Тhe business enterprises from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sweden with innovative ideas, products or services that can lead to a reduction in unemployment, increased competitiveness, and a sustainable socio-development in Bosnia and Herzegovina have the opportunity to get a grant from the Challenge Fund for the fourth time.
The Fund has a total amount of around EUR 3 million, and the indicative amount of funds under the fourth call is EUR 800,000. For applicants from the category of startups, which have been registered between 6 and 24 months, C2C fund can provide maximum grant 10.000 EURO, while applicants from the category of mature business entities up to 250 employees (who perform a registered activity for more than 24 months) can expect maximum grant 30.000 EURO. Applicants must provide a minimum own contribution of 50% of the total value of the proposed project. The project implementation cannot last longer than 12 months.
All proposed applications will be evaluated according to three basic criteria: innovativeness of a business idea, feasibility, and sustainability of business idea and social benefits and cross-cutting issues.
Applications to this call must be submitted electronically in accordance with the instructions in the Guidelines for Applicants, as an integral part of Application Package which can be downloaded HERE. Applications only submitted via an electronic form will be considered, while printed applications or applications delivered by mail will not be considered.
The project proposals may be submitted through 16 July 2019 until 16:00 hrs.
The “Challenge Fund” was established within the project Challenge to change – C2C financially supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency-Sida / Embassy of Sweden in B&H, four years initiative (2017-2020) which will be implemented by the Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency (SERDA) and Republic Agency for Development SME (RARS). Partner in the project is Region Ostergotland, East Sweden.
A total of five public calls are planned for the project. Within the first two, 58 business entities from BiH and Sweden supported the total grant amount of 1.3 million euros. The realization of these projects enabled the opening of 300 new jobs. The process of contracting with 50 business entities whose project ideas are approved under the third public call is in progress.
