As detailed in the forward budget tables, project management costs are reimbursed at 100%
but limited to 10% of the total eligible cost of the action

5. What is the indicative number of participants for a strand 1 and a strand 2 proposal?
The minimum number of partners for a strand 1 (sectoral network) proposals is 5, covering 3
different Member States (or countries that established an agreement to participate in CIP).
We recommend limiting the consortia to maximum 12 partners. For a strand 1 (the horizontal
support action) proposal, the minimum number of participants is 1.

6. A lot of emphasise is put on the involvement of 2 public bodies that finance or manage
an innovation programme. Does this mean they should take up the project coordination
role?
No, the coordinator should be the partner who has the best capacities to manage a European
action of this scale.

7. Regarding the activities of the sectoral networks, it is stated in the submission set that 250 KIS enterprises should have benefited from the activities undertaken. Does this
mean 250 enterprises per sectoral network or in total?
The submission set details that at least 250 KIS enterprises and/or innovation intermediaries
should have benefited from the activities undertaken. This applies to each sectoral network.

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Evaluator

Professional and technical capacity

Applicants must show that they have the professional and technical capacity to complete the operation and must demonstrate their capacity to manage a large-scale activity corresponding with the size of the action for which a grant is requested. In particular, the team responsible for the action must have adequate professional qualifications and experience.

Applicants will therefore include in the proposal curriculum vitae of the main members of the team that will actually be performing the work and professional references and details of similar past projects.

Applicants must be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action, not acting as an intermediary. They must provide information about their capacity to carry out the expected activities and demonstrate their experience in working with other parties in trans-national projects.

The coordinator must demonstrate a strong management experience of international consortia of relevant size. In addition, applicants must add a statement of the average annual manpower and the number of managerial staff of the beneficiary in the last three years and clearly indicate the proportion of the grant agreement which the applicants intend to subcontract.

For strand 1, the applying consortia should include a minimum of 5 partners established in minimum three different Member States from the following 4 groups of organisations:

(1) Universities, business schools, research centres, knowledge transfer offices and training centres providing expertise on technological innovations in services, innovative business models, working methods and skills that are of particular relevance for KIS enterprises with a high growth potential;

(2) Incubation centres, science parks, consultants as well relevant coaching and training centres experienced in the field of services and prepared to cooperate in the development of innovative support mechanisms to the benefit of KIS ventures with a high growth potential;

(3) Investors (such as venture capitalists and business angels) willing to cooperate in the development and validation of investment readiness tools and methodologies

(4) Other stakeholders representing the service sector, including regional development agencies, chambers of commerce and business associations bringing their knowledge about the specific needs of KIS ventures and facilitating access to clusters. Close cooperation between private and public is considered to be a must. In this respect, the special conditions for participating in sectoral networks as detailed in Article III.2 will apply.

For strand 2, the applying consortia should include organisations demonstrating the following expertise:

(1) Experience in developing websites and on-line collaboration tools

(2) Experience in designing marketing material, disseminating information, organising and animating international workshops

(3) Proven excellence in writing and editing English papers and news announcements (the inclusion of a journalist acquainted with innovation policy matters will be required).

(4) Experience in extracting project results and making policy recommendations to European, national and regional authorities in the field of innovation.

(5) Experience in setting up European business communities and collecting feedback from stakeholders. Good connections with innovation intermediaries (especially research centres, business schools, universities and incubation centres) all over Europe as well as easy access to the business environment (enterprises providing knowledge intensive service activities).