OpenHub announces the launch of the first call for projects under the CCI FRIEND project! SMEs in Romania now have a fantastic opportunity to get European funding between 20.000 and 50.000 euros. The application period is open for the next two months, until 30 September 2023. In the following, we will give you all the necessary details about the application process and eligibility criteria.
What is FRIEND CCI?
FRIEND CCI is an innovative European grant-funded project designed to strengthen the resilience of Europe’s creative and cultural industries. It also aims to facilitate a digital and green transformation in this entrepreneurial sector.
As a Eurocluster project, FRIEND CCI involves multiple entities across Europe, all working together to ensure that funding reaches as many companies in the creative and cultural industry as possible.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and the Executive Agency for SMEs (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the funding authority can be held responsible for them.
FRIEND CCI Project Budget
The total budget of the FRIEND CCI project amounts to 1.442.542,36 Euro. Of this money, a significant amount of 1.076.000,00 Euro will be distributed directly to SMEs in France, Romania, Spain, Italy and Germany.
The 1.076.000,00 Euro are divided between two funding calls. The first call, which has just been launched, offers a funding amount of 538.000,00 Euro. The second call, scheduled for November 2023, will have the same or a different amount, depending on the number of applicants to the first call.
Each SME that gets funded will receive 100% funding for their project, so no co-financing from the applying businesses is required.
Eligibility Criteria and Key Conditions
To be eligible, applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States, including overseas territories. Applicants established outside the EU, in EEA countries and COSME associated countries as part of the Single Market Programme, are also eligible.
Each SME that obtains funding must register with an eligible project, developed within a consortium of minimum 2 and maximum 5 companies, associations or organisations.
An important condition is that if the project is approved for funding, it can receive between €20,000 and €50,000. At least 20% of the funding budget must be allocated to SMEs in the cultural and creative industries sector.
How to Apply for Funding
To apply for funding, you need to register on clustersubmissionplatform.eu and apply directly for the just-launched Funding Call. We recommend that you carefully study the funding guidelines and annexes and put together a project idea based on what you have read, in order to have a better chance of getting up to €50,000 in grant funding.
