European Commission | Open Call Funding for CCIs SMEs

Evaluation process

At the end of the evaluation process, the proposals will be ranked taking into account the revised scores from the online consensus meeting. The criteria for the ranking of the proposals will be semi-automatic following the rules below:

• Rule 1: The proposals will be ranked based on their overall score;
• Rule 2: In case following Rule 1 there are proposals in the same position priority will be given to the proposal with higher score in the impact section;
• Rule 3: In case following Rule 2 there are proposals in the same position priority will be given to the proposal with higher score in the excellence section;
• Rule 4: In case following Rule 3 there are proposals in the same position priority will be given to the proposal involving SMEs from a less-developed region;
• Rule 5: In case following Rule 4 there are proposals in the same position priority will be given to the proposal involving SMEs from a EU-13 country;
• Rule 6: In case following Rule 5 there are proposals in the same position priority will be given to the proposal involving SMEs from regions CREATHRIV-EU partners had no previous cooperation with, as further detailed in the Annex 3 of the Guide for Applicants.

Task description

CREATHRIV-EU Projects will award grants for CCIs SMEs for projects and activities that adress one of the following challenges:

• Diversification of products/service/contents based on digital technologies especially in the heritage, archives and libraries CCI sector;
• Supporting the green transition of the audiovisual & multimedia sector and in performing arts;
• Bridging the skill-gaps in the CCIs workforce and supporting a bigger participation of women;
• Increasing business opportunities through internationalisation and synergies along and across value-chains.

The type of grants available are:

1. Small Scale Projects (5,000 EURO Lump Sum)

Advisory services that will help CCIs SMEs create the necessary conditions for their competitiveness. SMEs will receive financial support to implement a small scale project together with an external expert that will consist in an in-depth mapping of specific SMEs’ needs and provision of recommendations/action plans in the field of:

• Risk management and mitigation
• Digitalisation
• Green Transition
• Innovation and technology
• Internationalisation 

• Digital skills and technologies;
• Business & Management;
• CCIs specific domains.

2. Collaboration Pilot Projects (20.000 EURO Lump Sum)

This type of grant aims at supporting the green and/or digital transition of the CCIs. SMEs will need to collaborate with at least another organisation to implement a pilot project. The grants will support the implementation of projects for the development and deployment of prototypes having a minimum of level 4 of CRL (Commercial readiness Level) and level 4 of TRL. The activities supported will be as follows:

• Deployment of emerging technology
• Improvement of existing product/technology

3. Travel Grants: 

• Intra-EU Travel Grant (1.500 EURO Lump Sum) will support SMEs organise business missions and/or attend events inside the EU or in one of the countries associated to the Single Market Programme.
• Extra-EU Travel Grant (5.000 EURO Lump Sum) will support SMEs organise business missions and/or attend events outside the EU and countries participating in the SMP.

The maximum amount to be granted per SME shall not exceed 38.500 EURO in total even in the case of multiple granted types of support. Each interested SME can apply to one or several types of support in accordance with its needs and request but can only be granted with the maximum financial contribution cumulatively.

Sector Eligibility

• Heritage, archives, libraries
• Audiovisual and multimedia including IT, software & computer services
• Books & press
• Visual art
• Performing arts
• Education

Find more information here.

Deadline: 02 May 2023