Structural Funds in Greece: Informing beneficiaries & Improving -access to finance

1. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Community. The views expressed herein are those of BUSINESSEUROPE and can therefore in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Commission Structural Funds in Greece: Informingbeneficiaries& Improving -access to finance Ivana Doulgerof Programming & Communication Management Organisation Unit Greece

2. Scope Outline two very important information tools on EU funding opportunities for the Greek entrepreneurs

3. Topics • EU funded programmes in Greece targeting enterprises • Lack of information & problems diagnosed • Solutions • Who are we? • How are we involved in the two information tools? • Assessment of the tools - future actions • Lessons learnt

4. State Aid to Enterprises The EU provides support to enterprises (focus on SMEs & business starts) with the form of subsidies, loans & guarantees Support is available either directly or via programmes managed & applied on a national level (i.e Structural Funds) Objective: introduce concrete measures to unlock the enterprises’ growth potential

5. State Aid to Enterprises in Greece • Increase competitiveness of the economy & help SMEs face the challenge of globalization • Boost entrepreneurship • Foster technological change • Achieve regional convergence • Increase employment • Reduce regulatory burden on enterprises - cutting red tape Initiatives in order to:

6. Current Policy Guidelines • Shifting focus from infrastructure to actions in favour of entrepreneurship & competitiveness • Introducing new types of financial products & derivatives • Enhancing business productivity through the use of ICT

7. Current Policy Guidelines • Integrating training & education with investment in assets • “Targeted” interventions • Public-Private Partnerships • Availability of electronic services and digital content

8. Funding entrepreneurship in Greece 2000-2006 ERDF: OP Competitiveness ~~ 2 Billion € Regional OPs ~~ 1,2 Billion € Other: ESF, EAGGF, Information Society

9. Main results Support to more than 27.000 enterprises Support of 1.200 agricultural investments (processing, manufacturing & trading) 15% increase in businesses using e-commerce

10. Expected results of NSRF 2007-2013 • Support of 50.000 enterprises & creation of 20.000 job positions • Support of 700 enterprises for research & technology projects

11. Who are we? The Management Organisation Unit is: • State agency under the Ministry of Economy & Finance • Governed by a 9-memberBoard, representing social / economic bodies (i.e. Federation of Greek Industries- SEV) • Purpose: tostrengthen the management capacity of the authorities implementing EU-funded programmes

12. How are we involved in supporting enterprises & informing them? • 2003: MOU was assigned the task of developing a “one-stop shop” where all necessary information is provided (calls of proposals from all OPs and Community Initiatives).

13. How are we involved in supporting enterprises & informing them? • 2005: MOU undertook the responsibility of developing a portal combining information on specific state aid schemes with electronic submission, evaluation, monitoring, control, auditing & payment to the beneficiaries.

14. How are we involved in supporting enterprises & informing them? • 2007: according to the new law on NSRF, “MOU ensures citizens’ information on co-financed actions”.

15. Problems diagnosed • insufficient awareness • of EU co-financed programmes • of the opportunities they present • of their impact on economic competitiveness, job creation & internal cohesion • difficulty in accessing finance • cumbersome bureaucratic procedures

16. Solutions to problems • Promote funding opportunities & enhance transparency www.info3kps.gr Simplify applications’ procedures & facilitate e - access to funding www.ependyseis.gr/default.htm

17. Ensures wider dissemination of various funding opportunities provided by all Operational Programmes (regional / sectoral) Informs potential applicants from the private sector on procedures

18. Ensures detailed information on specific SMEs funding E-Government G2B: Electronic submission of funding applications

19. www.info3kps.gr TargetGroup: citizens enterprises – entrepreneurs other bodies (NGOs, universities) Invitations to tender: • financial support schemes • employment • social support • education / training

20. by attribute / type of support • by sector of interest • by target group • advanced search Characteristics - Services Single platform, web based search engine Simple, user-friendly search options Information & Links to the implementing authorities Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) Automatic e-mail alerts (newsletter) “My basket” area Help Desk

21. Extra filters Potential beneficiaries Project description Area Deadlines More details

22. Title and short description Deadline Implementation area Funding details Terms & conditions Contact - Documentation

23. Intranet Sites • verifying & editing incoming data • cross checking & collecting data directly from implementing bodies • content management • upgrading • maintaining “network” on line updating the database – additional documentation INTERNET Internet Sites General Public Specialized Users Work Flow Management Organisation Unit Managing Authorities Public

24. Promotion “Multipliers” (Euro Info Points, Chambers of Commerce, Investment Centers, journalists) Promotional material (brochures, bags, posters, mouse pads, demo, press kit, flash) Mass media (newspapers, TV) Events: Monitoring Committees, Conferences, Forums, Press Conference

25. Calls of proposals: 2.188 Newsletter members: 12.372 Messages: 845 1.365 for entrepreneurship Data 21/02/07

26. Costs • Budget: € 55.015 • O.P: Technical Assistance (ERDF)

27. Evaluation - on line 3.005 users responded 9 out of 10: the site facilitates the citizens’ access to the CSF 4 out of 10 visit the site daily 5 out of 10: applied in programmes found in the site 8 out 10 of these applications were successful

28. Info3kps is a “Best Practice” in Greece

29. www.ependyseis.gr

30. Flagship E-government project in Greece provides “easy” access to government services customer oriented & one-stop services to the public insures transparency and “cost benefit efficiencies” in governmental operations combats bureaucracy between departments

31. Start – up Legislation 5 E-submission 3 Programme’s Guide in simple words 1 Official documents & instructions - FAQ Quick links 2 4

32. Electronic application form offline & online data entry automatic controls of data entered print outs automatic transfer of data to the information system’s data base

33. Electronic application

34. Application’s receipt

35. Information System (IT) E- Application Forms E- Submission from SME SME Automatic production of Proposal ID and receipt Internet Internet Receipt Production Receipt of “Good”” Acceptance 1 2 3 4 5 Proposal Query Submission of Physical Supporting Documents along with the Proposal ID 6 7 Branch Personnel Bank Proposal Submission

36. Same Environment for All Single point access Ministry of Economy SMEs - Proposal Submission • Request for change • Reportsetc • User Authorization • Monitoring • Statistics, Reports Information System Actions Flow Logic MOU • IT configuration • Hosting& Support • Help Desk • Business Intelligence System Internal procedures Banks / other final beneficiaries 3 administrative levels - Proposal Acceptance • Evaluation • Contracts - Monitoring • Control, Auditing, Paymentetc Common Data Base Familiar Interface via LOW Bandwidth Infrastructure

37. Business Intelligence System – Real time reports Single platform, web based Helpdesk Not necessary to install any S/W on banking IT or SME Interoperability Characteristics – Services

38. Costs • Budget: € 800.000 • O.P: Information Society (ERDF)

39. Some indicators Since 2006: • 44.000 applications to programmes supporting SMEs • 1.500 applications to the investments’ law incentives • 27.035users • 21.654entrepreneurs • 15.000 questions Data 21/2/2008

40. Some indicators Speeding up of procedures • Delay between proposals’ deadline & signing of the contract • Duration of applications’ evaluation 2002: 3 months (1.600 applications) 2007: 25 days (32.000 applications) 2002: 8 months 2007: 3 months

41. Future actions info3kps.gr NSRF portal Redesign / further simplification English version ependyseis.gr NSRF portal All state aid schemes (i.e OP COM)

42. Problems faced • Underestimated budget • Lack of central coordination • Difficulties in setting up the project “network” • Multitude of application procedures • Complex legal terminology • Ensure accurate & timely info

43. Lessons learnt • Introduce such tools at the beginning of the NSRF • Design the tools in-depth • Ensure central coordination • Set up a Task Force

44. Lessons learnt • Follow web usability guidelines • Simplify language • Combine web tools with human support

45. Summary • E-government services ensure transparency and break down bureaucracy • Information tools facilitate access to EU finance • Steady information flow and accurate data involve several actors (public & private)

46. Electronic sources www.mou.gr www.info3kps.gr www.ependyseis.gr www.hellaskps.gr www.espa.gr

47. Благодаря ви Ivana Doulgerofidoulgerof@mou.gr