Business Development, Innovation and SMEs Practical Information and Guidance to Applicants Innovation Norway Sofia, 22.05.2018
Programme website www.innovationnorway.no/bgbusiness
Essential reading and important issues Call for project proposals + Annex I List of mandatory documents (to the application) Expected results and deliverables of the project Project Implementation Plan Detailed Activity Based Budget and Disbursement Plan Procurement Plan Letter of Commitment Business plan draft Partnership Agreement (if relevant) CV s for project management team Communication Plan Self-declaration re. undertaking in difficulty Self-declaration regarding clean tax and criminal record of the Applicant (and Partner(s) if relevant) and of the legal representative(s); Relevant Registration Certificates and statutory documents;
Essential reading and important issues (2) Call for project proposals + Annex II Essential reading Standard terms and conditions Project assessment criteria and methodology Guidelines on cross-cutting issues and good business practice Publicity Guidelines Application form Guidelines + Annex III Glossary of terms
Assessment of project applications Set of selection criteria Formal/administrative criteria Eligibility criteria Applicant Project Technical and financial selection criteria Selection procedure
EXPECTED IMPACT SUSTAINABILITY Social Impact Job creation Safer society Diverse business Development of local communities Solving other challenges, etc. Economic Impact Company s performance Corporate and socio-economic profitability Reduction of production costs Value creation, etc.
STATE AID Applicable provisions of Commission Regulation 651/2014 (General Block Exemption Regulation GBER) State aid categories: Regional Aid, Articles 13 and 14. Aid to SMEs, Articles 17 19 Research and Development and Innovation, art. 25 Innovation aid for SMEs, Art. 28 Training aid, Art. 31 Aid for environmental protection, Art. 36-38 Exceptionally - de minimis support (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1407/2013)
Project Co-financing and Disbursement Advance payment: 10-20% of approved grant Reimbursement of expenses occured *Interim Reporting/payment claims Pro-rata co-financing during project implementation Currency: EUR ( separate project account)
Public Procurement Regulations EU and Bulgarian legislation on public procurement shall be complied with at any level in the project implementation 50 % or more grant element : Project Promoter conduct procurement as contracting authority According to good business practice
Eligibility provisions Eligible direct expenditures: directly linked to the implementation of the project Keep the equipment in its ownership for a period of at least 3 years (in case of SMEs) and 5 years (in case of large enterprises) after the completion of the project Keep the equipment properly insured against losses (fire, theft, etc.) Eligible indirect costs in projects (overheads) Excluded costs, such as charges for financial transactions, interest on debt, exchange losses, recoverable VAT, fines, penalties, etc.
Application Form
Application Form
Application Form
Think about the final result..
Measuring the impact IMPACT - long-term effects/final result of the intervention OUTCOME - result/effect on the target group in the future OUTPUT - project deliverables (products, goods, services) INDICATORS - A tool to verify that the project is achieving its expected outcome and outputs
Partnership Projects Donor Partnership Project a cooperation between a Bulgarian Project Promoter and at least one legal entity in Norway all entities are independent of each other perform substantial and relevant tasks in the completion of the project Partnership Agreement Project Promoter- responsible for the overall coordination, management and implementation of the project Project Partner(s) - responsible for carrying out specific project account Define the tasks and responsibilities, internal procedures, financial frame
What kind of partners??? SMEs with growth potential, research institutes, clusters and business organisations Willing and able to invest time and resources in projects that go over several years Those who own knowledge, competence or solutions that meet the demand in other countries Solid financial situation Good business ethics
THANK YOU!