synergies beneficiaries

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GUIDANCE FORBENEFICIARIESof European Structural

and Investment Funds

and related EU instruments


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GUIDANCE FORBENEFICIARIESof European Structural

and Investment Funds

and related EU instruments


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GUIDANCE FOR BENEFICIARIES OF EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL & INVESTMENT FUNDS & RELATED EU INSTRUMENTS

4

The European Unions (EU) multiannual financial framework for 2014-20 allows the newgeneration of EU spending programmes to be implemented from 1 January 2014.

Preamble

Regulation (EU) N1303/2013lays down common provisions applicable to the EuropeanRegional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund(CF), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the EuropeanMaritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). These Funds operate under a common frameworkknown as the European Structural and Investment Fundsor ESIF. The Regulation alsosets out the provisions necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the ESIF and theircoordination with one another and with other EU instruments.

Article 13 of the Regulation invites the Commission to prepare guidance for beneficiarieson how to effectively access and use the ESIF and on how to exploit complementaritieswith other instruments of relevant Union policies.

The term Beneficiaries covers a broad public, ranging from small and medium sizeenterprises (SMEs) 1

Potential funds and the application procedures are as varied as the beneficiaries. Specificguidance already exists and each Directorate General of the Commission has providedonline information detailing their work and funding instruments.

to large enterprises, and from public bodies to non-governmentaland civil society organisations. These beneficiaries could also be universities, students,researchers, farmers or fishermen.

This Guidance for Beneficiaries is not meant to be an exhaustive repertoire of availableEU funds. It builds on the Common Strategic Framework (Annex 1 of Regulation (EU)N1303/2013) which provides the basis for better coordination between the ESIF andother EU instruments.

For each Thematic Objective or TOidentified in the ESIF Regulation, the guidance gives anoverview of complementary instruments available at EU level complete with detailed sources ofinformation, examples of good practices for combining different streams of funds, as well as adescription of relevant authorities and bodies involved in the management of each instrument.

The links provided throughout the document will allow potential beneficiaries to find theirway in the maze of material available online, leading them to the most immediate anduseful websites and documents. An online check-list is also available to help potentialbeneficiaries identify the most appropriate funding sources.

1 Small or medium sized enterprise (SME) means a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise as defined inCommission Recommendation No 2003/361/EC4 that:

is engaged in an economic activity, irrespective of its legal form; employs fewer than 250 people (expressed in annual working units: staff headcount);

has annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceedingEUR 43 million.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013R1303http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013R1303http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013R1303


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1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 6

Table of Contents

2. The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) ................................. 8

2.1.

Overview and general principles .................................................................. 82.2.

Scope of the ESIF...................................................................................... 9

2.3.

Sound financial management .................................................................... 11

2.4.

Building synergies between the ESIF .......................................................... 11

3. Other EU Funds Overview ......................................................................... 13

3.1. Horizon 2020 .......................................................................................... 133.2. Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) ............................................................... 153.3.

Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises(COSME) ................................................................................................ 16

3.4.

LIFE ...................................................................................................... 17

3.5.

Creative Europe ...................................................................................... 18

3.6. Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme ................................. 183.7. Erasmus+ .............................................................................................. 193.8.

Third EU Health programme ...................................................................... 20

4. The ESIF and other EU instruments per Thematic Objective (TO) ................ 21

4.1.

TO 1: Strengthening research, technological development andinnovation .............................................................................................. 22

4.2.

TO 2: Enhancing access to, and use and quality of, ICT ................................ 26

4.3. TO 3: Enhancing the competitiveness of small- and medium-size enterprises

(SMEs), of the agricultural sector (for the EAFRD) and of the fishery andaquaculture sector (for the EMFF) .............................................................. 28

4.4.

TO 4: Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors .......... 31

4.5.

TO 5: Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management 34

4.6.

TO 6: Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resourceefficiency ............................................................................................... 36

4.7.

TO 7: Promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key networkinfrastructure ......................................................................................... 40

4.8.

TO 8: Promoting sustainable and quality employment and supporting labourmobility ................................................................................................. 43

4.9. TO 9: Promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination .... 464.10.

TO 10: Investing in education, training and vocational training for skills andlifelong learning ...................................................................................... 49

4.11.

TO 11: Enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders andefficient public administration ................................................................... 50

5. Other useful information ............................................................................. 53

5.1.

On-line Checklist for Beneficiaries .............................................................. 53

5.2.

Visibility of EU Funding ............................................................................ 53

5.3.

EU Funding and the Charter of Fundamental Rights ...................................... 53

6. Glossary ...................................................................................................... 54


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1. INTRODUCTION

Launched in 2010, Europe 2020 is the European Unions (EU) ten-year growth and jobs strategy.

The EU has fiveheadline targetsthat it wants to reach by the end of2020. These targets are in the areas of:

employment; research and development; climate/energy; education; social inclusion and poverty reduction.

The Europe 2020 strategy is supported by sevenflagship initiatives.These initiatives help EU and national authorities boost their effortsin areas that support the Europe 2020 priorities and include:

innovation, the digital economy, employment, youth, industrialpolicy, poverty, and resource efficiency.

The EU is committed to creating moreand better jobs. It also wants toestablish a socially inclusive society.These goals are at the centre of theEurope 2020 strategy 2

By supporting the Europe 2020 strategy,the ESIF help reduce the varying levelsof development in regions and islandsacross the EU. And in order to maximisethe ESIFs impact, eleven thematicobjectives (TO) are outlined in theRegulations (Article 9, Regulation (EU)N1303/2013).

for generatingsmart, sustainable and inclusive growthacross the continent.

Other EU instruments also contribute to

these TOs and Member States areencouraged to take advantage of all theavailable funding instruments atEuropean, national, regional and locallevels.

2 The mid-term review of Europe 2020 strategy ison-going, starting with a public consultation.

The results of the review will be available in2015 on the Europe 2020 website.
http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/targets/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/targets/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/targets/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/flagship-initiatives/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/flagship-initiatives/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/flagship-initiatives/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/flagship-initiatives/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/targets/index_en.htm


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THEMATIC OBJECTIVES (TO)

1. strengthening research,technological developmentand innovation;

2. enhancing access to, anduse and quality of, ICT;

3. enhancing the competitivenessof SMEs, of the agriculturalsector (for the EAFRD) andof the fishery and aquaculturesector (for the EMFF);

4. supporting the shift towardsa low carbon economy in all

sectors;

5. promoting climate changeadaptation, risk preventionand management;

6. preserving and protecting theenvironment and promotingresource efficiency;

7. promoting sustainabletransport and removing

bottlenecks in key networkinfrastructures;

8. promoting sustainable andquality employment andsupporting labour mobility;

9. promoting social inclusion,combating poverty and anydiscrimination;

10.investing in education, trainingand vocational training forskills and lifelong learning;

11.

enhancing institutional capacityof public authorities andstakeholders and efficientpublic administration.

Financial support can be a number ofincentives including grants, prizes,contracts, repayable assistance andfinancial instruments 3

For the potential beneficiaries of EUfinancial support, the process ofaccessing funding has recently beenmade much simpler. The changesinclude:

.

A single reimbursement rate known asa one project-one funding rate;

A flat rate for indirect costs and othersimplified cost options;

A 90-day payment deadline forbeneficiaries in cohesion policy;

Electronic exchange of data betweenbeneficiaries and managing authoritiesforeseen in 2016 across all EU-MemberStates.

Over 75 % of the EUs budget is managedby the member countries themselves. Therest is centrally managed by the EuropeanCommission, sometimes with the supportof its Executive Agencies.

3 Service, work and supply contracts finance bythe EU budget (calls for tenders) are not themain subject of this guidance. More informationon these is available on the European

Commission website underPublic contracts andfunding.
http://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/contracts_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/contracts_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/contracts_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/contracts_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/contracts_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/contracts_en.htm


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2. THE EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL AND INVESTMENT FUNDS(ESIF)

2.1. Overview and general principles

The ESIF are jointly managed by theEuropean Commission and the MemberStates in accordance with the principle ofsubsidiarity. This principle means that theEU does not take action unless it is moreeffective than action taken at national,regional or local level. To avail of funding,there are various eligibility criteria:

Time period:there are limits on theperiod during which operations and

expenditure can take place.

Scope of intervention:there arerestrictions on the types of activitiesthat can be co-financed.

Cost categories:certain costcategories are excluded.

Geographical location of operations:only certain locations are eligible.

Durability of operations:investmentsmay have to be maintained for a

minimum period after the operation iscompleted.

Types of beneficiaries:only certainenterprises, bodies or economic actorsare eligible for support.

Member States must draw up strategicplans with their investment prioritiescovering the five ESIF. These are calledPartnership Agreements (PAs). Details

of the objectives they intend to achievewith the available resources are given innational and/or regional OperationalProgrammes (OPs) (Rural DevelopmentProgrammes (RDPs) for the EAFRD).The OPs are designed to meet the socio-economic and environmental challengesin the country or region in question.Member States must concentrate theFunds where they are most needed andwill have an impact and may not use all

the possible funding themes and modelsprovided under the Regulations.

Managing/national authoritiesappointedby each Member State are responsiblefor managing the actual programmes.Together with monitoring committees4

drawing up and applying selectionprocedures and eligibility criteria;

,they are in charge of:

providing information to potentialbeneficiaries such as, the minimum ormaximum size of the project, thefinancing plan and time-frame;

ensuring that projects fall within thescope of the Funds concerned;

the financial management and controlof the programmes.

Applications for funding should besubmitted to the national or regionalauthority managing the relevantprogramme. Before applying for a grant,potential beneficiaries should check theinvestment priorities, eligibility criteriaand application procedure of theprogrammes in their region and countryContact details for all the relevantmanaging/national authorities can befound on the links below.

ERDF/CFESFEAFRDEMFF

4 Monitoring committees are usually madeof competent regional and local authoritiesincluding competent public authorities,economic and social partners, relevant bodiesrepresenting civil society, includingenvironmental partners, NGOs, bodiesresponsible for promoting social inclusion,gender equality and non-discrimination,

in accordance with each Member State'sinstitutional and legal framework.
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/manage/authority/authority_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/manage/authority/authority_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=45&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=45&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=45&langId=enhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/general-info/whos-who/implementing-authorities/managing-authorities/en/managing-authorities_en.cfmhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/general-info/whos-who/implementing-authorities/managing-authorities/en/managing-authorities_en.cfmhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/general-info/whos-who/implementing-authorities/managing-authorities/en/managing-authorities_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/eff/apply_for_funding/national_authorities.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/eff/apply_for_funding/national_authorities.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/eff/apply_for_funding/national_authorities.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/eff/apply_for_funding/national_authorities.pdfhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/general-info/whos-who/implementing-authorities/managing-authorities/en/managing-authorities_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=45&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/manage/authority/authority_en.cfm


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2.2. Scope of the ESIF

Negotiations between Member Statesand the European Commission decidewhat can be funded by the ESIF.

Priorities are set out within national orregional multi-annual programmes. Inpractice, Member States may choose toemphasise different activities in differentregions of the EU; eligibility thereforedepends on the scope of the programmein each region or country.

In order to reduce differences between thelevels of development among countries,cohesion policy funding targets the poorest

regions and Member States 5

EUROPEAN REGIONALDEVELOPMENT FUND (ERDF)

.

The ERDF aims to strengthen economicand social cohesion in the EU by correctingimbalances between its regions.

The ERDF will contribute to all 11 TOs.However, it will devote the majority ofits resources to 6

R&D EUR 39.9 billion;

:

SMEs EUR 32.8 billion;

Low carbon economy EUR 30.1 billion;

Transport and energy infrastructure EUR 25.6 billion

The ERDF will also support cross-bordertransnational and interregional cooperationunder the European Territorial Cooperationgoal. This could include partnering with

5 For more information go to themap of regions'eligibility.

6 Provisional amounts based on 28 PartnershipAgreements submitted to the Commission; the

exact amounts will be known once allOperational Programmes are adopted.

the EUs neighbouring third countries,through programmes under theEuropeanNeighbourhood Instrument and the

Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.

COHESION FUND (CF)

The CF is aimed at Member States whoseGross National Income (GNI) perinhabitant is less than 90 % of the EUaverage 7

The CF will support TOs 4, 5, 6 and 7only. Its projected financing structure

. It aims to reduce economicand social disparities and to promotesustainable development.

8

Transport and energy networkinfrastructures EUR 33 billion

is:

Environmental protection EUR 17.2billion

Low carbon economy EUR 7 billion

EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (ESF)

The ESF is Europes main instrument forsupporting jobs, helping people getbetter jobs and ensuring fairer jobopportunities for all EU citizens.

7 Member States eligible for funding from the CFare: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece,Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia

8 Provisional amounts based on 28 PartnershipAgreements submitted to the Commission;

the exact amounts will be known once allOperational Programmes are adopted.
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/eligibility/index_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/eligibility/index_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/eligibility/index_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/eligibility/index_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/instruments/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/instruments/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/instruments/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/overview/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/eligibility/index_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/eligibility/index_en.cfm


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The ESF will focus on a limited numberof priorities in order to make a realimpact in addressing Member States key

challenges, which are:

Employment EUR 30 billion;

Education EUR 26 billion;

Social inclusion EUR 21.3 billion;

Institutional capacity EUR 3.6 billion.

Together with the EUR 3.2 billion specialallocation for the Youth Employment

Initiative, this means that more than EUR86 billion 9

EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL FUNDFOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (EAFRD)

will be invested in Europespeople over the next seven years.

The EUs rural development policy helpsthe rural areas of the EU to meet the widerange of challenges and opportunities that

face them in the 21

st

century economic,environmental and social.

The EAFRD is a funding mechanism underthe Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) andit has a budget of EUR 95.57 billion. Inline with Europe 2020 and the overall CAP,the rural development policy is revolvedaround three cross-cutting objectives:

competitiveness of agriculture;

the sustainable management of naturalresources and climate action;

the balanced territorial development ofrural areas.

9 The amount of EUR 86 billion is higher than thelegally required minimum share guaranteed (i.e.EUR 80 billion). It is provisional, based on the 28Partnership Agreements submitted to the

Commission; the exact amounts will be knownonce all Operational Programmes are adopted.

In order to effectively manage ruraldevelopment policy through RuralDevelopment Programmes (RDPs), these

three objectives are supported by six keypriorities:

knowledge transfer and innovation inagriculture, forestry, and rural areas;

enhancing the competitiveness of alltypes of agriculture and enhancingfarm viability;

promoting food chain organisation andrisk management in agriculture;

restoring, preserving and enhancingecosystems dependent on agricultureand forestry;

promoting resource efficiency andsupporting the shift toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy inagriculture, food and forestry sectors;

promoting social inclusion, povertyreduction and economic developmentin rural areas.

EUROPEAN MARITIME ANDFISHERIES FUND (EMFF)

With a budget of EUR 5.7 billion, theEMFF encourages sustainable fishing andsustainable aquaculture. It will improvescientific data collection and fisheriescontrol and enforcement. It will alsosupport job creation and diversification in

fisheries-dependent communities andpromote the implementation of theIntegrated Maritime Policy.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

In some cases, the ESIF may be used tosupport financial instruments that helpfinancially viable investments come tofruition. Financial instruments aim toenhance the leverage effect of EUinvestment by attracting additionalresources from public and private investors.


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A short reference guide for ManagingAuthorities on Financial instruments inESIF programmes 2014-2020is available.

Find out more:Information on whereto find out more about the ESIF and howto access funding can be accessed viathese links to each Fund.

ERDF and CFESFEAFRDEMFF

2.3. Sound financial management

With a total of EUR 366.9 billion for the2014-2020 period, the ESIF make upmore than one third of the EUs budget.

The EU is committed to fightingfraud, corruption and any otherillegal activities that could impact its

budget. The management and controlsystems set up by the Member Statesauthorities aim at the prevention,detection and correction of irregularities

including fraud. These authorities willmonitor the fraud risks associated withthe ESIF. The risk of reputational damageassociated with fraud and corruption isalso taken very seriously at all levels.

Any suspicions of fraud should be

reported to the relevant nationalauthorities or to the European Anti-fraudOffice (OLAF) through the FraudNotification System (FNS).

2.4. Building synergies between the ESIF

The cumulative effect of the ESIF canreally help local economies. In fact, thereare a number of projects which have

successfully and creatively used variousinvestment forms from different ESIFprogrammes.

TRAINING FUTURE CELEBRITYCHEFS

Renowned chef Jamie Olivers FifteenCornwall restaurant in Cornwall, UK,successfully used both ERDF and ESF

funding to kick-start its business andtraining programme for apprentices.The restaurant used vital ESF funding togive disadvantaged 16 to 24 year oldsthe opportunity to train as chefs in anationally-recognised apprenticeshipprogramme. The critically-acclaimedrestaurant was itself built with financialbacking from the ERDF.

Since May 2006, the FifteenCornwall Apprenticeship Programme

has enrolled more than 140apprentices, of which 70% are stillcooking today. Each year, theprogramme also invests 1 millionin the local economy through a 70%local sourcing policy. Crucially, it hascreated 80 jobs in addition to the 86apprenticeships already completed.
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/fin_inst/pdf/fi_esif_2014_2020.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/fin_inst/pdf/fi_esif_2014_2020.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/fin_inst/pdf/fi_esif_2014_2020.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/access/index_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/access/index_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=45&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=45&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=45&langId=enhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/enrd-static/country/en/country-information_en.htmlhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/enrd-static/country/en/country-information_en.htmlhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/enrd-static/country/en/country-information_en.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/contracts_and_funding/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/contracts_and_funding/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/contracts_and_funding/index_en.htmhttps://fns.olaf.europa.eu/https://fns.olaf.europa.eu/https://fns.olaf.europa.eu/https://fns.olaf.europa.eu/https://fns.olaf.europa.eu/http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/contracts_and_funding/index_en.htmhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/enrd-static/country/en/country-information_en.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=45&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/access/index_en.cfmhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/fin_inst/pdf/fi_esif_2014_2020.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/fin_inst/pdf/fi_esif_2014_2020.pdf


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AN INNOVATIVE FUNDING MIXTO CARE FOR THE ELDERLY INRURAL GERMANY

In Mecklenburg Lake District, theregions Leader Local Action Group(LAG) was asked to help securefunding to build a specialist residencecatering for local people sufferingfrom dementia. The aim was to givethe residents the chance to livetogether with their life partner in asafe and supportive environment. Anold textile factory was converted intothe Malchow Island residence for

dementia care and the projectinvestments helped to conserve thisbuilding, which holds heritage valuefor the rural community. It took across-cutting project developmentapproach and combined threedifferent EU-funding sources: EAFRD,ESF and ERDF.

More information on the MalchowIsland project and other examples of

EAFRD linkages with other EU funds.

This last case study shows what acommunity-led local development (CLLD)initiative can achieve. It describe anapproach that turns traditional topdown development policy on its head.Under CLLD, local people take controland form a local partnership (a LAG) thatdesigns and implements an integrated

development strategy.

CLLD strategies often arise from specificissues or problems facing a localcommunity the decline of traditionalindustries like fishing and farming,disaffected youth, climate change, orpoor housing and services are a fewexamples. CLLD enables issues to beconsidered and addressed in their localcontext, while bringing together all therelevant policies and actors.

The strategy is designed to build on thecommunitys social, environmental andeconomic strengths rather than simplypaying out money for it to deal with itsproblems. The partnership receives long-

term funding and they decide how it isspent.

Although the CLLD approach wasoriginally developed in rural areasthrough support from EAFRD, and thenapplied in fisheries and coastal areas withEFF 10

In their Partnership Agreement, MemberStates must indicate which Funds theywill use for CLLD, why they are usingthese Funds, in what types of areas theywill be applied, and how the Funds willwork together.

/EMFF funding, there is now anopportunity to extend it to fields normallydealt with by the ESF and ERDF.

Another interesting way of bringing ESIFtogether is through an integratedterritorial investment (ITI) approach,where an urban development strategy

requires an integrated approach involvinginvestments from the ESF, ERDF orCohesion Fund that could be completedwith the EAFRD or the EMFF.

10 The European Fisheries Fund for the period2007-2013
http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/enrd-static/fms/pdf/6870210C-FBBC-B3CB-9E26-0AC8180AD504.pdfhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/enrd-static/fms/pdf/6870210C-FBBC-B3CB-9E26-0AC8180AD504.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/2014/guidance_clld_local_actors.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/2014/guidance_clld_local_actors.pdfhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/enrd-static/fms/pdf/6870210C-FBBC-B3CB-9E26-0AC8180AD504.pdfhttp://enrd.ec.europa.eu/enrd-static/fms/pdf/6870210C-FBBC-B3CB-9E26-0AC8180AD504.pdf


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3. OTHER EU FUNDS OVERVIEW

Only EU funds with a strong potential for synergies with ESIF areaddressed in this section. Most of them relate to more than oneThematic Objective. The majority of the other EU funds are

centrally managed and allocated through calls for proposals.

3.1. Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is the EUs FrameworkProgramme for Research and Innovation. Itsupports the development of activities fromidea to market, with a focus on excellentprojects regardless of geographical location.

It is divided into three pillars corresponding toits main priorities:

Excellent Science;

Industrial Leadership;

Societal Challenges.

The Excellent Science pillar supportsworld-class science in Europe, bydeveloping, attracting and retaining researchtalent and supporting the development ofthe best research infrastructures.

Total funding for 2014-2020 million

European Research Council (ERC)Frontier research by the best individual teams

13 095

Future & emerging technologies

Collaborative research to open new fields of innovation2 696

Marie Skodowska-Curie actions (MSCA)Opportunities for training and career development

6 162

Research infrastructures (including e-infrastructure)Ensuring access to world-class facilities

2 488

The Industrial Leadershippillar supportskey technologies, such as microelectronics,and advanced manufacturing across existing

and emerging sectors. It also aims at

attracting more private investment intoresearch and innovation (R&I) andsupporting innovative SMEs in Europe.


Leadership in enabling & industrial technologies (LEITs)(ICT, nanotechnologies, materials, biotechnology, manufacturing, space)

13 557

Access to risk financeLeveraging private finance & venture capital

2 842

Innovation in SMEs

Fostering all forms of innovation in all types of SMEs 616
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Societal Challenges support R&I inareas such as climate, environment andtransport that impact citizens and thewider society. This pillar aids the

development of breakthrough solutionscoming from multi-disciplinarycollaborations, which include socialsciences and humanities.

Total funding for 2014-2020 millionHealth, demographic change & wellbeing 7 472

Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry,marine/maritime/inland water research and the bioeconomy

3 851

Secure, clean & efficient energy 5 931

Smart, green & integrated transport 6 339

Climate action, environment, resource efficiency & raw materials 3 081

Inclusive, innovative & reflective societies 1 310

Secure societies 1 695

As well as the three pillars outlinedabove, two specific objectives have also

been defined under Horizon 2020.


Specific objective: Spreading excellence and widening participation 816


Specific objective: Science with and for society 462

HOW DOES HORIZON 2020 WORK?

The Commission selects projectsfollowing calls for proposalswith helpfrom independent evaluators/experts 11

.Project ideas must be submitted within acertain deadline, comply with clearly

defined themes and have the requiredpartnership structure, which is usuallytrans-national.

11 More information on therecruitment of expertsand how they evaluate projects.

After the deadline has passed, allproposals under a call are thoroughlyexamined to check their eligibility and toassess their quality. Funding is awarded tothe best project proposals that are withinthe limits of the total available budget.

Horizon 2020 is open to any legal entityor international organisation. Applicantsmust meet the conditions laid down inRegulation (EU) No 1290/2013as well asany specific conditions set out in therelevant multiannual or annual workprogramme.
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The minimum three-country principleprevails 12

Useful links

but grants for individual firmsresearchers are also available.

The Participant Portalwas establishedas an Internet portal for applicants to EUresearch and innovation programmes. Itoffers various services to help potentialbeneficiaries secure funding. Applicants

12 Three legal entities must join under aconsortium agreement. Each of the three mustbe established in a different Member State or

associated country. All three legal entities mustbe independent of each other.

are encouraged to register with theportalto fully avail of these services. TheParticipant Portal also houses theH2020Online Manual, where more informationon the selection process can be found.

A network of National Contact Points(NCPs) provides guidance, practicalinformation and assistance on all aspectsof Horizon 2020. NCPs are nationalstructures established and financed bygovernments of the 28 EU MemberStates. NCPs give personalised supportin applicants own languages.

Find out more about your Horizon

2020 area of interest.

3.2. Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)

The Connecting Europe Facilityfinancesprojects which fill the missing links inEuropes energy, transport and digitalbackbone. It also makes Europeseconomy greener by promoting cleanertransport modes, high speed broadband

connections and facilitating the use ofrenewable energy in line with the Europe2020 Strategy. The CEF brings togetherpublic (EU) funding with the aim ofmobilising additional private financingsources and innovative financialinstruments, such as guarantees andproject bonds, to gain maximum leverage.

The CEF is divided into three sectors:

CEF Transport;

CEF Energy;

CEF Telecom.

CEF financial support takes 2 forms:

grants,which are non-reimbursableinvestments from the EU budget;

contributions to innovative financialinstrumentssuch as theMarguerite Fund,theLoan Guarantee for TEN Transportand theProject Bond Initiative.

Beneficiaries are one or more MemberStates or, with the agreement of theMember State(s) in question, other bodies.If deemed appropriate, third countries andentities established in third countries mayparticipate in actions contributing toprojects of common interest.

CEF is centrally managed by theCommission with help from theInnovationand Network Executive Agency (INEA).Itsinvestments are given through annual andmulti-annual work programmes, whichspecify the set of priorities and the totalamount of financial support to becommitted.

TheConnecting Europe Facility regulationsets out the rules for awarding EUfinancial support, priority projects and themaximum limits of EU co-financing pertype of project. It also includes a list ofprojects where most CEF investments willbe placed.
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/cas/eim/external/register.cgihttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/cas/eim/external/register.cgihttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/home.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/home.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/funding/guide.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/funding/guide.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/funding/guide.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/funding/guide.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/bitlys/h2020_national_contact_points.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/bitlys/h2020_national_contact_points.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/bitlys/h2020_national_contact_points.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/find-your-areahttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/find-your-areahttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/find-your-areahttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef_transport/cef_transport.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef_energy/cef_energy.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef_telecom/cef_telecom_02.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/grants_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/grants_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/financial-instruments_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/financial-instruments_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/financial-instruments_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/financial-instruments_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/financial-instruments_en.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/equity_funds/infrastructure_equity_funds/marguerite_fund.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/equity_funds/infrastructure_equity_funds/marguerite_fund.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/equity_funds/infrastructure_equity_funds/marguerite_fund.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/lgtt/index.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/lgtt/index.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/lgtt/index.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/project-bonds/index.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/project-bonds/index.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/project-bonds/index.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef.htmhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32013R1316http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32013R1316http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32013R1316http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32013R1316http://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/project-bonds/index.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/lgtt/index.htmhttp://www.eib.org/products/equity_funds/infrastructure_equity_funds/marguerite_fund.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/financial-instruments_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/financial-instruments_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-guidelines/project-funding/grants_en.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef_telecom/cef_telecom_02.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef_energy/cef_energy.htmhttp://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/cef/cef_transport/cef_transport.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/find-your-areahttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/find-your-areahttp://ec.europa.eu/research/bitlys/h2020_national_contact_points.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/bitlys/h2020_national_contact_points.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/funding/guide.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/funding/guide.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/home.htmlhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/cas/eim/external/register.cgi


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CEF TRANSPORT

Budget: EUR 26.25 billion to co-fundTEN-T projects such as removingbottlenecks, enhancing rail

interoperability, improving cross-bordersections, and the transition to innovativelow-carbon and energy-efficient transporttechnologies.

More information onCEF Transport.

CEF ENERGY

Budget:EUR 5.85 billion for key trans-European energy infrastructure projectsbetween 2014 and 2020.

More information onCEF Energy.

CEF TELECOM

Budget:EUR 1.14 billion, of which EUR170 million is for Broadband activities,while EUR 970 million is dedicated toDigital Service Infrastructures (DSIs).

More information onCEF Telecom.

3.3.

Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sizedEnterprises (COSME)

COSME is the EU programme for theCompetitiveness of Enterprises andSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs) running from 2014 to 2020 andhas a budget of EUR 2.3 billion. It will

support SMEs in four areas:

Access to finance.

Access to markets.

Support to entrepreneurs.

Better conditions for business creation& growth.

ACCESS TO FINANCE

The Loan Guarantee Facility (LGF):By sharing the risk, the COSMEguarantees will allow the financialintermediaries to lend to more SMEs.

The Equity Facility for Growth (EFG):The COSME budget will also be investedin funds that provide venture capital andmezzanine finance to SMEs in particularthose operating across borders.

Both the LGF and EFG instruments aremanaged by the European InvestmentFund (EIF).

Financial institutions can apply by

downloading application documents fromthe EIF website.

LGFdocuments.

EFGdocuments.

More information on the EIFspartner financial intermediaries.

More information about access tofinance available under other EU

initiatives.

ACCESS TO MARKETS

All businesses have access to theservices of the Enterprise EuropeNetwork and are welcome to approachtheir local contact point and/or businesspartner. With over 600 partnerorganisations in 54 countries, the

network has the capacity to reach out tomore than two million SMEs.
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Your nearest partner can be foundontheNetworks website.

Services offered include:

information on EU legislation and EUprogrammes;

help finding a business partner abroad;

advice on how to access finance;

support for innovation and technologytransfer;

obtaining SMEs views on EU legislation.

SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

Various initiatives are in place to offersupport to entrepreneursincluding:

entrepreneurship education;

improving the business environment soentrepreneurs can grow and flourish;

mentoring and outreach to specificgroups.

Networks already supported by theEuropean Commission include:

European Network of Mentors forWomen Entrepreneurs

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

BETTER CONDITIONS FOR BUSINESSCREATION AND GROWTH

In many areas of SME policy, theEuropean Commission works closely withthe Member States by identifying andexchanging examples of good practices.For many years, this process was rootedin the European Charter for SmallBusinesses. This process has widenedunder the priorities of theSmall BusinessAct for Europe and a database of goodpractices is available on the SmallBusiness Act site.

Useful links

The Executive Agency for Small andMedium-sized Enterprises (EASME) wasset-up by the Commission to manageseveral EU programmes including COSME.

Published calls for tender and calls forproposals related to COSME can beaccessed on theParticipants Portal.

3.4. LIFE

LIFE is the only EU instrument focusedon the environment and climate change.With a budget of EUR 3.4 billion, the

general objective of LIFE is to contributeto the development of EU environmentaland climate policy and legislation. TheLIFE Programme is run by the EuropeanCommission with help from the ExecutiveAgency for SMEs (EASME). Applicationsfor funding can be completed online viaan e-proposal. However, integratedprojects must be submitted in hard copy.

Integrated projects aim at implementingplans or strategies in nature, water,waste and air on a large territorial scale.

Complementary financing to LIFEintegrated projects may come from anysource.

The LIFE multiannual work programmefor 2014-2017 sets the framework forthe next four years. And for the firsttime, in addition to grants, LIFE projectfunding is also being provided throughinnovative financial instruments includingthe pilot Natural Capital FinancingFinancial instrument (NCFF), which fallsunder the Nature and Biodiversityproject area and will help financebiodiversity projects.
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3.5. Creative Europe

Creative Europe supports the culturaland creative sectors and has a totalbudget of some EUR 1.54 billion. The

programme helps both sectors seize theopportunities of the digital age andglobalisation. It also enables them tocontribute to the Europe 2020 goals ofsustainable growth, jobs and socialcohesion. Crucially, it opens up newinternational opportunities, markets andaudiences to these sectors.

The programme consists of:

the MEDIA sub-programme dedicatedto the audiovisual creative and culturalsectors.

the Culture sub-programme for thenon-audiovisual creative and culturalsectors.

a cross-sectoral strand, which includesa EUR 121 million creative and culturalsector loan guarantee facility, providing

relevant SMEs with opportunities toaccess finance.

Applications from individuals are notaccepted. However, some 250 000individuals will benefit from fundsthrough the projects themselves. Formore information on these opportunities,go to the Education, Audiovisual andCulture Executive Agencysite.

Creative Europe Deskshave been set upin all Member States to provide supportand guidance to applicants.

3.6. Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme

The EU Programme for Employmentand Social Innovation (EaSI) is afinancing instrument for promotingquality and sustainable employment,guaranteeing adequate social protection,combating social exclusion and povertyand improving working conditions. Itstotal budget stands at EUR 919 million.

EaSI includes three axes:

the modernisation of employment andsocial policies through thePROGRESSaxis;

job mobility through theEURES axis;

access to micro-finance and socialentrepreneurship through theMicro-finance and Social Entrepreneurship axis.

The PROGRESS axis (61% of thebudget) helps Member States improvepolicies in three areas:

employment,in particular to fightyouth unemployment;

social protection, social inclusionand thereduction and prevention ofpoverty;

working conditions.

Specifically the PROGRESS axis:

develops and disseminates high-quality, comparative and analyticalknowledge;

encourages effective and inclusiveinformation-sharing, mutual learning anddialogue;

provides financial support to testsocialand labour market policy innovations;

gives organisations financial support todevelop EU instruments and policies.

Beneficiaries can be:

public and private bodies;

employment services;

specialist bodies provided for under EUlaw;
http://ec.europa.eu/culture/opportunities/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/culture/opportunities/index_en.htmhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe_enhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe_enhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe_enhttp://ec.europa.eu/culture/tools/creative-desks_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/culture/tools/creative-desks_en.htmhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:347:0238:0252:EN:PDFhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:347:0238:0252:EN:PDFhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:347:0238:0252:EN:PDFhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1082&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1082&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1082&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1082&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1083&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1083&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1083&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1084&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1084&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1084&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1084&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=101http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=101http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=750&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=750&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=751&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=751&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=751&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=82http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=82http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1022&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1022&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1022&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1022&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1022&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1022&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=82http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=751&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=750&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=101http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1084&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1084&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1083&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1082&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1082&langId=enhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:347:0238:0252:EN:PDFhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:347:0238:0252:EN:PDFhttp://ec.europa.eu/culture/tools/creative-desks_en.htmhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe_enhttp://eacea.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe_enhttp://ec.europa.eu/culture/opportunities/index_en.htm


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non-governmental organisations;

higher education institutions andresearch institutes;

experts in evaluation and impact

assessment;

national statistics offices;

the media.

The EURES axis (18 % of the budget)aims to strengthen EURES, a European

job mobility network that providesinformation, guidance and recruitmentservices to employers and jobseekers. Itcovers three areas:

transparency of job vacancies;job applications; development of services for the

recruitment process; cross-border partnerships.

Beneficiaries include national, regionaland local authorities and employmentservices.

The Microfinance and Social

Entrepreneurship axis (21 % of thebudget) supports:

microcredit and microloans forvulnerable groups and micro-enterprises

social entrepreneurship.

Beneficiaries are public and privatebodies that provide microcredit forindividuals and microenterprises.Financing is also on offer for social

enterprises in relevant countries.

For more information, go to theEaSIsite.

3.7. Erasmus+

The Erasmus+ programme supports

education, training, youth and sportinitiatives for the period 2014-2020.Specifically it offers opportunities to over4 million Europeans to study, train, gainwork experience and volunteer abroad.In sport for example, it funds grassrootsprojects and deals with cross-borderissues such as match-fixing, doping,violence and racism. The total budget for2014-2020 is EUR 14.7 billion.

The Erasmus+ Programmes goals ineducation and training are to:

improve key competences and skills forthe labour market;

introduce quality improvements,innovation excellence andinternationalisation in education andtraining institutions;

raise awareness of a European lifelonglearning area and modernise education

and training systems.

In order to implement these specific

objectives, three Key Actions (KAs) arein place.

KA1offers support to trans-nationalmobility to raise the level of relevantskills in the labour market and toenhance the skills of professionals tomeet individual learners needs.

KA2focuses on transnational partnershipsamong education, training, and youthinstitutions as well as enterprises, publicauthorities and civil society organisations indifferent economic and social sectors.

Support for policy reforms is provided underKA3through knowledge development,transparency and recognition tools, policyexperimentation and support to variousstakeholder organisations.

For more information, go to theErasmus+site.
https://ec.europa.eu/eures/https://ec.europa.eu/eures/https://ec.europa.eu/eures/http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1081&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1081&langId=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1081&langId=enhttps://ec.europa.eu/eures/


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3.8. Third EU Health programme

The EU Health Programme ensures thathuman health is protected as part of allEU policies, and works with Member

States to support them in improvingpublic health and preventing humanillness and risks to physical and mentalhealth. The Programme contributes tothe smart and inclusive goals underEurope 2020.

The EU Health Programme seeks to:

promote health, prevent diseases andcreate environments that promote

healthy lifestyles; protect citizens from serious cross-

border health threats;

contribute to innovative, efficient andsustainable healthcare systems;

introduce access to better and saferhealthcare.

The EU Health Programme is implementedthrough annual work plans, which set out itspriority areas and criteria for funding. The totalbudget for the Third EU Health Programme isEUR 449.4 million. Participation is open to awide range of organisations, includingresearch institutes and universities, publicauthorities, NGOs and private companies.

Funds under the EU Health Programme2014-2020 and ESIF 2014-2020 can be

jointly used to reduce health inequalities

in the following areas:

facilitate access to better and safer

healthcare;

promote innovation in health researchand healthcare;

increase innovation in public healthinterventions and healthcare services;

develop research tools to improvequality and cost-effectiveness such asthe Health Technology Assessment(HTA);

support and promote cooperationbetween Member States;

increase access to cross-bordermedical care and expertise;

health workforce support and training;

promote health, prevent diseases andfoster healthy environments;

active and healthy ageing;

health and safety at the workplace;

better preparedness and capacities inhealth emergencies and towardsserious cross-border health threats;

health information and knowledgesystems;

e-health systems and capacities.
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4. THE ESIF AND OTHER EU INSTRUMENTS PER THEMATICOBJECTIVE (TO)

The following general principles apply to funding projects:

Co-financing rule:The EU only partly co-funds the project. Therefore,both the applicant and partners must have their own or third partyfinancial resources to contribute to the costs of the project.

Non-profit rule:the grant may not result in a profit being made. If itdoes, a financial gap analysis will be performed in order to assess theneed for and potential grant amount.

Non-retroactivity rule:co-funding is eligible only for the costs incurredafter the starting date of the project set out in the grant agreement.

Non-cumulative rule:only one grant is allowed per beneficiary.

All projects should:

provide added value at EU level;

be innovative and propose original solutions and methodologies;

address European priorities and policies.

The non-cumulative award principleonly applies to EU grantsawarded to the same action and the same beneficiary under any type ofmanagement. It is therefore possible to combine the resources ofthe ESIF with other EU instruments. However, the non-cumulativeaward principle does not apply to Horizon 2020 funds and the ESIF thatcan be allocated to a same project and same beneficiary.

No substitutionis permitted of national/regional or private co-fundingto EU projects/programmes under direct Commission management bythe ESIF (and vice-versa).

No double financing rule:in no circumstances shall the same costsbe financed twice under any budget.

The ESIF act mainly at national and regional levels, with some leewaytowards cross-territorial activities. Horizon 2020 and other EUprogrammes and instruments are usually centrally managed and oftencover transnational projects. This means that the same beneficiary canapply for different funding sources, for unrelated or complementaryactivities. The applications will be assessed on the basis of their ownmerit in accordance with the rules of each funding source.

The following section outlines the potential for synergies andcomplementarities by Thematic Objective (TO), both between the fiveEuropean Structural and Investment Funds, and between ESIF andother EU funding instruments.


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4.1. TO 1: Strengthening research, technological development andinnovation

The EUs research and innovation policiesuntil 2020 are outlined in theInnovation

Union flagship initiative of the Europe2020 strategy. These include fiveEuropean Innovation Partnerships in thesmart, social and environmental areas.The initiative also includes the entireinnovation cycle from research tocommercialisation.

Member States should develop nationaland/or regional smart specialisationstrategies by involving national orregional managing authorities andstakeholders such as higher educationinstitutions, industry and social partnersin an entrepreneurial discovery process.

Smart specialisation strategies include:

Upstream actions to prepare regionalresearch & innovation (R&I)participants for Horizon 2020.

Downstream actions to exploit R&Iresults from Horizon 2020 andpreceding programmes, with particularemphasis on creating an innovation-friendly environment for business andindustry, including SMEs.

It is important to identify joint financingopportunities for R&I infrastructures,promote international collaboration,undertake peer reviews, and introduce

exchange of good practice as well astraining throughout regions.

TO 1 AND ESIF

The ERDF enhances R&I infrastructuresand capacities to develop and promotecentres of excellence and businessinvestment in R&I. The ERDF alsodevelops links between enterprises, R&Dcentres and the higher education sector,with the aim of boosting investment in:

product and service development;

technology transfer;

social innovation;

eco-innovation;

public service applications;

demand stimulation;

networking;

clusters and open innovation throughsmart specialisation.

Investment in pilot lines, early productvalidation actions, advanced manufacturingcapabilities and production and the diffusion ofgeneral purpose technologies are alsoforeseen.

Potential R&I projects are judged ontheir likely contribution to the economicdevelopment of the Member State orregion as well as on their scientific ortechnological merits.

The ESF supports postgraduate studies,training of researchers, networkingactivities and partnerships betweenhigher education institutions, researchinstitutes and enterprises.

The EAFRD strengthens links betweenagriculture, food production, forestry andR&I, knowledge transfer and investmentsin new technologies, processing and

marketing. A prominent role is alsoplayed by the European Innovation
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Partnership for agricultural productivityand sustainability, which seeks to createnew and innovative practices inagriculture. The EAFRD supports thetechnological development of products,

practices and techniques in theagriculture, agri-food and forestrysectors. It funds new clusters andnetworks, activities between researchcentres and innovative companies, as wellas technological and applied research.

TO 1 AND OTHER EU INSTRUMENTS

Funding is often available for a researchorganisation or company under the ESIFin order to take the first tentativeresearch steps or to develop aninnovative technology or product. Theconditions for granting this funding areusually flexible, especially in the leastdeveloped regions. This allows theresearch organisation or companies inquestion to grow to the point where theycan enter the more competitiveenvironment of Horizon 2020.

Should funding be needed during aHorizon 2020 project to continue theactivity or to enable an innovation ideato go to market, this may not bepossible, given the very competitivenature of the process. In this situation,the ESIF could provide the necessaryfunding to make these ideas happen.

Funding the same project through

several grants from Horizon 2020and ESIF is permittedbut is subject tothe absence of double funding as Horizon2020 and the ESIF cannot cover thesame item.

The right to combine ESIF and Horizon2020 does not waive the obligation toprovide the necessary national/regional/private co-funding.

A GERMAN SCIENCE PARKBRIMMING WITH IDEAS(REGIOSTARS AWARDSFINALIST 2009)

Established in the mid-1990s, thescience park at Golm on the outskirtsof Potsdam has grown into the largestand most important research centre inBrandenburg. The science park hoststhree Max Planck Institutes, twoFraunhofer Gesellschaft Institutes, abusiness incubation centre calledGO:IN and many other innovativeenterprises.

Founded in 2007, GO:IN provides idealstart-up conditions for entrepreneurs,offering such services as conferencerooms and facilities, marketingsolutions and coaching expertise. Morethan 1 300 scientists work at the park,which has benefited from an ERDFcontribution of EUR 74.3 million. Sinceits creation, many joint researchprojects have been funded under

various EU-funded research frameworkprogrammes.

More on WissenschaftsparkPotsdam-Golm.
http://www.wisspark.de/http://www.wisspark.de/http://www.wisspark.de/http://www.wisspark.de/


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A SUSTAINABLE EUROPEANMARINE OBSERVATION ANDDATA NETWORK

The EUs Research FrameworkProgrammes have all developed toolsfor increased stewardship and thedistribution of marine data. These arethe foundations of a sustainableEuropean Marine Observation and DataNetwork (EMODnet) that will besupported by the direct managementcomponent of the EMFF. The aim ofthe network is to develop a highquality marine data and knowledge

base, which can be used by variousparties, avoiding duplication of effort.

More onEMODnet.

CREATING CLUSTERS ACROSS

EUROPEClusters Linked Over Europe (CLOE)started as an INTERREG project thathelped seven regions to exchangeexperience and information about howto successfully manage and developclusters. Clusters are networks ofcompatible or competitive interrelatedcompanies working together tostrengthen an industry in a particular

area.

Transnational contacts betweenclusters continued after the projectended and this was the starting pointfor many activities financed under theseventh research frameworkprogramme (FP7) and the CIP, whichwas COSMEs predecessor.

More onCLOE.

COLLABORATION GIVES BOOSTTO RESEARCH FUNDING

The Regional Coordination Commission

of the North Region of Porto (CCDRN),which manages the Structural Funds(ERDF and ESF), opened a call forproposals to support projects designedto increase collaboration betweenuniversities and local industry in theregion. One of the projects goals wasto help local players apply for fundingunder FP7.

A successful project submitted by the

University of Porto called I-CITYfocused on boosting human resourcesand training activities andcomplements the Future Citiesproject, which aimed at improving,equipment, infrastructure andinternational exchange. Thiscollaboration between the two projectsmeant that the university could hiremore researchers than would havebeen possible with just the FP7 grant.

Both projects worked in tandem whichincreased their ability to deploy andoperate test beds, which were used togauge research results under FutureCities.

The Regional Coordination Commissionadded visibility to the CompetenceCentre for Future Cities, which in turnhelped attract more industrial partnersand gathered the support of themunicipality and local communities.This type of political support, whichcame with the Structural Funds, wasvital for achieving the objectives of theproject.

Moreover, once the University ofPorto received the FP7 grant, itbecame clear that its researchpotential would have a stronginternational and economic impact.
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This motivated the RegionalCoordination Commission to includethe findings in its strategy documenton smart specialisation presented to

the European Commission for the2014-2020 programming period.

More information on thesejointinitiatives.

TheEuropean Institute of Innovation andTechnology (EIT) aims to enhanceEuropes ability to innovate. The EIT hasa budget of EUR 2.7 billion as part of

Horizon 2020 and finances Knowledgeand Innovation Communities (KIC).

A KIC is a highly autonomouspartnership of top-tier higher educationinstitutions, research organisations,companies and other stakeholdersinvolved in the innovation process.

KICs carry out a wide range of activities,including training and education

programmes, innovation projects andbusiness incubators.

While KICs are funded up to 100 % bythe EIT for added value activities, the

complementary activities are not. It istherefore the KICs task to findalternative funding sources for theseactivities. Among them can be the ESIFand RDI actions within Horizon 2020.

Three KICs were launched in 2010:

Climate-KIC: climate change mitigationand adaptation;

EIT ICT Labs: Information andCommunication Technologies;

KIC InnoEnergy: sustainable energy.

In addition, two new KICs address theareas of:

Innovation for healthy living and activeageing;

Raw materials: sustainable exploration,extraction, processing, recycling andsubstitution.

In 2016, two additional KICs will belaunched:

Food4future;

Added value manufacturing.

And in 2018, one KIC will be establishedin the field of:

Urban mobility.

Useful links

The Participant Portal is an internetportal for those involved in EU researchand innovation programmes. It providespotential beneficiaries with a set ofservices to help their participation in theprogrammes and simplify interactions withthe Commission. Potential beneficiaries areencouraged to register with the portal tobenefit fully from itsservices.

Ideal-ISTis a partner search facility.

Guidance for policy-makers andimplementing bodies called Enablingsynergies between European Structural andInvestment Funds, Horizon 2020 and otherresearch, innovation and competitiveness-related Union programmes thoroughlyexplores the concept of synergies amongprogrammes to shape the smart specialisationstrategies. It details funding options andvarious funding scenarios.
http://futurecities.up.pt/site/health-and-well-being/http://futurecities.up.pt/site/health-and-well-being/http://eit.europa.eu/about-us/http://eit.europa.eu/about-us/http://eit.europa.eu/about-us/http://eit.europa.eu/about-us/https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/cas/eim/external/register.cgihttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/support/about.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/support/about.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/support/about.htmlhttp://www.ideal-ist.eu/http://www.ideal-ist.eu/http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdfhttp://www.ideal-ist.eu/http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/support/about.htmlhttps://webgate.ec.europa.eu/cas/eim/external/register.cgihttp://eit.europa.eu/about-us/http://eit.europa.eu/about-us/http://futurecities.up.pt/site/health-and-well-being/http://futurecities.up.pt/site/health-and-well-being/


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4.2. TO 2: Enhancing access to, and use and quality of, ICT

The availability of high-speed broadbandInternet and access to digital serviceinfrastructures are both building blocks

of a modern Single Market, allowingcommunication, services and business togrow.

The Digital Agenda for Europe flagshipis part of the smart growth pillar of theEurope 2020 strategy. It aims to rebootEuropes economy and help Europescitizens and businesses to get the mostout of digital technologies. Its objectivesinclude:

the creation of a digital single marketincluding on-line content development,e-commerce solutions and the use ofe-signatures;

inter-operability of ICT services;

fast and ultra-fast internet access:Next Generation Access networks toreach the EUs high-speed internetaccess targets;

ICT research and innovation; ICT-enabled benefits such as e-

government, e-health and e-procurement.

TO 2 AND ESIF

The ERDFhelps:

develop ICT products and services; extend broadband deployment and the

roll-out of high-speed networks;

support the adoption of emerging

technologies and networks for thedigital economy;

strengthen ICT applications for e-

commerce, e-government, e-learning,e-inclusion, e-culture and e-health.

The ESFsupports

the development of ICT skills andcompetences in work and ICT in publicadministrations;

funds better accessibility, use andquality of information andcommunication technologies through

digital literacy, e-learning, e-inclusion,e-skills and entrepreneurial skills.

The EAFRD helps improve ruralbroadband and develops ICT in ruralareas. Specifically it funds:

infrastructure investment; IT services and IT businesses in rural

areas; technological innovations in agriculture

and forestry; IT systems in the agri-food industry; clusters and networks; vocational training in ICT and the

provision of specific ICT advisoryservices for rural SMEs and farmers;

ICT applications for e-government, e-inclusion, e-learning, e-culture, e-commerce, etc.

TO 2 AND OTHER EU INSTRUMENTSPriority EU networks are financedthrough the Connecting EuropeFacility (CEF) while ERDF and EAFRDsupport complementary local andregional infrastructure. Following thenon-cumulative principle, combininggrants for the same project is notpossible.
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/digital-agenda-europehttp://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/digital-agenda-europehttp://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/digital-agenda-europe


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The CEF and European Investment Bank(EIB) provide seed funding andtechnical assistance for a limitednumber of broadband initiatives. Projectsthat wish to benefit directly from the CEF

will need to demonstrate state-of-the-arttechnological solutions and representeither innovative business models orhighly replicable solutions. Financialinstruments under CEF may becombined with grants from other EUsources.

Selecting the most appropriate fundinginstrument takes into account therevenue generating potential of the

operation and its risk level.

Information and communicationtechnology (ICT) can also be found inmany areas of Horizon 2020. With thisin mind, a guide to help potentialprojects find ICT-related topics acrossHorizon 2020 was developed and can beaccessed on the Digital Agenda forEuropesite.

SCOTTISH UNIVERSITYCOMBINES ERDF, ESF ANDEU RESEARCH FUNDING

In past programming periods, ERDFhelped the University of theHighlands & Islands (UHI) boost itsresearch capacity and ITInfrastructure, while ESF fundingwas key for developing their course

materials and curriculum to supportnon-traditional learners.

The so-called MERIKA or MarineEnergy Research Innovation andKnowledge Accelerator is anambitious initiative by the UHI,

which has transformed theUniversitys faculty of science, healthand engineering into a referenceresearch and innovation hub formarine energy. Funded by the 7thResearch Framework Programme,predecessor of Horizon 2020, theMERIKA Project runs from 2014 to2017.

Objective 3 of the EU Health Programme,which focuses on innovative, effective andsustainable health systems, includes supportfor e-health systems and capacities.

Useful links

EU funding available for DigitalAgenda-related topics and projects canbe directly accessed via the DigitalAgenda for Europesite.

Connected Communities is a Commissioninitiative to support regions and cities indeveloping their broadband networks.It helps a numbe

synergies beneficiaries

Documents