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In the framework of the Single Market Programme – COSME strand, EISMEA has published a call to greenen SMEs and social economy entrepreneurs in local ecosystems and social economy.

The call will support transnational partnerships aimed at strengthening the capacity of SMEs and entrepreneurs in the social economy in the neighborhood ecosystem to enable them to greener their activities and contribute the EU’s green transition. It also aims to strengthen the capacity of social economy intermediaries to support their members in the green transition.

The activities must cover at least one of the following themes:

• Improve the environmental footprint of SMEs in the social economy by considering the value chains of products and services, but also internal processes and management;
• Promote the sustainable contribution of social economy entities by enabling the adoption of circular economy practices (e.g. recycling and recycling) and sustainable transport solutions, the development of renewable energy alternatives (e.g. solar panels), energy efficiency technologies (e.g. heating, renovation and insulation) and resource efficiency solutions (e.g. waste management;
• Allow the development of local green markets (e.g. in retail, agri-food packaging, catering, mobility, construction, cleaning, landscaping, maintenance, production, etc.);
• Test, implement and enhance innovative green solutions by SMEs and social economy entrepreneurs;
• Strengthen capacities and share expertise on measuring and reporting the environmental impact of social economy of SMEs;
• Set up investment or financial instruments to finance the green transition of the social economy, e.g. philanthropy, local impact investment funds, crowdfunding and matchfunding schemes, public-private investment schemes, etc.;
• Promote the capacity and skills of SMEs in the social economy to improve their use of new digital technologies for ecological purposes, giving rise to new business models;
• Assess the skills, infrastructure and investment needs needed to enable social economy entities to achieve climate goals in the long term.

At least 50% of the project funding must be allocated to SMEs for social economy to finance services to support their enhanced resilience and green and digital transformation. This type of support cannot be provided through services offered directly by the consortium but must be provided through (a combination of) tools such as:

• Lump sums for training in support activities within eligible activities (e.g. personalised training courses, workshops, peer learning, coaching and mentoring sessions, etc.).
• Lump sums for consultancy services within eligible activities (e.g. mapping the specific needs of the individual SME in terms of resource efficiency; coaching and mentoring on how to manage activities in a more environmentally friendly way, etc.).
• Lump sums for travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses necessary to participate in support activities within the eligible activities (e.g. training courses, job shadowing, peer learning and coaching sessions, workshops, study visits, matchmaking, knowledge sharing events, etc.). For travel, whenever possible, more environmentally friendly modes of transport should always be favoured. Online activities are also recommended whenever possible.
• Project proposals must be submitted by partnerships of at least 6 partners from at least 3 different eligible countries, composed as follows: at least 1 intermediary social economy organisation per State involved and at least 1 (maximum 2) active support organisation at European level (such as federations of the sector and associations or networks representing social economy entities).

Participation by public authorities or their representatives, non-profit organisations, NGOs and private organisations, private and profit-making bodies, training and educational institutions, including universities, research and technology centres, shall also be encouraged.

The total budget of the call amounts to 6,000,000 euros.Projects will receive a contribution of between 750,000 and 1,000,000 euros (100% of the costs for flat-rate financing of enterprises in the economyand 90% for other costs)

Duration of projects: 24-36 months  Deadline: 14/02/2023

Official documentation to submit a project proposal is available here

Written by: Margherita Genua