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Cross-border
economic
development 76 Cross-cutting themes in cross-border economic development
The great majority regional ERDF-ESF 2014-2020 OPs provide for
the use of financial instruments, particularly for thematic objectives 1,
3 and 4 and in various forms: direct investment in share capital (equity
investment, transfer funding, start-up funding, third-party funding/
investment, maturation funds, seed funding, venture capital, development
capital), loans (loan funds, zero-interest loans, preferential loans, equity
loans, honour loans, micro-credit funds, repayable advances and
subsidised loans), guarantees and other sources (crowdfunding platforms,
European financial instruments, share acquisition funds, property leases,
funds of funds, etc.).115
The need to reach this target group requires synergies between sources
of funding that go beyond the framework of structural funds. The
objectives of Europe 2020, coupled with those of cohesion policy for
2014-2020, require better coordination between thematic financing
(research, innovation and development, entrepreneurial capacity building,
etc.) and the ESIF to support smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
The two main European programmes for supporting innovation/
research, international development of businesses and industrial
cooperation for the 2014-2020 period, Horizon 2020 (formerly the
Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development –
FPRTD) and COSME (formerly CIP – Framework Programme for
Innovation and Competitiveness), already contribute to a complementary
approach to sustainable support to businesses:
Ì Ì Horizon 2020 specifically targets risks related to research/
innovation for innovative SMEs in their start-up and expansion
phases (feasibility of the research and innovation project, financing
and support for marketing).
Ì Ì COSME has extended its scope of action to include all businesses
in their process of development, and even transfer, on the single
market, particularly through the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN),116
and has implemented tools such as a guide117 and a portal to
support SMEs’ internationalisation.118
Ì Ì In addition to these two major programmes there is a complementary
programme to Horizon 2020, EUREKA, which takes a more
bottom-up and flexible approach, requiring an initiative from
at least two businesses rather than more cumbersome cyclical
calls for proposals.
115 Europ’Act, Seminar for the launch of the 2014-2020 programme of European funds,
Montpellier, 14 November 2014.
116 European Commission, Enabling synergies between European Structural and Investment
Funds, Horizon 2020 and other research, innovation and competitiveness-related Union
programmes.
117 Practical guide to doing business in Europe ,
118 The portal can be accessed at:
National funding bodies and
funding from territorial
authorities
While European programmes are a not insignificant source of funding
for SMEs and cross-border economic development initiatives, national
and local authorities also contribute to supporting the development and
competitiveness of businesses and territories. Reforms have recently
been implemented in France to strengthen mechanisms for providing
financial support to SMEs.
Ì Ì Bpifrance proposes a “one-stop shop” coordinated response
to the financing needs of businesses throughout their lifecycle.
Innovation is the priority target of Bpifrance actions. These range
from support for R&D and the start-up phases of innovative
projects, to increasing businesses’ own funds to support
exports in close collaboration with Business France. Bpifrance’s
organisational structure of 24 regional directorates, which are
charged with defining action plans at the regional level reflects
the desire to provide funding that most closely corresponds to
local specificities and strategic sectors.
© Projet Seed4Start
Seed4Start project, in the Greater Region