, please contact the following email at: eccp.matchmaking@vva.it

All the personal data provided will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 2018/1725 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data.

[1]Please refer to the SME definition, European Commission. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/sme-definition_en