Virtual workshop: Technical Assistance Facility for Industrial Modernisation and Investment (TAF)
- 04 Jun 2020 to 05 Jun 2020
- online sessions
Virtual workshop and assistance sessions: "Creating mature interregional investment projects under the S3P-Industry"
Read moreAgenda and Presentations
On the 4th and 5th of June 2020, TAF conducted four virtual work sessions with project promoters from a broad variety of S3P-Industry partnerships. The workshop, originally planned to take place in Rotterdam in April was replaced due to the COVID-19 emergency and tailored to leverage on the opportunities provided by a virtual set up. Therefore, project promoters were divided into groups depending on the maturity of their projects and asked to extensively prepare for the sessions by providing tailored project information, expressing their specific needs, preparing project pitches and for more mature projects participating to alignment calls.
Two working groups focused on projects at the level of project ideas. The objective of these sessions was to provide them with a reality check on the outlook of their project ideas. Therefore, experts delivered concise presentations on the core elements that define a business case and, based on the experiences from the first four TAF assessment rounds, on the main expectations and challenges faced by S3P-Industry projects when applying to TAF. The presentations were followed by a fruitful discussion between the experts and the project representatives, raising doubts, sharing tips and reflecting on common challenges associated to their past and present project ideas. The expert advice emerging from the discussions included an early assessment of the eligibility of projects’ ideas, an illustration of the rationale of TAF and the programme’s suitability to the specific needs of the projects represented vis à vis other types of EU support programs and funding sources.
The other two working groups focused on projects aiming to apply to TAF in June 2020. The objective of these sessions was to provide an early advisory step to potential applicants on the maturity of their project ideas including tailored advice on how to strengthen their business cases and thus their applications. To enhance the dynamicity of the session, promoters pitched their project ideas to the TAF experts, that in turn gave their feedback on the concept and status of the projects with respect to the TAF application, concretely addressing their strengths and weaknesses, and advising on the next steps to take. To strengthen the effectiveness of these sessions, the pre-event organisation included a self-assessment by project promoters of their investment idea, on the key elements needed to deliver a successful TAF application, such as the project governance structure, cost and revenues, business model, legal aspects, interregional dimension and funding sources.
Interested project promoters can download the presentations given during the workshops here:
Moreover, they find all relevant documents to prepare a TAF application, namely:
- A brief information sheet on TAF;
- The Guidance for Applicants;
- An overview of frequently asked questions by applicants (FAQs).
Applications need to be submitted online. The next deadline for applications are:
- 30 June 2020;
- 15 September 2020;
- 30 October 2020.
About TAF
The Technical Assistance Facility is funded by the EU Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME). The Programme is managed by the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) of the European Commission.
If you have any questions regarding your project and your TAF application, please do not hesitate to contact the TAF team: taf@ecorys.com
Practical Information
- When
- 04 Jun 2020 to 05 Jun 2020
- Where
- online sessions
- Registration Information
- Registration is closed
Description
The Technical Assistance Facility for Industrial Modernisation and Investment - Our workshops go virtual!
The aim of the support is to further build the viability of investment projects emerging from the Smart Specialisation Platform, and their underlying business plans. The idea is also to support project managers in preparing strong TAF applications.
Participant profile
The sessions were targeted at project promoters coming from industry, clusters and/or other business entities. S3P partnerships' coordinators are strongly encouraged to mobilise their businesses to bring forward projects related to the thematic areas under development on the S3P-Industry.
Around 30 project representatives from almost 10 Member States participated to the workshop. Partnerships represented included Artificial Intelligence & Human Machine Interface, Bio-Economy, Chemicals, Digitalisation and Safety for Tourism, Safe and sustainable mobility, Social Economy, Sports, New Nano-Enabled Products and Water Smart Territories.
The pitches, presentations and discussion were moderated by the TAF team, with the intervention of representatives from the European Commission (DG GROW).
Contact
For any question, please contact TAF@ecorys.com