The European Commission, in recognition of the efforts of public authorities and public-private partnerships that demonstrate excellence in promoting entrepreneurship, has established the European Enterprise Promotion Awards.
The main objective of the institution is to promote entrepreneurship and to showcase best practices and successful initiatives in the participating countries.
The competition is open to public authorities in the European Union or those associated with the COSME Programme. Participation is open to national organisations, towns, cities, regions and communities as well as public-private partnerships between public authorities on the one hand and entrepreneurs, training programmes and operational organisations on the other. The competition is conducted in two stages. Applicants must compete first at national level and then at European level. Each country will select two of the candidates who will be put forward for participation in the European competition by 21 July 2023.
The Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry announces the launch of the competition at national level. The winners will be announced in June and will represent Cyprus in the European Competition. The results of the European competition will be announced during the SME Assembly, which will take place in November 2023.
The competition includes the following 6 categories of awards:
1. Promoting Entrepreneurship: Initiatives at national, regional or local level that promote entrepreneurial awareness, especially among young people and women will be rewarded.
2. Investing in entrepreneurial skills: Initiatives at national, regional or local level that aim to improve business, management and employee skills are rewarded
3. Improving the business environment and supporting the digital transition: Reward innovative policies and initiatives at national, regional or local level that make Europe the most attractive place to start, operate, grow and expand a business in the single market, simplify legislative and administrative procedures for businesses and implement the Think small first principle for the benefit of small and medium-sized enterprises, and support the digital transition of businesses by enabling them to develop, deploy Measures to reduce red tape, give a boost to start-ups, support the transfer of business ownership, help support digital transformation, facilitate SMEs' access to public procurement markets
4. Support for the internationalisation of the enterprise: Policies and initiatives that encourage enterprises at national, regional or local level, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to take greater advantage of the opportunities offered by markets both inside and outside the European Union shall be rewarded.
5. Supporting sustainable transition: Policies and initiatives at national, regional or local level that support sustainable transition and environmental aspects such as the circular economy, climate neutrality, clean energy, resource efficiency or biodiversity through, for example, sustainable development and skills matching, as well as through funding shall be rewarded.
6. Responsible and inclusive entrepreneurship: National, regional or local initiatives by public authorities or public-private partnerships that promote corporate social responsibility in small and medium-sized enterprises shall be rewarded. Under this category, efforts to promote entrepreneurship among disadvantaged groups, such as the unemployed and in particular the long-term unemployed, legal migrants, people with disabilities or people from ethnic minorities are also rewarded.
The European Jury also awards the Grand Jury Prize to the nomination in any category judged to be the most imaginative and creative initiative promoting entrepreneurship.
For clarification:
- public authorities include public and wider public sector agencies, business organisations, policy-making institutions, funding bodies, executive agencies and organised groups.
- The Awards are also open to public-private partnerships, i.e. "forms of collaboration between public authorities and the private sector aimed at securing the financing, construction, renovation, management or maintenance of an infrastructure or the provision of a service"
For the national selection stage, the last date for submission of proposals is 21 June 2023. Proposals received after this date will not be considered. Proposals should be submitted on the relevant entry form (available on the Ministry's website: www.meci.gov.cy) and will be evaluated by the Evaluation Committee established for this purpose.
The two selected proposals will be forwarded to the European Commission for participation in the European competition.
For more information and an entry form (Greek, English) you can visit the website of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and contact the National Contact Point for Cyprus:
Maria Christina Ciaberlain, National Contact Point
Tel.: 22 867266, Fax: 22 376493
e-mail: mchamberlain@meci.gov.cy
http://www.meci.gov.cy
Additional information about the competition can be found on the official website of the competition: https:/ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/supporting-entrepreneurship/european-enterprise-promotion-awards_en
(ΝΓ/ΣΧ)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
