1.

Why are funding programs important?

Depends on the field of funding (export , infrastructure)
Development of areas, people, infrastructure
Bring something to run (sector, economy, infrastructure, education...)
To protect branches (e.g. Agriculture)
Give one branch the chance to survive

2.

Why should the EU/ national authorities fund regions/companies?

Create one single market (cohesion , cooperation)
Same level of competitiveness in the whole region (economical solidarity)
In order to redistribute wealth

3.

Why do people hardly recognize EU fundings?

Political related issue why its not so transparent to people
e.g. the high speed train in Spain was mainly funded by the EU and people are all informed
Not enough effort from institutions to bring this info to the people
Financial crisis created more trust into the EU

4.

What are the success factors for funding?

Information seeking process (where to find and what is useful)
Selection of possibilities
Knowing the right people
Networking (not only responsible people but also partners in the project networks)
Technical skills and create competences( IT and reporting infrastructure..) /consultants with
appropriate know-how
IT and Reporting tools (the better one knows the report, the better it is)
Be aware of deadlines
Patience

5. How do the EU organizations work together?

The Council of the European Union - represents the member states
- EUs main decision-making body.
The European Parliament - represents the people
- shares legislative and budgetary power with the Council of the EU
The European Commission - represents the common interest of the EU
- the main executive body
- proposes legislation and ensures that EU policies are properly implemented.
The decision-making triangle:

Commsion: proposes the legislation

Council of Ministers & Parliament: decide jointly co-decision
http://europa.eu/abc/12lessons/lesson_4/index_en.htm

6. EU funding
Total amount 2007-1013: ~ 975 bn.
Different programs agricultural is the biggest one in order to protect the branches
How to inform yourself about EU funding
TED Tenders Electronic Daily (Where one finds information about calls in each country)
EU-funding guide
Consultants (Wieser)
7. EU focus areas
SMEs
Economic growth
Social cohesion
Environmental awareness
Sustainable development
Direct funding
Directly application for money
Indirect funding
No direct money, but e.g. pay less than it would normally cost (consulting costs)
E.g. fair in Moscow and one gets the m2 for half of the initial price
8. DEMINIMIS
Europe wide term to find a financial boarder, where a company can still get money for the
project (maximum project costs)
Maximum 250.000 in last 3 years including running year
Deminimis related fundings are e.g. export fundings
Structural funds are not Deminimis related

Check always in the call if its Deminimis related

9. Funding Programs
Outside EU
EuropeAid (worldwide program)
All EU funded programs worldwide in cooperation with UN/World Bank
Inside EU
1) Structural Funds and cohesion funds (1/3 of the 975 bn)
2) Specialized funding programs with focus on - innovation
- cross border projects
- transnational projects
4 Programs available in Austria:
INTERREG
(2 countries)
Alpine Space
(3 or more countries)
Central Europe
(3 or more countries)
South East Europe (3 or more countries)
3) Financial Aid Programs for Non-EU member countries
e.g. IPA . Instrument for pre-accession
10. Funding Steps
Clear project definition
First focus on national funding programmes
Project and funding check with WKO
11. Enterprise Europe Network
Biggest SME consulting Network in Europe
Same in all 27 member states
Initially there is a call announces and all consulting companies can apply to help SMEs in
export cooperations with others.
12. Why are fundings important for export?
Motivation factor for companies
Find new exporters
13. EU- Funding Programs in Carinthia
13.1. Go international (Austrian wide)
Direct and Indirect Funding
Between chamber and ministry of economy
5 main areas of funding:
o Export motivation
o Focus on top branches
o International technology-network
o Competitiveness through education
o Export of services : Problem: How to count the export of services?-> New EU
Regulation
10 possibilities of export funding

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13.2

Market entry costs (fairs, promotional materials...)

Consulting costs (direct funding)
Program for worldwide fairs
Company missions (go to selected markets and collect profiles)
match profiles with potential partners to your potential partners
Incoming mission (invite potential partners to your production site
WKO organizes stay)
Education (incoming and outgoing students are funded)
Technology program (separate from all other programs)
E.g. certification, technical profiles, marketing, networking
Costs for funding a company abroad e.g. first 6 month rent (up to 10.000 )
Export angel somebody who gives personal consultancy e.g. translation, escort
Export training train companies e.g. in know-how, invoices, tax, customs
Export cooperation fund companies which work together (big export companies
helping small ones)
Costs of certification and lawyers are becoming more & more important

. Carinthian Export funding

500.000 / year
Maximum 5.000 / company
Direct funding program like in Vienna, Burgenland, Tirol (e.g. in O they just pay for
consultants)
Worldwide program but just for production branches (e.g. no trade)
From the Carinthian government (KWF)- economic fund
KWF institution between government and companies
Responsible to spread the money according to regulations from EU/country/region
3 Areas: Worldwide consultancy costs
Worldwide market entry costs for marketing, PR, advertising
Worldwide costs for fairs and exhibitions
Very easy to apply / 6 pages project/ must be handed- in to the Chamber
The Chamber is responsible for the regional and Austrian funds in order to avoid the companies get
double funds
The Chamber tries to grant companies the maximum amount of both funding programs