Over 3,000 SMEs benefit from ‘Seal of Excellence’
Since its launch in October 2015, more than 3,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have received the EU’s quality label marking first-class innovative ideas worthy of investment, the Seal of Excellence.
The initiative was announced a year ago by Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, and Corina Creţu, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, at the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, Belgium.
Moedas said: “The Seal of Excellence is a simple concept with a big impact. It connects great ideas with potential investment that can make them come true. Our research and innovation scheme, Horizon 2020, already offers lots of opportunities to innovative companies to get funding. But the Seal enables them to tap into new sources of investment, public and private, beyond Horizon 2020.”
Creţu added: “European regional policy is strongly committed to helping smart SME proposals get financing. They are clearly contributing to regional growth, competitiveness and employment. The Seal of Excellence and its Community of Practice is the right approach by fostering a close collaboration between the commission and its partners.”
The Seal is designed to maximise synergies between EU funds available for innovative companies, including Horizon 2020, and the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).
