Priorities and funded actions
Objectives:
- To assist target SMEs to navigate the web to identify most suitable EU and non-EU business support organisations at their disposal;
- To assess target SMEs’ readiness towards establishing and developing their commercial presence on the Chinese market (through knowledge acquisition, exports, imports and investments);
- To advise target SMEs on the risks and opportunities of the Chinese market so that they can take informed decisions on envisaged business relations with Chinese partners;
- To improve synergies and best practice sharing among EU (and when applicable non-EU) BSOs at European, national and regional level, with the ultimate goal of helping the target SMEs intending to do business in China;
- To strengthen European advocacy for EU and SMP COSME associated countries’ business communities, in particular SMEs, in relation to their business activities in China.
Priorities:
- Offering online or hybrid business support services if their impact in terms of active participation and effectiveness is the same or higher than in-person activities;
- Identifying new challenges related to the current COVID-19 epidemiological situation, as well as the existence of new barriers imposed by the “new normal”, i.e. by the epidemiological conditions and by the subsequent safety measures both in China and in the EU;
- Ensuring that the activities of the Centre are coherent with the broader EU-China strategy, i.e. promoting coordination and developing fruitful cooperation and synergies with other EU-funded actions, EU policy initiatives and other European players both in China and in the EU;
- Assuming more publicly the role of SMEs’ “first point of contact.” Applicants are requested to provide, as an annex to their proposal, a detailed outreach and communication strategy covering the entire duration of the project.
Among financed activities:
- Management and continuous update and upgrade of the Centre’s website, a comprehensive online platform accessible by all target SMEs;
- Organizing roadshows, webinars, trainings and other events which facilitate knowledge acquisition and networking among target SMEs;
- Facilitating the networking between existing EU business support organisations in China and in the EU / SMP COSME associated countries to exchange and promote best practices;
- Providing advocacy contributions to local EU Delegation-led Market Access Teams and EU-led negotiations in the trade and investment areas;
- Establishing and strengthening partnerships with business networks and business support organisations based in the EU and in SMP COSME associated countries, including pan-European networks, such as the Enterprise Europe Network and its Business Cooperation Centres in China and the SME IPR Helpdesk in China, and enabling those organisations to better advise their member companies;
- Providing business support services at European pavilions, European fairs, European business or matchmaking events, etc.
Additional information:
- This call for proposals is an open call for proposals.
- Initial duration of the action: 36 months.
Eligibility:
- Public or private legal entities;
- Business support organisations from EU Member States and SMP COSME associated countries;
- Be established in one of the eligible countries.
Eurofunding