Q1. Is the Biz Programme only open to the European companies?

1. The Call for Participation for the EU ECO-TANDEM Biz Programme is open to European tourism SMEs and European innovative startups. Please head over to https://www.eu-ecotandem.eu/the-biz-programme first document - Call for Participation section A3.2, to see how the applicants must be validated as.

2. The matchmaking events which will be celebrated in Italy, Germany, and Slovenia however, are open to everyone (meaning that every company from every country, not limited to EU, can participate.)

Q2. Can companies outside EU be funded by the Biz Programme grant?

No, they can't. The grant for the EU ECO-TANDEM Biz Programme is open to European tourism SMEs and European innovative startups only. Please head over to https://www.eu-ecotandem.eu/the-biz-programme first document - Call for Participation section A3.2, to see how the applicants must be validated as, and the criteria for being funded.

Q3. Is marine habitat conservation one of the objectives of the call?

Yes, marine habitat conservation is included in at least one the call's objectives / challenges. In fact, the European Tourism SMEs intending to apply to the EU ECO-TANDEM BIZ Programme will have to identify one out of the 5 thematic challenges corresponding to their specific needs, e.g.:

1. Energy conservation measures

2. Waste management measures

3. Water conservation measures

4. Mobility management measures

5. COVID-19 recovery measures 

Indeed, marine habitat conservation can be considered as an adequate subject to address water and energy saving.

To see the whole list of the challenges, pls, refer to this page: https://www.eu-ecotandem.eu/selected-challenges.

The other needs faced by the applicant at the submission stage will not be considered eligible.

Q4. Can a touristic association apply and can get funding up to 13.000€ to implement our web app in their region?

Yes, a tourism "business association" can apply to the programme.

Indeed, both traditional and innovative SMEs, as well as micro-enterprises and EU Tourism Innovative SMEs can apply to the programme, including business associations.

The call, in fact, is restricted to SME and any other entity engaged in economic activity, irrespective of its legal form: in particular, with reference to business associations, the call is open to any trade association, also known as an industry trade group, "business association", sector association or industry body, being an organisation founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry [EU recommendation 2003/361, the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (notified under document number C(2003) 1422), — Article 1 "Enterprise"]. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32003H0361

We would remember that the eligible entities which candidate for our grant, must come from of one of these categories:

- Hotels and similar accommodation

- Holiday and other short-stay accommodation

- Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks

- Travel agency, tour operator reservation services and related activities

- Startups

Selected participants will have the opportunity to work in TANDEM on innovative sustainable tourism projects, elaborating the "Plan of Action", " in order to solve one of the 5 top eco-challenges mentioned before.

A TANDEM is formed by 1 tourism SME + 1 innovative startup, each EU tourism SME in the TANDEM will receive a voucher of EUR 6.5K to implement their project.

Q5. What documents do we need to apply to the programme?

In order to apply to the EU ECO-TANDEM BIZ Programme, you will need to fill in an application form on the website: https://x23eupro.grantplatform.com/

The form includes the following questions (also mentioned in Annex I_Application form):

- the legal Name of your company;

- the legal office address and country (all EU MS listed);

- Your operating office address and country;

- Your Vat Number;

- Your Tax code;

- Your NACE code;

- The type of organisation (SME or Startup);

- Telephone number, email address, website, etc.

You may also check what is required from the applicant in the EU ECO-TANDEM Call for the participation document here: https://eu-ecotandem.eu/the-biz-programme

We recommend getting familiar with Annex VII_Guide for Applicants, where you can find more precise information.

Q6. Can I take part into Biz Programme alone as an individual such as an independent Manager, or do I need to be part of an already existing SME?

There are 2 cases for an individual who would wish to apply for the BIZ Programme: a) A business own by an individual (even only with one employee), OR b) an individual professional.

In the first case (a), a business owned by an individual, even with only one person employed or self-employed, are eligible to apply for the BIZ Programme, given such organisation belongs to the category of SME included in the related EU rules. In the second case (b), where the applicant is applying as an individual professional (not registered as a "company" within the related register(s) of companies at national level), are not eligible to apply for the BIZ Programme.

To ensure if you are a SME, or a Startup, please inquire this document:

https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/conferences/state-aid/sme/smedefinitionguide_en.pdf

Q7. Where can I search for tandem partner? Is there any register of applicants or should I do blindfolded searching on internet?

You don't have to search for a TANDEM partner when you are applying to the programme. Indeed, the “TANDEM™ Cooperation” will occur for the selected participants in the Matchmaking process. During the relationship-building phase, the partners will interview the companies, discover their preferences on the pairing and help the applicants in creating TANDEMs. You may find all the information about the TANDEM Cooperation on https://www.eu-ecotandem.eu/the-biz-programme first document - Call for Participation section - E. POST SELECTION OF INDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS.

A.1. The “TANDEM™ Cooperation” Creation: Matchmaking events. A.1.1. The TANDEMs creation (relation building phase for pre-matching, matching day, acceptance).

Q8. I would like to have information on the new call expiring on May 15th for the presentation of the application

All the information regarding the BIZ PROGRAMME can be found on our website: https://www.eu-ecotandem.eu/the-biz-programme in the first document entitled "Call for Participation" and in the last document entitled "Guide For Applicants".

You may apply to the programme through https://x23eupro.grantplatform.com/dashboard 

Q9. I registered on the EU ECO-TANDEM Good Grant Platform but the “start application” button doesn’t work. What is the possible solution?

If you couldn't start the application or if the button "start application" is not working, please go to your inbox, confirm your email address, and retry again. If the problem is still not solved, please send an email to info@eu-ecotandem.eu: our team members will provide further assistance.

Q10. I am not sure how we will prove that we are an "EU Tourism Startup" and not a mere "EU Startup". Will we need to show that we belong to a specific NACE category?

Yes. Taking into account that the rule on Call for Participation document, page 9, states the eligible categories of applicants need to be the following:

• EU traditional Tourism (NACE 55.* , 79.* categories) SMEs

• EU Tourism (NACE 55.*, 79.* categories) micro-enterprises {β}

• EU Tourism Startups

• EU non-Tourism Startups

• EU Tourism Innovative SMEs

• EU non-Tourism Innovative SMEs

 please consider that you are required to prove your NACE category in the context of the process of submission, BUT your application could be subject to further compliance check by the organising partners at a later stage of the competition, evaluation, grant preparation

We invite you to check the call for participation available here: https://www.eu-ecotandem.eu/the-biz-programme

Q11. If I have any problem or doubts regarding the BIZ Programme Application, is there a phone number or opportunity to have a video call with the EU ECO-TANDEM staff?

The only way of communication EU ECO-TANDEM Consortium provides is through email. Please, feel free to write to info@eu-ecotandem.eu, the EU ECO-TANDEM team will reply in a timely manner.

Q12. If my startup is not legally registered yet, nor has a legal address, is it still eligible to apply for the BIZ Programme?

The startup has to be legally registered in one of the EU countries. For more info, pls, check the Call for Participation document, section A.4. Declaration and Obligation of Participants, here:  https://www.eu-ecotandem.eu/the-biz-programme