55
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION
(TECHNICAL ANNEX 1)
COSME
Call for proposals
COS-CLUSTER-2015-3-02
Project acronym:
Project duration (months):
Start date:
Coordinating organisation:
Number of partners:
Structure


All pages should be numbered.
Each page should be headed with the project acronym and drafting date.
1
Section A: Project summary
A.1 List of beneficiaries and project team
A.1.1 List of Participants
Participant No
Participant Organisation Name
1 (Coordinator)
2
3
4
5
Add lines if necessary
2
Country
A.1.2 Operational/Technical Capacity: Skills, expertise and role of key staff involved in the project
Participant
No
Name of the staff
member
Summary of relevant skills and experience
1
2
3
…
…
Add lines
necessary
if
3
Role/Tasks in the project
A.2 Work Plan tables
A.2.1 List of Work Packages1
Number
Lead
beneficiary
Title
Start
month
End
month
Deliverables No
1
2
3
Add lines
necessary
if
A.2.2 List of Deliverables2
Number
Work
package
number
Title
Lead
beneficiary
Type3
Dissemination
level4
Due date
(in
months)
1
2
Add lines
if
necessary
1
‘Work package’ means a major sub-division of the proposed project
2
‘Deliverable’ means a distinct output of the project, meaningful in terms of the project’s overall objectives,
and constituted by a report, a document, a technical diagram, a software etc.
3
Please input “R” for reports and other documents, “DEC” for websites and videos and “Other” for other
deliverables
4
Please input “PU” if public and “CO” if confidential (only for members of the consortium and Commission
Services)
4
A.2.3 List of Milestones5
Number
Title
Lead
beneficiary
Due date
(in
months)
Description
Means of
verification
1
2
Add lines if
necessary
A.2.4 Critical Risks6
Describe the critical risks and mitigating measures envisaged in the implementation of the action
Number
Brief Description
Mitigation measures
Work
Package
number
1
2
Add lines if
necessary
5
‘Milestones’ means control points in the project that help to chart progress. Milestones may correspond to
the completion of a key deliverable, allowing the next phase of the work to begin. They may also be needed at
intermediary points so that, if problems have arisen, corrective measures can be taken. A milestone may be a
critical decision point in the project where, for example, the consortium must decide which of several
technologies to adopt for further development.
6
Critical risks are externalities which may affect the implementation of the action
5
Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Section B: Action: objectives, management structures and work
plan
B.1 Objectives of the Action
B.1.1 Specific objective(s) of the Action

Indicate how your proposal addresses the specific challenge and scope of the topic, as set
out in the COSME work programme.

Describe the specific objectives for the project, which should be clear, measurable, realistic
and achievable within the duration of the project. Objectives should be consistent with the
expected exploitation and impact of the project.
B.1.2. Target group/audience
 This section should describe to which target group(s) the activities are dedicated i.e. SMEs in
general, SMEs in specific sector, regional authorities, sectoral organisations, etc. by making
the link with the COSME work programme.
B.1.3 Description of work methodology and tools
 Describe and explain the overall concept underpinning the project. Describe the main ideas,
models or assumptions involved.
 Describe the methodology, tools and quality control criteria needed for the implementation of
the proposed action by making the link with the different work packages.
 Prepare a descriptive fiche in case the applicant is a cluster organisation or business network
organisation not already registered at the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (see
Information Sheet 1)
B.1.4 Performance Indicators
Describe the indicators used to measure the implementation of the action
Title
Add
lines
necessary
Brief Description
Target (quantity)
if
6
Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
B.2. Management structure and procedures
B.2.1 Organisational structure
 Explain how the profile of the proposed participant(s) is aligned with the objectives of the
Action.
 List the organisations that fulfil the following criteria: they are located in lagging/transition
regions and have no Cluster Excellence Silver/Gold label (see Information Sheet 2)7
 Describe the organisational structure and the decision-making process within the consortium.
 Explain why the organisational structure and decision-making mechanisms are appropriate to
the complexity and scale of the project.
7
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/what/future/img/eligibility20142020.pdf and
http://www.cluster-analysis.org/
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Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
B.3 Work Plan8
More details should be provided in this section for each WP compared to the information already
available under Part A.
Work Package 1.
ACTION A: Enhancement of cluster managers' skills towards
added-value SME support services
WP. 1.1 Objectives of the Work Package
Describe the specific objectives of the action that will be achieved through this Work Package
WP.1.2 Description of the Work Package
Describe the specific tasks comprised in this work package
WP.1.3 Participants Involved in the Work Package
Participant No
Role
Main tasks
WP Leader
Add lines if needed
WP.1.4 Subcontracting
Describe whether any of the tasks in the Work Package would be subcontracted and explain how the
subcontractor will be selected
WP.1.5 Performance Indicators
List the indicators used to measure the implementation of this work package by making the link with
section 1.4
Title
Brief Description
Target (quantity)
8
Should you have more than 2 Work Packages, please copy/paste a Work Package’s structure as many times
as necessary.
8
Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Add lines if necessary
WP.1.6 Planned effort
 Proposals must include an aggregated overview on planned efforts (person-months). 9 To
facilitate the reading of the table, it is important to break-down the project. Please follow the
structure below:
Start month:
End month :
Participant No
Total person-months
1 (Coordinator)
2
…
Add lines if necessary
Total (Consortium)
9
Person-months factors help to determinate the effort which is necessary to make a certain action done
(Work Packages). To calculate it, multiply the total number of hours allocated to the relevant WP by 12 and
divide the result by 1720.
For instance, if 350 working hours are allocated to member of the staff X and 510 working hours are allocated
to member of the Staff Y, the person-months of that work package is 6. ((350+510)*12)/1720
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Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Work Package 2.
ACTION B: Development of a comprehensive strategy for the
cluster
WP.2.1 Objectives of the Work Package
Describe the specific objectives of the action that will be achieved through this Work Package
WP.2.2 Description of the Work Package
Describe the specific tasks comprised in this work package
WP.2.3 Participants Involved in the Work Package
Participant No
Role
Main tasks
WP Leader
Add lines if needed
WP.2.4 Subcontracting
Describe whether any of the tasks in the Work Package would be subcontracted and explain how the
subcontractor will be selected
WP.2.5 Performance Indicators
List the indicators used to measure the implementation of this work package by making the link with
section 1.4
Title
Brief Description
Target (quantity)
Add lines if necessary
WP.2.6 Planned effort
Start month:
End month :
Participant No
Total person-months
1 (Coordinator)
2
…
Add lines if necessary
10
Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Total (Consortium)
Work Package 3.
ACTION C: Facilitating cluster cooperation and synergies on
skills enhancement and strategy development
WP.3.1 Objectives of the Work Package
Describe the specific objectives of the action that will be achieved through this Work Package
WP.3.2 Description of the Work Package
Describe the specific tasks comprised in this work package
WP.3.3 Participants Involved in the Work Package
Participant No
Role
Main tasks
WP Leader
Add lines if needed
WP.3.4 Subcontracting
Describe whether any of the tasks in the Work Package would be subcontracted and explain how the
subcontractor will be selected
WP.3.5 Performance Indicators
List the indicators used to measure the implementation of this work package by making the link with
section 1.4
Title
Brief Description
Target (quantity)
Add lines if necessary
WP.3.6 Planned effort
Start month:
End month :
Participant No
Total person-months
1 (Coordinator)
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Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
2
…
Add lines if necessary
Total (Consortium)
Work Package 4.
ACTION D: Awareness raising and dissemination of project
outcomes
WP.4.1 Objectives of the Work Package
Describe the specific objectives of the action that will be achieved through this Work Package
WP.4.2 Description of the Work Package
Describe the specific tasks comprised in this work package
WP.4.3 Participants Involved in the Work Package
Participant No
Role
Main tasks
WP Leader
Add lines if needed
WP.4.4 Subcontracting
Describe whether any of the tasks in the Work Package would be subcontracted and explain how the
subcontractor will be selected
WP.4.5 Performance Indicators
List the indicators used to measure the implementation of this work package by making the link with
section 1.4
Title
Brief Description
Target (quantity)
Add lines if necessary
WP.4.6 Planned effort
Start month:
End month :
Participant No
Total person-months
1 (Coordinator)
12
Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
2
…
Add lines if necessary
Total (Consortium)
Work Package 5. Project Management
WP. 5.1 Objectives of the Work Package
Describe the specific objectives of the action that will be achieved through this Work Package
WP.5.2 Description of the Work Package
Describe the specific tasks comprised in this work package
WP.5.3 Participants Involved in the Work Package
Participant No
Role
Main tasks
WP Leader
Add lines if needed
WP.5.4 Subcontracting10
Describe whether any of the tasks in the Work Package would be subcontracted and explain how the
subcontractor will be selected
WP.5.5 Performance Indicators
List the indicators used to measure the implementation of this work package by making the link with
section 1.4
Title
Brief Description
Target (quantity)
Add lines if necessary
WP.5.6 Planned effort
 Proposals must include an aggregated overview on planned efforts (person-months). 11 To
facilitate the reading of the table, it is important to break-down the project. Please follow the
10
Please note that as mentioned in Sector 11.1.e of the call text core activities, as project management and
administration, cannot be subcontracted.
13
Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
structure below:
Start month:
End month :
Participant No
Total person-months
1 (Coordinator)
2
…
Add lines if necessary
Total (Consortium)
11
Person-months factors help to determinate the effort which is necessary to make a certain action done
(Work Packages). To calculate it, multiply the total number of hours allocated to the relevant WP by 12 and
divide the result by 1720.
For instance, if 350 working hours are allocated to member of the staff X and 510 working hours are allocated
to member of the Staff Y, the person-months of that work package is 6. ((350+510)*12)/1720
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Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Information Sheet 1
Descriptive fiche to be completed by each cluster organization or business network
organization.
Are you a cluster organisation or business network organisation that support the enhancement
of collaboration, networking and learning in innovation clusters and provide innovation
support and or channel specialised and customised business support services to stimulate
innovation activities, especially in SMEs, in line with the coverage of innovation clusters
under point 1.2(e), 1.3(s) and Annex I in the EU "framework for State aid for research and
development and innovation"?12
Yes ______
No _______
Cluster Organisation:
City:
Street:
Region:
Country:
Postal Code:
www-Address:
12
The EU "framework for State aid for research and development and innovation" (2014/C 198/01) in
section 1.3 (s) defines ‘innovation clusters’ as "structures or organised groups of independent parties (such as
innovative start-ups, small, medium and large enterprises, as well as research and knowledge dissemination
organisations, non-for-profit organisations and other related economic actors) designed to stimulate
innovative activity by promoting sharing of facilities and exchange of knowledge and expertise and by
contributing effectively to knowledge transfer, networking, information dissemination and collaboration
among the undertakings and other organisations in the cluster". Annex I of this framework further lists eligible
costs for aid for the operation of innovation clusters, which gives a more detailed understanding of typical
related activities that a cluster or business network organisation may undertake. These include the “(a)
animation of the cluster to facilitate collaboration, information sharing and the provision or channelling of
specialised and customised business support services; (b) marketing of the cluster to increase participation of
new undertakings or organisations and to increase visibility; (c) management of the cluster's facilities; and (d)
organisation of training programmes, workshop and conferences to support knowledge sharing and
networking and transnational cooperation."
The full reference text can be found at:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52014XC0627(01)&from=EN
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Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Telephone :
Fax number:
Legal form of organization:
Mission and Vision:
Main Sectors represented by the cluster:
Areas of specialization of the cluster (max. 5 lines):
Main activities of the cluster organization (max. 10 lines), in line with the typical related
activities of a cluster and business network organisation may undertake, such as:
a) animation of the cluster to facilitate collaboration, information sharing and the provision or
channelling of specialised and customised business support services;
b) marketing of the cluster to increase participation of new undertakings or organisations and to
increase visibility;
c) management of the cluster's facilities; and
d) organization of training programmes, workshop and conferences to support knowledge sharing
and networking and transnational cooperation.
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Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Total Number of members of the cluster:
Number of SME members of the cluster:
Names and contact details of the cluster management team:
Name
Surname
Position
17
Telephone
Email
Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Information Sheet 2
Compliance with the specific criteria for eligible consortia
A. Minimum of two cluster or business network organisations established in regions
classified as less developed or in transition, according to the mapping proposed for Structural
Funds eligibility for the period 2014-202013.
1.
2.
B. Minimum of two cluster and business network organisations that have either no Cluster
Excellence label or only a Cluster Excellence Bronze label14. In other words, there must be at
least two applicants in the consortium that have not yet obtained a Cluster Excellence Silver
or Gold label.
1.
2.
An organisation listed under point A can also be listed under point B, if applicable.
Reminder:
Applicant consortia have to be composed of a minimum of three independent legal entities,
namely three independent legal cluster and business network organisations.
Partner organisations in the consortium will be legally established in a minimum of three
different EU Member States or COSME participating countries. Eligible organisations are
only those established in EU Member States or in countries participating in the COSME
programme under Article 6 of the COSME Regulation15.
13
See eligibility map of ERDF and ESF at:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/what/future/img/eligibility20142020.pdf
14
Please refer to ESCA.
15
The following groups of countries are eligible for participation in COSME:
a. European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries which are members of the European Economic
Area (EEA), in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EEA Agreement, and other European
countries when agreements and procedures so allow;
b. acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates in accordance with the general
principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in the Union's
programmes established in the respective Framework Agreements and Association Council Decisions,
or similar arrangements;
c. countries falling within the scope of the European neighbourhood policies, when agreements and
procedures so allow and in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for
the participation of those countries in the Union's programmes established in the respective Framework
Agreements, Protocols to Association Agreements and Association Council Decisions.
Please refer also to the "Third countries’ participation in COSME" pdf in the background section of the
following link: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/cosme/index_en.htm
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Technical Annex 1 –Description of Work – Call for Proposals – COSME Programme 2015
Information Sheet 3
Declaration as to submission of one proposal16
I, coordinator of proposal (please insert number of proposal and acronym) am fully aware
and declare to have understood point 6.1 of the call according to which:
It is not allowed that a partner participates in more than one proposal. Should this happen, all
the proposals involving this partner will be considered as ineligible.17
I hereby accept that if any partner of the above consortium has submitted any other proposal
(either independently or as part of another consortium) the proposal submitted by the above
consortium will become ineligible.
Therefore, I agree to take steps to ensure that all partners of my consortium are aware of and
adhere to this condition.
Full name
16
Date
Signature
To be signed by the consortium co-ordinator.
17
Consortium coordinators are requested to take appropriate measures to ensure that no partner in their
proposal participates in another proposal under this call.
19