eap-plus.eu – STI International Cooperation Network for Eastern Partnership Countries - PLUS

Cluster grant scheme and evaluation criteria

The EaP PLUS Grant Scheme (2017) is designed to enhance EU-EaP research and innovation partnerships through cluster and cluster-like organisation cooperation. In total, six grants of up to 10.000€ were offered to EaP clusters or cluster-like legal entities or organisations. The grants cover the expenses of the cooperative activity of the EaP and their EU partner clusters and are allocated on a competitive basis following the evaluation by the EaP project representatives.

The evaluation of the selection committee was based on three main criteria:

• Closeness of the EaP and EU cluster or emerging cluster-like organisation in meeting the European definition of a cluster.
• Soundness of the research and innovation activities of the EU and EaP cluster and cluster-like organisations.
• Potential of the EaP cluster or cluster-like organisation in creating a sustainable long-term cooperation with a European cluster, and expected impact of the grant scheme activity in sustaining and/or developing this cooperation.

Results

Overall 29 applications were received in response to the call.

All the applications were evaluated based on the 3 criteria listed above.

The following Clusters were deemed to have the best applications with the highest potential for a successful long-term cooperation as well as research and innovation activities: