Enabling synergies between ESIF, Horizon 2020, COSME, etc.: Guidance for policy-makers and implementing bodies

Source: Mrs Katja REPPEL, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission's DG Regional and Urban Policy

We would like to inform you that the guide on synergies between European Structural and Investment Funds, Horizon 2020 and other innovation and competitiveness related EU programmes (notably COSME, Erasmus+, CreativeEurope and the digital services part of the Connecting Europe Facility) is now available on-line: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_en.pdf

The purpose of the guide is to facilitate for policy-makers and implementation bodies to comply with the Common Provisions Regulation for ESIF (http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information/legislation/index_en.cfm) that requires that synergies have to be built into smart specialisation strategies (see annex 1, point 4) and that synergies mechanisms have to be specified in the relevant ESIF programmes. Also the implementing bodies involved in other EU programmes can find practical advice on how to optimize synergies.

The guide contains explanations on:

• Basic Principles & concept of synergies and cumulation, including recommendations for policy-makers and implementing bodies for strategy development, programme design and implementation mechanisms and an overview of Commission actions to facilitate synergies
•  Explanations by programme (differences, opportunities, management principles) (Annex 1)
• Scenarios & hands-on advice for policy-designers & implementers by project format, specifying the types of eligible cost and giving examples for synergies (annex 2):

A) Horizon2020: Standard R&I projects , ERA Chairs, Teaming & Twinning , Marie Skłodowska-Curie researchers' mobility , ERA-NETs, Joint Programming Initiatives, Art. 185 initiatives and Art. 187 Joint Technology Initiatives , EIT / Knowledge and Innovation Communities , Research Infrastructures , Pre-Commercial Procurement and Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions , Innovation in SMEs
B) COSME: Enterprise Europe Network
C) ERASMUS+: mobility, Knowledge & skills alliances
D) Creative Europe: innovation in and with Creative Industries
E) CEF - Digital Services Platforms: interoperable EU-wide e-government platforms