SLOVAKIA: First COVID-19 Call

An existing call for emergency management has been recently updated in the face of the corona crisis with an increased budget (EUR 13 million) under OP Environment Quality (ESIF). The call is primarily intended for the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic and organisations under MoI SR (e.g. integrated rescue systems), but also for self-governing regions, municipalities and associations of municipalities. The main activity has to be focused on the reduction of negative impacts related to the spread of COVID-19. Supported sub-activities are as follows: A1: Optimissation of systems and...

Progress in Pan-European cooperation: Spanish Ministry adopts French regulations for the production of masks

Submitted by Rita Andrade on 09 April 2020.
Following the French government's new regulations enabling two new categories of masks intended for non-sanitary use, the Spanish Ministry of Industry has published an official regulation enabling the French standards in Spain. This decision does not only constitute a great example of European cooperation and solidarity but also allows Spanish companies to immediately start their work in producing...
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The essential role played by clusters in the Covid-19 crisis management is emerging also in South-Mediterranean countries, where these actors are mobilizing their ecosystem to face the health emergency experienced by at national level.

Some examples of successful initiatives adopted to date.

South-Mediterranean COVID-19 initiatives

French Webinar on How to mobilise the new sources of funding

Submitted by Carolina Turcato on 08 April 2020.
France Cluster, a network of almost 150 French cluster organisations, is organising a webinar on "How to mobilise the new sources of funding" in face of the COVID-19 response initiative from the European Commission and French authorities. The webinar will be held in French and will take place on Friday, the 10th April 2020 at 8.30h CET. Further information and registration can be found under this...
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IMAGO-MOL Cluster solidarity campaign

Submitted by Rita Andrade on 08 April 2020.
The IMAGO-MOL Cluster, the only medical imaging cluster in Romania and the European Union, has launched a solidarity campaign to help its member hospitals, overwhelmed by the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: Emergency County Hospital „Sf. Spiridon" Iasi, Regional Institute of Oncology Iasi, Emergency Clinical Hospital "Prof. Dr. N. Oblu" Iasi, Pneumophtisiology Clinical Hospital Iasi...
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Unsung heroes: private initiatives to combat the virus

Submitted by Carolina Turcato on 07 April 2020.
Solidartiy and support in the Coronacrisis does not only come from companies and public authorities. Also individuals can make a change like Gregory Michel. The consultant for the IT unit at DG AGRI of the European Commission and his team recently decided to make protective visors from 3D printers. Using social media channels (Facebook) the team advertised their offers to the medical community and...
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The European Commission has unlocked €1 billion from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) that will serve as a guarantee to the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group. This will allow the EIF to issue special guarantees to incentivise banks and other lenders to provide liquidity to at least 100,000 European SMEs and small mid-cap companies hit by the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, for an estimated available financing of €8 billion. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus EFSI EIB COSME guarantees

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole community of the S3 Thematic Platform for Industrial Modernisation community has shifted its operations towards home office and physical meetings are suspended until further notice. Health is the number one priority. Since this virus forces everybody to physically stay away from each other, efforts are made to get closer now more than ever. Europe is interlinked; borders may close, but connections remain.

S3 Platform S3P-Industry Technical Assistance Facility TAF workshop

AMable Calls for Ideas for Additive Manufacturing (COVID-19)

3D printing technology (Additive Manufacturing) allows to quickly and cost-effectively produce specialized surgical instruments and medical devices like valves, masks and everything that may prove to be of primary importance in the fight against COVID-19. AMable, the consortium supported by the European Commission under the framework of I 4MS (H2020 framework program), published an Open Call for Solution Ideas to fight COVID-19 adopting Additive Manufacturing. The proposal needs to be short - only about two pages, and it will need to be submitted within two weeks. The selection of such...

ESPON is looking for experiences and evidence on local and regional responses to COVID-19

Submitted by Carolina Turcato on 07 April 2020.
The European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) is looking to pool and share local experiences and territorial policy responses of all European regions. The objective is to create a data base of best practices and local/regional initiatives adapting public services - anything that could help to monitor the territorial impact of the crisis and design better responses for the future. Some...
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