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Submission & evaluation process
Any European industrial SME can apply for the STAGE Sustainability Transition Programme recruitment call.
The call process will require the completion of the inquiry form on the STAGE Platform, powered by GND: https://gnd.one/operator-inquiry?_ga=2.29332922.761682221.1684482252-2034921708.1684482252
Once registration is confirmed, the SME needs to log on to the Platform and complete the Initial Assessment online.
Initial eligibility check is performed based on the information provided in the Initial Assessment form. All companies that meet the eligibility criteria can benefit from the advisory support under the STAGE Sustainability Transition Programme. A separate Call aiming to attract Sustainability Advisors to the STAGE ecosystem is available at https://stagepartners.eu/call-for-advisors
The following eligibility rules will apply:
1. The company is an SME. A legal entity (enterprise) is considered an SME if complying with the European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC and the SME qualification guide: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2873/255862 .
In summary, the category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million.
2. The company has its headquarters in an EU member state or in an eligible Horizon Europe country: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.
Eligible SMEs can benefit from the STAGE Programme sustainability assessment, training and advisory services and apply for grant under The STAGE Financial Grant Programme (separate calls are published). More information can be found at: https://stagepartners.eu/call-for-enterprises
Note: At this stage of the admission process, eligibility is checked based on the data declared by the applicant. Additional eligibility check and selection criteria shall be applied only for the companies selected for the STAGE Financial Grant Programme.
The admission to the STAGE Sustainability Transition Programme will be done on a first-come first-served basis (i.e., assessments will be processed in the order in which they were received).
Up to 2000 SMEs will be guided by Sustainability Advisors to benefit from the sustainability transition assessment tools and develop a Sustainability Transition Plan.
Up to 500 SMEs will benefit from the STAGE sustainability training courses.
Up to 100 SMEs will be awarded a financial grant to develop their investment projects (separate open calls are published).
Up to 20 SMEs will receive additional financial advisory support.
Further information
Questions can be redirected to: info@stagepartners.eu
Details are available at: https://stagepartners.eu/call-for-enterprises
Task description
STAGE is a unique sustainability transition ecosystem that provides companies with dedicated support to transform into competitive and sustainable leaders of the European industrial community.
The aim of this call is to identify and work with SMEs to help them develop their sustainability transition plans, become investment ready and attract private finance.
Each of the 2000 SMEs recruited during this call will be matched with experienced Sustainability Advisors who will guide them through the STAGE transformation journey.
The Programme is divided in three phases:
PHASE 1: Sustainability Assessment: Initial & Performance assessment, Carbon Footprint assessment, EU Taxonomy assessment.
Transition roadmaps and Sustainability Transition Plans shall be developed for at least 500 SME that complete this phase.
PHASE 2: Training and capacity building. Training modules in 4 Pillars have been created by the STAGE partners to help with SMEs’ sustainability transition.
PHASE 3: Advisory services to develop investment project plans and attract private funding.
100 SMEs shall be granted up to EUR 50 000 through the STAGE Financial Grant Programme via separate calls and additional application process.
The best performing 20 companies shall receive dedicated financial advisory.