Guide

Start

Creating a sound business plan

A precondition of success is a quality business plan. You should have a clear idea about why you want to implement your project and whether you are able to do so. The project must have a precisely specified objective and a logical

A precondition of success is a quality business plan. You should have a clear idea about why you want to implement your project and whether you are able to do so. The project must have a precisely specified objective and a logical structure and should also be sufficiently effective and sustainable. Great attention must be paid to the budget and to the project financing. The business plan structure is defined in the relevant Call for Proposals under the specific aid programme.

1

Obtaining information on the options of support for the plan

Based on the objective of the project plan, you choose a suitable OP EIC aid programme for its financing. Basic information on the aid programmes can be found in their programme texts. Specific conditions are set out in

Based on the objective of the project plan, you choose a suitable OP EIC aid programme for its financing. Basic information on the aid programmes can be found in their programme texts. Specific conditions are set out in the particular Calls for Proposals.

If you need help with selecting the programme, you will be assisted by the nearest regional office of the Business and Innovation Agency (API) located in every regional capital. You can also contact us through the Green Info Line 800 800 777 or by email at programy@agentura-api.org.

2

Submitting the Grant Application

Applications to the OP EIC aid programmes are submitted through an Internet portal, the Final Beneficiary Information System (IS KP14+). This is intended for electronic submission of Grant Applications and

Applications to the OP EIC aid programmes are submitted through an Internet portal, the Final Beneficiary Information System (IS KP14+). This is intended for electronic submission of Grant Applications and for administering the project throughout its life cycle. You do not have to install any software on your computer and you can complete the Grant Application directly in the window of the Internet browser. The application is available at https://mseu.mssf.cz/.

To access the IS KP14+ portal, it is necessary to register a new user using the Registration button on the home page. The submission or signature of the Grant Application is carried out exclusively through a qualified electronic signature. For more information on obtaining an electronic signature and registering, please see the document Rules for OP EIC Applicants and Beneficiaries – general part that can be downloaded from the Methodology tab.

Most aid programmes use a single-round receipt of applications where applicants submit their Grant Application directly. The procedure of filling in the Grant Application form in the IS KP14+ application is described in an annex to the Rules for OP EIC Applicants and Beneficiaries – specific part, or in the Manual for Submitting a Grant Application. Those documents are usually published in the specific call.

Date of the project eligibility

Project expenditure starts to be eligible on the day of submitting the Grant Application (the Preliminary Application in the case of a two-round receipt of applications). You can carry out a tendering procedure for a supplier according to the set rules before submitting the Application, but you may conclude the contract only on the day of project eligibility. If a project contains construction work, you can include the cost of design documentation in the eligible expenditure for the project (unless the call states otherwise) that was incurred after 01.01.2014, provided that you followed the set rules when selecting the supplier of the design documentation.

3

Project appraisal

First, the project is assessed by the API agency in terms of meeting the eligibility criteria and the formal requirements. Then, the content of the Grant Application is appraised by expert evaluators from the Ministry of Industry

First, the project is assessed by the API agency in terms of meeting the eligibility criteria and the formal requirements. Then, the content of the Grant Application is appraised by expert evaluators from the Ministry of Industry and Trade based on the selection criteria of the given programme (if the internal evaluators do not find sufficient expertise within the Managing Authority, they may request a supplementary external opinion). Then, the Grant Applications are presented to the selection committee, which assesses them collectively based on the opinions of the internal evaluators and recommends or does not recommend them for funding. If the selection committee approves your project, you will receive a Grant Decision containing the conditions and obligations of the grant beneficiary, which you undertake to observe by your signing.

4

Project implementation

The most important conditions which you must observe as a grant benefeciary include keeping separate project accounting or tax records, selecting the suppliers under contracts for which the grant will be provided (important documents

The most important conditions which you must observe as a grant benefeciary include keeping separate project accounting or tax records, selecting the suppliers under contracts for which the grant will be provided (important documents relating to the selection of supplier under OP EIC can be found here) and ensuring mandatory publicity of the project. Mandatory publicity of OP EIC is regulated by the documents ‘The rules for Eligibility and Publicity – general part and Unified Visual Style Manual (JVS Manual)’. These documents, mandatory publicity logos for download and more are available here.

5

Payment claim

The grant will be paid to you retrospectively based on a submitted payment claim. Payment claims are submitted electronically in the IS KP14+ application after implementing the individual stages, or after completing the whole

The grant will be paid to you retrospectively based on a submitted payment claim. Payment claims are submitted electronically in the IS KP14+ application after implementing the individual stages, or after completing the whole project.

A formally correct and complete payment claim undergoes a payment authorisation process at API and then is forwarded to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic for approval and subsequent reimbursement.

Information on the preparation and submission of Payment Claims in the IS KP14+ application is available in an annex to the Rules for OP EIC Applicants and Beneficiaries – general part in the Methodology tab.

Spot-checks

A spot-check may be carried out during the project implementation or after its completion at your site. It is therefore necessary to carefully archive all documentation concerning the project.

6

Project monitoring

Projects are monitored during their implementation (i.e. before the grant is paid) as well as after their completion. The main objective of monitoring is to continuously follow the progress in implementing the supported projects and

Projects are monitored during their implementation (i.e. before the grant is paid) as well as after their completion. The main objective of monitoring is to continuously follow the progress in implementing the supported projects and in achieving the values of the binding indicators that are defined by the programme and set directly by the applicant. As a grant beneficiary, you are obligated to provide information about your project in project implementation reports and then in project sustainability reports that you regularly submit through the IS KP14+ portal.

Information on the different types of monitoring reports and the procedure of their submission in the IS KP14+ application is available in an annex to the Rules for OP EIC Applicants and Beneficiaries – general part in the Methodology tab. This also contains a presentation with an overview of reports related to project monitoring under OP EIC and the procedure of their submission in the IS KP14+ application.

What is project sustainability?

Project sustainability is a period over which you must maintain the project outputs. The duration of the project sustainability period is set in the Grant Decision; in most OP EIC programmes, the sustainability period is 5 years from the financial completion of the project.

7
Finish