Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME)

The EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME) aims to strengthen competitiveness of European businesses and allow them to undertake successful internationalisation of their activities. The programme will focus on financing of SMEs, development of business activities at international level, setting up of a business-friendly environment and business creation (and job creation to a large extent).

For the 2014-2020 programming period, the budget for COSME programme will be 2.3 billion euros.

COSME is split into four strands:

• 1. Improving access to finance
• Loan Guarantee Facility
• Equity Facility for Growth
• 2. Access to markets
• information on EU legislation and participation in EU programmes
• assistance finding business partners abroad, in the EU or worldwide
• advice on access to finance within the EU
• support for innovation and technology transfer
• obtaining the opinion of SMEs on EU legislation
• 3. Supporting entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship education
• Improving the business environment 
• Role models and outreach to specific groups
• 4. Improving conditions for competitiveness
• Reduction of the administrative and regulatory burden
• The identification and exchange of best practice among national administrations to improve SME policy
• Analytical tools for better policy

→ The 2015 Work Programme is available here.

→ Calls for proposals for COSME are available here.

→ Projects must be submitted through the Participant Portal for Research and Innovation.

Source:

http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/cosme/index_en.htm

REGULATION(EU) No 1287/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 December2013