Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (implementing the ‘Blueprint’)

The 'Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills' program targets a wide range of organizations across Europe, aiming to enhance skills development and foster innovation. Eligibility extends to both Programme and Partner Countries, with a strong emphasis on collaborative partnerships between educational institutions and labor market actors. The program's core objective is to address critical skills gaps, particularly in emerging areas like digital and green technologies, aligning with broader EU strategies for competitiveness and resilience.

The 'Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills' initiative supports projects focused on enhancing skills within 14 key industrial ecosystems across Europe. This includes designing innovative training programs and curricula, particularly in response to urgent skills needs and for emerging occupational profiles, with a strong emphasis on work-based learning and digital technologies. While the document outlines eligible activities, specific cost exclusions are not detailed beyond general lump sum funding guidelines.

The funding program offers substantial financial support through a lump sum model, allowing projects to focus on achieving measurable outcomes. Each successful project can receive significant funding over a four-year period, with a clear funding rate applied to the estimated budget. This structure is designed to support comprehensive and impactful initiatives in skills development.

Applicants and beneficiaries must adhere to specific conditions and requirements throughout the project lifecycle, from application submission to implementation. These include detailed eligibility criteria for participating organisations and strict consortium composition rules to ensure broad representation and impact. While no specific De-Minimis regulation is explicitly mentioned, general budget limitations and adherence to EU-wide tools for quality assurance and recognition are critical for compliance.

The application process for the 'Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills' involved a single-stage submission to the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Proposals underwent a rigorous evaluation based on four key award criteria, with specific minimum scores required for each category to be considered for funding. A unique aspect of the selection process was the limitation to fund only one proposal per industrial ecosystem, emphasizing distinctiveness and complementarity.

The 'Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills' program is firmly rooted in established EU legal and policy frameworks. Its operational guidelines and requirements are detailed in key official documents, ensuring transparency and adherence to broader European educational and economic strategies. These foundational texts provide the necessary authority and context for the program's objectives and implementation.