Call for Innovative Projects: Technical and Financial support to SMEs

SMARTIES for SMEs – Pills of Sustainable, Smart, Regenerative Tourism to Empower SMEs in the EU Mediterranean area is a project co-funded by the COSME Program of the European Union.

In each country a BSO (Business Support Organization) is present to support SMEs and their partners throughout the process.

Thematic Areas

• Projects must focus on at least one of the following thematic areas:
  • Green and digital transition: Projects and solutions that support the twin transition of tourism SMEs, enhance their own resilience and the sustainability of the EU tourism ecosystem.
  • Regenerative tourism:  Projects and solutions that develop and promote a tourism offer that respects the authenticity of the local territory and contributes to the wellbeing of local communities.
  • Synergy between tourism and the agri-food ecosystem: Projects and solutions that develop the synergy between tourism and the agri-food ecosystem, especially promoting the Mediterranean Diet as a model of food sustainability in the tourism sector.

Funding Information

• Each selected project will receive a lump sum of 25 000 €, to be paid through an initial pre-financing payment of 25%, 2 intermediate tranches of 25% and a final payment of 25% of the budget, depending on the activities performed and the results achieved. The funding rate is 100%, therefore participation to the agreed amount is free of charge for successful projects and includes free mentoring and monitoring (Technical support).

Eligible Activities

• Projects are expected to implement innovative products, processes, services, and/or business models, and they must consist of a mix of different activities that are instrumental for the realisation of the project and the achievement of expected results. Such activities may include, but are not limited to:
  • design and development of innovative tourism offer, products or services;
  • design and development of digital solutions applied to the tourism ecosystem;
  • services for SMEs to implement their business ideas (different from the Technical support offered by SMARTIES for SMEs), such as advisory services relating to legal requirements, assessment of green and digital maturity level, design of sustainable business models, feasibility studies; external expertise, costs for training courses, coaching, mentoring, etc.);
  • product development services (concept idea, prototype, product launch, continuous testing, aiming at excellence and sustainability);
  • market studies;
  • development and analysis of business plans;
  • intellectual property development;
  • promotion and communication activities, including participation to fairs, open days, etc;
  • training for staff and learning activities, including workshops and study visits, etc.;
  • software licenses;
  • entry fees/travel to business meetings/trade fairs/trainings; costs for transition processes including EMAS registration and/or EU Ecolabel/other recognised certification schemes, leading on to environmental sustainability (e.g. Green Key, Green Cuisine).

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be registered organizations in the following territories:
  • Italy – National level
  • Greece – National level
  • Portugal – Region of Madeira
  • Slovenia – National level
  • Cyprus – National level
• Projects can be submitted by:
  • single tourism SMEs;
  • a partnership (with a lead applicant) of 2 to 4 tourism SMEs of the same country;
  • a partnership (with a lead applicant) of 2 to 4 partners of the same country, with at least 1 tourism SME and 1 public or private organization instrumental for the realisation of the project, providing that at least 70% of the financial support is dedicated to the SME/s included in the project.
• The same organization (either single or as partnership) can apply to a maximum of 1 proposal. In case of partnership, a coordinator (lead applicant) must be designated who will be responsible throughout the application process and implementation phase for submitting the application and communicating with SMARTIEs for SMEs team on behalf of the partnership.

For more information, visit European Commission.