Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Tourism, high-end and creative industries

The Call for Proposals COS-WP2014-3-15.02 “Maximising synergies between tourism, high-end and creative industries” has been published by the European Commission, Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).

The purpose of the present “Maximising synergies between tourism, high-end and creative industries” call is to support the development and promotion of one (new) European Route around one high-end / luxury product, to test the possibility of developing synergies between the tourism and the high-end industries at European level.

 

The “Maximising synergies between tourism, high-end and creative industries” call aims to complements regional and national policies by supporting trans-European cooperation pointed at designing innovative transnational products capitalising on European shared cultural and/or industrial heritage, with a view to contributing to diversify European tourism offer.

 

The “Maximising synergies between tourism, high-end and creative industries” call’s specific objectives are to:

- facilitate exchanges of good practices, the development of networks and of discussion platforms between public decision-makers and the private sector, in the fields of cultural and industrial tourism.

- facilitate and stimulate public-private partnerships and the integration of enterprises of the cultural tourism sector into regional development strategies;

- improve the quality of the European tourism offer by a strengthened cross-border cooperation; and/or

- strengthen the management skills of public or private bodies in charge of developing thematic tourism products.

 

Applicants are free to propose any kind of action in line with the objective of the current “Maximising synergies between tourism, high-end and creative industries” call such as: market analysis leading to the identification of a common theme related to the European cultural or industrial heritage; mapping of attractions/sites/destinations and tourism and cultural services that could be linked to the identified theme; identification of additional partners, key stakeholders and sponsors; business plan based on an analysis of the "carrying capacities" along the identified transnational product, networking, awareness raising, etc.

 

The expected result of the actions under the “Maximising synergies between tourism, high-end and creative industries” call is the development and/or promotion of a European Route crossing over at least 5 Member States and showing key steps of the product’s value chain. The Route is expected to cover the historical and contemporary dimensions (how Europeans used to and are cooperating, competing, …). For instance, a Route around the European perfume heritage would allow tourists to get acquainted with the fragrance industry history, but also with its current value chain. Producing exceptional perfumes with an international reputation requires indeed the participation of many actors across Europe for the collection / production of synthetic and natural aroma chemicals such as amber or rose oil; the design of perfume bottles and packaging; the compounding of these chemicals; …. The Route might therefore combine perfume museums, meeting with flower producers working for the perfume industry, company visits and meetings with their “nez” (i.e. the creative person who assembles scents to create perfumes). A route around jewellery could encompass the visit of emblematic jewellery quarters or heritage walks, jewellery museums,…, but also benefit from the input of leading jewellery design schools (a way to underline the creativity of this high-end sector).

 

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of the action is estimated at EUR 400 000 maximum, for the period 2015-2016. The financial contribution from the Commission cannot exceed 75% of the total eligible costs. The Commission reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available. The maximum grant per project will be EUR 400,000. The EASME expects to fund one proposal.

 

The deadline for submitting proposals in the framework of the current “Maximising synergies between tourism, high-end and creative industries” call for proposals is 16 September 2014.

 

Further information on the current call for proposals is available on the European Commission’s web site at: http://ec.europa.eu/easme/tourism-creative-industries_en.htm