QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Proposal submission
1. How do I prepare a proposal? Where can I find more information on how to
apply to a Call for proposals?
Three documents are needed to prepare a proposal, in addition to the call
notice:
-
The workprogramme 2003 -2004 (and its update for 2004) that describes the
objectives of the action lines
-
The Guide for proposers that explains how to prepare a proposal
-
The Guidelines for evaluation that gives an overview of how a proposal is
evaluated
The "model contract" is also a document worth consulting - especially annex II
(General conditions) since it is the contract that will govern the life of
projects funded by the Communities.
These documents are available for download at /econtent/call201202.htm.
See also /econtent/calls.htm where a
list of all calls is available.
2. Who can apply?
Proposals can be submitted by multinational consortia addressing the themes
described in the action lines of the programme. The call text published in the
Official Journal details which actions are open in the current call.
3. Which countries participate in eContent?
EU countries (15)
EFTA countries Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein (3)
Acceding countries Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia (10)
Candidate countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey (3)
4. Can organisations established in other countries participate?
Yes. However no Community funding can be given to those organisations and there
has to be mutual benefit.
5. Which calls are there in 2004?
There will be a call for demonstration projects published shortly. A continuous
submission scheme is open for submissions at any time for feasibility projects.
See the workprogramme 2003 - 2004 for additional
details.
6. How long will the Call for Proposals remain open?
The call will be open until the deadline published in the official journal
notice, normally three months.
7. Will there be more calls for eContent after 2004?
No. There will not be additional calls for proposals after the ones that are
scheduled for 2004.
8. Can I submit a pre-proposal?
The pre-proposal service is closed as of 4 December 2003.
9. In which languages can project proposals be submitted?
Proposals can be submitted in any of the official languages of the European
Union. An English translation of at least the abstract and the objectives of the
proposal will facilitate the evaluation operations.
10. Can I send a proposal by fax or e-mail?
Proposals by fax or e-mail are not receivable. See the call text and the Guide
for proposers on how to submit a proposal.
11. Can I send the A2 forms by fax?
The Guide for Proposers specifies that by signing the A2 forms, the contractors
"confirm their organisation's agreement to participate in the proposed
project." It further stipulates that "The co-ordinator must include the
original A2 forms signed by the contractors in the proposal."
12. What happens if my proposal does not reach the Commission within the
deadline?
It will be excluded from evaluation.
Content of eContent?
13. Is any type of digital content financed by eContent?
No. eContent focuses on the themes of exploitation of public sector
information and creation of content in a multilingual and multicultural
environment. See the workprogramme 2003 - 2004
for a description of these concepts.
In particular eContent does not finance free online services offered by
government bodies (eGovernment) or the simple translation of
content from one language into another.
14. I would like to set up a digital content service. Can I get funding from
the eContent programme?
You can apply for funding from the eContent programme. To assess if your project
idea is eligible for funding, you have to check the workprogramme and whether the
corresponding action line is open in the current call for proposals. Pay
attention to the administrative requirements set out in the guide for proposers
and the set of evaluation criteria explained there.
15. Is the eContent programme a research and technological development (RTD)
programme?
eContent is not a research programme. It aims at making optimal
use of existing technologies to realise innovative EU information products and
services in order to open new market opportunities on the networks. Its focus is
on stimulating the market through the action lines
-
Improving access to and expanding use of public sector information
-
Enhancing content production in a multilingual and multicultural environment
-
Increasing dynamism of the digital content market
This focus implies that actions and projects supported must address market issues
rather than technological developments. eContent aims at experimenting new
partnerships that bring together organisations belonging to the public and the
private sector as well as language and content industries. Please consult the Council Decision and Work Programme for further information on the
objectives and actions.
16. Will there be any SME specific measures under the eContent
programme?
The eContent programme welcomes participation of SMEs. The participation is on
equal terms for all legal entities.
17. How can my organisation benefit from participation in the eContent programme?
-
learn about European actions in the eContent domain;
-
get support to undertake eContent projects that will stimulate the market
place;
-
recognise the value of content which you own or develop;
-
make contact with potential project partners, eContent players and experts;
-
gain insight into the European digital content market and its market
opportunities;
-
make best use of digital content and networks, including the Internet and
mobile networks;
-
learn about best practices in the eContent value chain;
Project types - consortia - funding models
- evaluation
18. What is the difference between a demonstration project and a feasibility
project?
Please see the work programme 2003 -
2004 , page 6.
19. What is an acceptable consortium for an eContent project?
An eligible consortium consists of at least two legal entities, independent of
each other and established in two different member states, or one member state
and one participating country (see question no. 3 for a list of countries or the
Guide for Proposers). See the Guide for proposers and the workprogramme 2003 - 2004 for additional details.
Examples of existing consortia can be found in the list of projects.
20. How do I find partners?
This is your responsibility. The CORDIS partner finding service may help in finding
people willing to collaborate with you. The National
Contact Point of your country may also help and advise you.
21. Can a start-up be a project co-ordinator? Roles of participants in a
project.
All project participants have to prove the necessary financial and
human resources to cover the co-financing part and capability to carry out the
tasks. In practice this may prove difficult for start-ups. Hence, it would put
them in a difficult position to act as a co-ordinator who has to be financially
solid enough to manage financial transactions i.e. Commission pays to the
co-ordinator who in turn distributes the money to other contractors. A
solution could be to divide the co-ordination tasks into technical and
financial/administrative co-ordinator. The start-up could be a technical
co-ordinator and a financially more solid partner could handle the
financial/administrative part.
Before deciding which role your organisation would take in project proposal,
please study carefully further details in the model
contract Annex II General conditions, part A "Implementation of
the project" which contains definitions and roles of various participants (if
link fails go to /econtent/call4.htm and click "model
contract" further down the page).
22. Which cost models are possible in the eContent programme?
Two cost models are possible: Full cost (FC) or additional costs (AC). For
explanation of the cost models please see the Guide
for proposers and the model
contract annex II.
23. What is the amount of European co-financing for a consortium totally
composed of public bodies? 50% or 100%?
For demonstration and feasibility projects the overall EU funding does not
exceed 50%. Under the AC cost model, 100% of additional costs can be reimbursed
by the Commission, each participant will have to demonstrate that he will deliver
equivalent efforts from/with his own resources.
24. Do all entities have to fill in the A3 form?
Public sector organisations whose accounting rules entitle them to the AC cost
model (for example universities) may not be in a position to fill in the A3 form
or provide a profit and loss account nor balance sheet. Whenever this form is not
provided a cover letter explaining why would be helpful. All organisations have
to submit evidence of their legal identity.
Organisations choosing the FC cost model must fill in the A3 form.
Proposals that fail to give enough information on the financial situation of
proposing organisations may be disqualified under the eligibility or the
selection criteria (see call text and Guide
for proposers).
25. How much subcontracting is allowed?
The requirements for subcontracting are described in the Guide
for proposers. See also the model
contract for additional details. As a guideline, amounts subcontracted should
not exceed 20% of the project cost for each participant.
26. How can I choose my subcontractors?
Subcontractors should be chosen following a tendering procedure to ensure best
value for money.
27. How does the selection work?
The selection process is detailed in the
guidelines for evaluators.
28. When can I expect to know the result of the evaluation?
All proposal coordinators will receive a letter from the Commission with the
result of the evaluation giving an overall score and comments explaining the
result. On this base the Commission will decide on the final selection. The
eContent helpdesk shall not provide any answer on evaluation results.
Information points - other EU
programmes
29. Can I attend events where eContent is presented to me?
Member States and participating countries can organise eContent information
days when major calls are open. For a list see /econtent/events.htm or contact your National Contact Point
(/econtent/network.htm).
30. Where can I get more information about the eContent programme in my
country?
A network of contacts points for the eContent
programme are available, who provide more information about the programme in
Member States and participating countries in order to help organisations from
these countries find partners from other countries, and to assist in procedural
or administrative matters.
How can I contact the Commission to get more information?
Helpdesk: econtent@ec.europa.eu
-
European Commission
eContent Programme Office
DG Information Society-Directorate E
EUFO 01 / 1181
Rue Alcide de Gasperi
L-2920 Luxembourg
Fax: +352 4301 34959
31. Which EU programmes complement the eContent programme?
There are several EU programmes and initiatives addressing the converging areas
of media, content, technology and telecommunications.
- eEurope:
The initiative aims at accelerating the uptake of digital technologies across
Europe and ensuring that all Europeans have the necessary skills to use them.
- Information Society Technologies (IST): the
RTD programme under the Sixth Framework Programme, including multimedia content
and tools as one of its key actions.
- Media
Programme: aims at strenghtening the competitiveness of the European
audiovisual industry through training, development, distribution, and
promotion.
- eLearning:
initiative to mobilise the educational and cultural communities, as well as the
economic and social players in Europe, in order to speed up changes in the
education and training systems for Europe's move to a knowledge-based society.
- Culture2000: programme which works along the strands to (1)
improve the knowledge and dissemination of the culture and history of the
European peoples; (2) conserve and safeguard cultural heritage of European
significance; (3) support cultural exchanges and artistic and literary
creation.
- Media in the
Information Society: A set of legislative and policy initiatives of DG
Internal Market to guarantee freedom of establishment and the free movement of
services and offer European business and citizens the full benefit of the area
without internal frontiers. Actions in media area: implementation of the
Directive on the legal protection of services based on, or consisting of,
conditional access, media ownership, cable access and other issues. For the
information society services: implementation of the so-called transparency
Directive, the Directive establishing a legal framework for the use of
electronic signatures and negotiations in Council and EP of the proposal for a
Directive on certain legal aspects of electronic commerce. In the commercial
communications area, actions concern removing barriers created by rules on
advertising, sales promotions, sponsorship, direct marketing, etc.
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