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FRIEND CCI: 1st Open Call for project proposals dedicated to SMEs

The project FRIEND CCI aims at contributing to an improved resilience of the European Industrial Ecosystem of Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) and to its green and digital transformation, by supporting the SMEs by offering them financial support in the form of grants, directed to the development and implementation of cross-sectoral projects aimed to bring innovation both at the level of products and at the level of processes/ technologies, with a specific eye on the needs linked to the twin transition. To this end, the support will entail mandatory training and upskilling/ reskilling activities, according to the specific needs of SMEs, and including skills needed for the green and digital transition. Also, as part of the support, SMEs will be asked to include activities to go international, based on their level of readiness.

The 1st call for project proposals dedicated to SMEs is closed (30/09/23).

The complete version of the results of the project evaluation and other follow-ups are available in the PDF version (updated on 11.07.2024):

• NACE codes allowed to participate: C18 - Printing and reproduction of recorded media | C32 - Other manufacturing | G47 - Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | J58 - Publishing activities | J59 - Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities | J60 - Programming and broadcasting activities | J63 - Information service activities | M71 - Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis | M74 - Other professional, scientific and technical activities | N77 - Rental and leasing activities | R90 - Creative, arts and entertainment activities | R91 - Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities
• Objectives:

  The 1^st call aims at supporting SMEs in:

  • Developing and implementing cross-sectoral projects aimed to bring innovation at the level of products and/or at the level of processes/ technologies, with a specific focus on the needs linked to the twin transition;
  • Fostering cross-fertilization and innovation between SMEs of different ecosystems;
  • Go international, to boost access to global supply and value chains.

  The support will entail mandatory training and upskilling/ reskilling activities, according to the specific needs of SMEs, and including skills needed for the green and digital transition. Also, as part of the support, SMEs will be asked to include activities to go international, based on their level of readiness to internationalise.

  Mandatory objectives:

  The call for proposals gives the possibility to choose at least one between two mandatory objectives. Applicant consortiums must aim at submitting joint projects that target at least one, or both mandatory objectives:

  1. Introduce or enhance product innovations;
  2. Adopt processes and technologies to reinforce transformation into a greener and more digital economy.
• Elegible applicants:

  Further eligibility criteria are available in page 7 of the FriendCCI Call for SMEs - Full text call

  Providers selection and eligible services

  Applicant consortium will have as mandatory requirement to include in their project budget the financial provisions for at least one service from an external service provider. The service(s) should focus on one of the following topics: Digital transition, Green Transition, Internationalization.

  FRIEND CCI has launched in March 2023 a call for manifestation of interests for services providers with the aim of furnishing SMEs a list of recommended providers, as highly respecting standards companies that have manifested their interests in supporting SMEs in three required topics.

  Submission & evaluation process

  How to apply:

  Submit your proposal on Cluster Submission Platform https://clustersubmissionplatform.eu/eurocluster_post/friend-cci-smes-open-call/  by registering and filling-in the required fields in a 3 steps submission:

  Step 1: APPLICANT INFORMATION. Please complete the fields with your business information;

  Step 2: PROJECT INFORMATION. Please complete the fields with project information;

  Step 3: ANNEXES. In this step it is required to upload the mandatory annexes in the requested format.

  Evaluation process:

  The evaluation process is described in detail from p.11 of the call.

  Communication of results:

  After the evaluation period, which is tentatively foreseen to last until end of October 2023, FRIEND CCI Eurocluster will inform each applicant consortium about their obtained score and evaluation results. The list of winners will be published on the Cluster Submission Platform with the respective score, as well as disseminated via other channels. Winners will be notified by email, for this reason applicants should be sure to insert in the application emails that are checked frequently.

  Call documents: 

  • FriendCCI Call for SMEs - Awarded SMEs official list
  • FriendCCI Call for SMEs - Full text call
  • FriendCCI Call for SMEs - Annex A - Application Form
  • FriendCCI Call for SMEs - Annex B - allowed NACE codes
  • FriendCCI Call for SMEs - Annex C - Declaration of Financial Regularity
  • FriendCCI Call for SMEs - Draft Grant Agreement
  • Friend CCI - Open Call Info Days Summary
  • Friend CCI – validated service providers
  • Friend CCI - Open Call for SMEs FAQs
• Maximum Budget per application: 50000
• Type of activity supported: Innovation | Training | Internationalization
• Type of financial support: Lump sum
• Start date: 21/07/2023 00:00
• End date: 30/09/2023 17:00
• Elegible countries: Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria | Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Ireland | Italy | Latvia | Lithuania | Luxemburg | Malta | Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Romania | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Albania | Armenia | Iceland | Moldova | Montenegro | North Macedonia | Serbia | Turkey | Ukraine
• Contact name: Mr. Sergio Calò (Project Coordinator)
• Email Address: info@euroclusterfriendcci.eu
• Phone number: +39 3276577356
• Link to guides for applicants: https://clustersubmissionplatform.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/1st-FRIEND-CCI-CALL-FOR-SMEs-v6.pdf
• Link to profile page at the ECCP : https://profile.clustercollaboration.eu/profile/cluster-partnership-initiative/c6fe93c4-593e-408d-a364-06839a622deb
• Upload your logo or avatar:
• Tags: FRIENDCCI