Companies in the Algarve will be able to apply for a cake of 3 million euros in European Union support for investment projects in the areas of Competitiveness and Internationalization, under the five notices published by the CRESC Algarve 2020 Operational Programme.
One of the open notices is addressed to technology-based incubation centers. But there is also support for "the promotion of entrepreneurship", for "the internationalization of the tourism, sea, agri-food, information and communication technologies (ICT) and cultural and creative industries (ICC)" and for qualification, according to the Commission Coordination and Regional Development, which manages CRESC Algarve 2020.
Applications can be submitted until the 30th of October and are open not only to companies and business associations, but also to non-business entities in the R&D system, agencies and public entities.
«Generally, these five notices serve to support projects that enhance entrepreneurship in at least one of the following areas: innovative activities based on R&D results, innovative activities within the scope of the emerging domains of RIS3 Algarve – Agrifood, ICT and ICC; renewable energy and health; prospecting, knowledge and access to new markets; collaborative processes of internationalization, knowledge sharing and capacity building for internationalization; collective campaigns of international promotion, namely through the definition of campaigns, as well as institutional presences in reference international fairs», listed the CCDR of the Algarve.
With regard to the tourism sector, «projects should preferably promote the valorization of endogenous products and/or the relationship between this economic activity and the domains Sea, Agri-food, ICT and ICC, in the framework of strategies that enhance, albeit indirectly, the success of the internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises.
For this, actions such as «prospecting, knowledge and access to new markets, collaborative processes of internationalization, knowledge sharing and capacity building for internationalization and collective campaigns for international promotion, namely through the definition of campaigns, as well as presences, should be used. institutions in leading international competitions».
In the field of qualification, the notice aims to support projects that fall within the domains of RIS 3 Algarve. «The candidate projects must respond to at least one of the following priorities: guide SMEs, providing them with knowledge, information and tools to develop innovative activities that contribute to their progression in the value chain; sensitize and enable SMEs to promote and intensify innovative and qualified activities; encourage the inclusion of SMEs in the digital economy, making entrepreneurs aware of the importance of the digital presence and the incorporation of technology into business models, dematerializing processes with customers and suppliers through the use of ICT; promote cooperation practices between companies, promoting the reduction of imports in the consumption of the Tourism sector and increasing the internal consumption of locally produced goods or services; promote eco-innovation, eco-design and eco-construction practices, and/or the use of waste in the production of new products and services, by promoting the concept of circular economy; and increase visibility and information on locally produced goods and services'.
The notice addressed to technology-based incubation centers – whose application deadline is longer, 30 November – is addressed to “non-business entities of the National Scientific and Technological System, technology-based business incubators and other public entities or non-profit private companies focused on supporting entrepreneurship and aimed at requalifying and creating technology-based incubation centers».
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