European Programme Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Call for Proposals

The call for proposals COS-EYE-2015-4-01 “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” has been published by the European Commission in the framework of the COSME Work Programme.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) play a crucial role in reaching the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Whereas they are considered as crucial engines for growth and job creation, their competitiveness is affected by a limited exploitation of international opportunities and innovation prospects in the Single Market and beyond. In June 2008, the European Commission adopted the ‘Small Business Act’ for Europe (SBA), recognizing the central importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU economy. Principle I of the SBA sets out to ‘create an environment in which entrepreneurs can thrive and entrepreneurship is rewarded’. As a concrete follow-up to this aim, the Commission launched the pilot project ‘ERASMUS for Young Entrepreneurs’ in 2008. Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border mobility programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other Participating Countries.

 

The general objective of the COS-EYE-2015-4-01 “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the COSME Work Programme, is to enhance entrepreneurship, develop the international outlook and competitiveness of European SMEs and foster potential start-up entrepreneurs and newly-established micro and small enterprises in the Participating Countries.

 

The purpose of the COS-EYE-2015-4-01 “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” call proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the COSME Work Programme, is to select bodies which will act as Intermediary Organisations (IOs) to implement the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme at local level. They will, in particular, recruit the entrepreneurs and assist them to benefit from the programme. This call will therefore support actions of organisations enhancing and facilitating the mobility of new entrepreneurs, and is not intended for entrepreneurs willing to participate in the programme.

 

The specific objectives of the COS-EYE-2015-4-01 “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the COSME Work Programme, are:

- to provide on-the-job-training for new entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises elsewhere in the Participating Countries in order to facilitate a successful start-up, and development of their business ideas;

- to foster sharing of experience and information between entrepreneurs on the obstacles and challenges of starting up and developing their businesses;

- to enhance market access and identification of potential partners for new and established businesses in other EU and Participating Countries;

- to support networking between entrepreneurs from different Participating Countries by building on knowledge and experience from other Participating Countries.

 

The COS-EYE-2015-4-01 “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the COSME Work Programme, expects to have achieved the following results by January 2018:

- circa 650 new exchanges matched;

- circa 2000 entrepreneurs newly registered;

- circa 100 Intermediary Organisations involved in the implementation of the programme;

- at least 25 countries covered;

- rate of successful exchanges above 90%.

 

Under the COS-EYE-2015-4-01 “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the COSME Work Programme, each proposal should provide for the following key deliverables:

- involving at least 100 entrepreneurs in a successful relationship, either as new or as host entrepreneurs;

- offering assistance and support to NEs who are visiting an HE covered by the Intermediary Organisation;

- participating in scheduled meetings in Brussels or other locations in the Participating Countries.

 

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of the action under the current COS-EYE-2015-4-01 “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” call for proposals is estimated at EUR 6,000,000.00 (six million euros). The maximum grant will be 500.000 euros per project.

 

The deadline for submitting proposals in the framework of the current COS-EYE-2015-4-01 “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the COSME Work Programme, is 3 June 2015.  

 

Further information on the current call for proposals is available on the European Commission’s web site at: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/cos-eye-2015-4-01-erasmus-young-entrepreneurs.